Brandon Harris: What got you into music?
(SW) I've always loved music of literally EVERY genre. Nothing has ever been
able to make me feel the way a powerful song can make me feel.. I grew
up on a lot of oldies, rock and rap music. From the age of 8, I would
compose lyrics and keyboard melodies, and by the age of 10 I was trying
my hand at writing raps. I got into a lot of trouble as a kid, but held
onto my passion for music through the years, and after I grew up and got
away from the bad scene, I turned to it again, and have since been
putting 110% into my craft.
(SW) I've always loved music of literally EVERY genre. Nothing has ever been
able to make me feel the way a powerful song can make me feel.. I grew
up on a lot of oldies, rock and rap music. From the age of 8, I would
compose lyrics and keyboard melodies, and by the age of 10 I was trying
my hand at writing raps. I got into a lot of trouble as a kid, but held
onto my passion for music through the years, and after I grew up and got
away from the bad scene, I turned to it again, and have since been
putting 110% into my craft.
(SW) How hard have you worked to get to where
your at?
(SW) I feel I have worked too hard! I dedicate every free second I have to
this. But I honestly feel that will be the difference between success
and failure. So many people are talented, and I won't pretend to be the
best rapper in the world, or even my town. What sets me apart is my
drive. I will not take no for an answer, and I think one can only hear
the word 'no' so many times before it eventually turns into a 'yes'. So
I guess I'm just grinding until I hear my 'yes'.
Brandon Harris: What goals do you have for yourself?
(SW) Well, obviously I want to be successful at music. But other than that,
I just want to have a happy life and provide for my family. In fact, my
family is the biggest drive to continue on with my music.... Oh yeah,
jet skis. A pair of jet skis are definitely on the bucket list.
Brandon Harris: I saw you screen print as well. Coming from owning a few commercial print shops, and screen printing background got to ask what got you into printing?
(SW)I basically stumbled on a bunch of equipment for dirt cheap, and
scooped it up initially to just do merchandise for myself and a couple
other artists I was working with at the time. It has since grown to
where I print for several small regional companies... Mostly just
supplemental income until I find my rainbow.
Brandon Harris: So whats mastermind ent like?
(SW) MasterMindz Entertainment is a group of super-talented artists from my
area that have come together to mutually support one another. We have
rap artists, bands, videographers, engineers, producers all on the
label, essentially working for a common dream. The idea of MasterMindz
is; if one eats, we all eat. If one starves, we all starve. It's really
cool because I've been able to take the minimal success my music has
experienced and use it to generate interest and excitement over a
unified music group in our region. At the very least, today as it sits,
MasterMindz Entertainment makes it possible for talented artists who
have no resources to complete their music projects without having to
spend any money upfront. Everybody on the team works for a back-end
percentage, much like a major label would.
(SW) I feel I have worked too hard! I dedicate every free second I have to
this. But I honestly feel that will be the difference between success
and failure. So many people are talented, and I won't pretend to be the
best rapper in the world, or even my town. What sets me apart is my
drive. I will not take no for an answer, and I think one can only hear
the word 'no' so many times before it eventually turns into a 'yes'. So
I guess I'm just grinding until I hear my 'yes'.
Brandon Harris: What goals do you have for yourself?
(SW) Well, obviously I want to be successful at music. But other than that,
I just want to have a happy life and provide for my family. In fact, my
family is the biggest drive to continue on with my music.... Oh yeah,
jet skis. A pair of jet skis are definitely on the bucket list.
Brandon Harris: I saw you screen print as well. Coming from owning a few commercial print shops, and screen printing background got to ask what got you into printing?
(SW)I basically stumbled on a bunch of equipment for dirt cheap, and
scooped it up initially to just do merchandise for myself and a couple
other artists I was working with at the time. It has since grown to
where I print for several small regional companies... Mostly just
supplemental income until I find my rainbow.
Brandon Harris: So whats mastermind ent like?
(SW) MasterMindz Entertainment is a group of super-talented artists from my
area that have come together to mutually support one another. We have
rap artists, bands, videographers, engineers, producers all on the
label, essentially working for a common dream. The idea of MasterMindz
is; if one eats, we all eat. If one starves, we all starve. It's really
cool because I've been able to take the minimal success my music has
experienced and use it to generate interest and excitement over a
unified music group in our region. At the very least, today as it sits,
MasterMindz Entertainment makes it possible for talented artists who
have no resources to complete their music projects without having to
spend any money upfront. Everybody on the team works for a back-end
percentage, much like a major label would.
Brandon Harris: How did you get on the label?
(SW) MasterMindz is actually my brainchild. It wasn't until this time last
year that it began growing into a functioning label. Up until that
point, it was just me repping a group of lyricists that I rolled around
with.
Brandon Harris: Any major shows in the near future?
(SW) Shows have never been a problem for us to get. But this year we have so
much going on behind the scenes, that at least for a couple months we
won't focus on any big shows. Right now we have 4 studio albums from 4
different artists we are working on, as well as accompanying videos and
marketing plans, so we really just want to focus on getting completely
established this year. Get our roster out and then we will focus on
booking shows again. Until then, we will continue to do smaller, local
shows just to keep the artists fresh.
Brandon Harris: Any big plans in the near future?
(SW) As artists, epic opportunities have kept coming up. I just got to shoot
a music video with Hed PE's Jahred Gomes, who is a really cool dude. I
am supposed to be linking up with Potluck in the coming months to knock
out a video for a track we did together. My band, HomeTown Criminal, is
expected to drop an album this year as well.
As far as the label is concerned, this year is about finding a couple
more critical members of the team. We still don't have a tour manager or
PR person, as well as a couple other roles. I have been wearing a lot of
the business hats myself. Early on, I did everything- Videos, graphics,
booking, PR, production. I really like the trend I've seen this last
year of bringing other people on to fill critical roles. So one of my
biggest plans is to complete that, so I can focus on just one or two
roles as a label exec, and focus mostly on making music for a couple
years.
Brandon Harris: Where do you want to be this time 2036?
(SW) On a beach with my wife and kid and a margarita. Haha, I just want to
be successful at my dream. Music has been my life's ambition for as long
as I can remember, and if I don't end up successful, God and I are gonna
have words at the gate about him giving people unreasonable aspirations.
Haha, I work really hard at this, so I can't imagine there won't be an
eventual pay-off for me.
Brandon Harris: Anything you want to say to your fans?
(SW)Yes, I want to send eternal love and appreciation to everyone who has
ever taken the time to hear my music, watch a video, or support me in
any other way. The music business is one of the hardest industries to
get into, hands down. There is no blueprint, no college with an
internship program at the end. It is all a gamble whether people will
like your music or not. So it means so much to me to have such
widespread support. You guys are my lifeline, and I know I couldn't do
any of the things I have done without the continued support of my
people. I also want to thank the periodicals and blogs, like Underground
Girls, for taking the time to help me on my path. You guys are the shit,
and everything I do, I'm doing for yall!
PLEASE DROP: www.mastermindzrecords.com
AND:
www.facebook.com/sketchywaze
All Rights Reserved Underground interviews 2014
(SW) MasterMindz is actually my brainchild. It wasn't until this time last
year that it began growing into a functioning label. Up until that
point, it was just me repping a group of lyricists that I rolled around
with.
Brandon Harris: Any major shows in the near future?
(SW) Shows have never been a problem for us to get. But this year we have so
much going on behind the scenes, that at least for a couple months we
won't focus on any big shows. Right now we have 4 studio albums from 4
different artists we are working on, as well as accompanying videos and
marketing plans, so we really just want to focus on getting completely
established this year. Get our roster out and then we will focus on
booking shows again. Until then, we will continue to do smaller, local
shows just to keep the artists fresh.
Brandon Harris: Any big plans in the near future?
(SW) As artists, epic opportunities have kept coming up. I just got to shoot
a music video with Hed PE's Jahred Gomes, who is a really cool dude. I
am supposed to be linking up with Potluck in the coming months to knock
out a video for a track we did together. My band, HomeTown Criminal, is
expected to drop an album this year as well.
As far as the label is concerned, this year is about finding a couple
more critical members of the team. We still don't have a tour manager or
PR person, as well as a couple other roles. I have been wearing a lot of
the business hats myself. Early on, I did everything- Videos, graphics,
booking, PR, production. I really like the trend I've seen this last
year of bringing other people on to fill critical roles. So one of my
biggest plans is to complete that, so I can focus on just one or two
roles as a label exec, and focus mostly on making music for a couple
years.
Brandon Harris: Where do you want to be this time 2036?
(SW) On a beach with my wife and kid and a margarita. Haha, I just want to
be successful at my dream. Music has been my life's ambition for as long
as I can remember, and if I don't end up successful, God and I are gonna
have words at the gate about him giving people unreasonable aspirations.
Haha, I work really hard at this, so I can't imagine there won't be an
eventual pay-off for me.
Brandon Harris: Anything you want to say to your fans?
(SW)Yes, I want to send eternal love and appreciation to everyone who has
ever taken the time to hear my music, watch a video, or support me in
any other way. The music business is one of the hardest industries to
get into, hands down. There is no blueprint, no college with an
internship program at the end. It is all a gamble whether people will
like your music or not. So it means so much to me to have such
widespread support. You guys are my lifeline, and I know I couldn't do
any of the things I have done without the continued support of my
people. I also want to thank the periodicals and blogs, like Underground
Girls, for taking the time to help me on my path. You guys are the shit,
and everything I do, I'm doing for yall!
PLEASE DROP: www.mastermindzrecords.com
AND:
www.facebook.com/sketchywaze
All Rights Reserved Underground interviews 2014
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