Vision Statement- As a young visionary, my goal is to provide a free online platform service for all musical diva artist while launching a few careers over the next several years. My goal is to create a huge diva movement. My focus is on creating a cool site for years to come. My long term goal is to be one of the top 4 websites. The Awesome staff is here to help the divas of DivaArtist.com!
What inspired you to create divaArtist.com?
First, I hate being told what to do. I don’t want to be confined to a desk all my life working for someone else. I don’t want to spend my life going on interviews. I’m driven period. I love music. I want better. I had the idea and executed it.
Why did you make it specifically geared for women?
Girls have a harder time getting their foot in the door. At DivaArtist.com you don’t have to put yourself into a compromising position. Just upload your strongest music and photos. Do the damn thing!
Where Are You from?
Hailing from Mount Vernon, Ny. Born in New Rochelle, NY but raised in Mount Vernon. Home of P.diddy and Denzel Washington!
How was your life growing up?
Difficult. I had rare medical problems so I was in and out the hospital a lot. It was hard for me to fit in with the rest and do normal child like activities because I was sick so much. My grandma and mom raised me. My father lives in Va. My mom and him have a relationship but we don’t. When I turned 18 my plan was to move out to California and attend UCLA. And party like a rock... party like a rock star. I wasn’t interested in living in Mt. Vernon and becoming a teenage mom. With the death of my older sister and grandma (who I loved dearly) literally 3 months apart that forced me to stay and help my mom raise my 3 nephews and 1 niece. Talk about life changing.
I feel like GOD planted my seeds in cement and everyone else’s in soil. I have to be like that rose that grew from concrete like Tupac. When your life is full of setbacks, it affects you in a heartbreaking way. You start to doubt if there is a GOD. People tell you to have Faith but that gets tiring after a while. And then you pray everyday faithfully and nothing happens. I’ve gone through enough obstacles in my life to last me a lifetime and I’m not even close to being 30. Sometimes I feel emotionally drained.
What keeps you going in life?
I don’t know. Probably my 3 nephews and 1 niece. I want better and the finer things that life has to offer for myself and family. I want these kids to go to a better school and be able to travel to different places and countries. They motivate me like no other.
What made you choose music as a career?
When I was 13, I remember seeing Diddy on tv and in the music videos. It was something about him being behind the scenes that interested me. The business side of music was appealing. It was around that age when I knew yeah that’s what I want to do for the rest of my life.
How did you get your first start in music?
After reading interviews about Diddy and finding out how he first got his start which was by an internship then that’s when I decided an internship at a record label would best. I landed my first internship at Westwood One through my college. I did press kits for radio personality Wendy Williams. It was cool for the most part but it wasn’t my cup of tea. It inspired me to really push and find my dream music internship. When there was nothing else to do I would sit at my desk and constantly email my resume out to different record labels. I interviewed at Sony and Universal Motown. Universal hired me as an intern right on the spot only because me and the product manager hit it off. The plan was to make a good impression and I did. And of course I did my research on the manager so I knew what to say and not to say. It was an honor to work under the same label as Ms. Sylvia Rhone. The first black woman to head a major record label.
How was your experience at Universal?
There were good times and less good times. Working at the top record label causes you to bring you’re “A” game. Everything that comes to mind has already been thought of by the previous interns. But while I was there I approach my friend Shaina with an idea for a project and she thought it was cool. We presented it to the director of marketing and she loved our pitch mostly thanks to my homegirl Shaina’s presenting skills! I built my contact list, networked and even made some friends from Universal. The director of marketing Ms. T gave me a lot of helpful advice though she was hard on me at times I appreciated it.
Who do you idolize in the industry?
Jay-Z, Plies, and Keyshia Cole! Jay-z and I have about two things in common. The love for our nephews and niece plus ambition. Anyone that looks at Jay-Z and only sees an old man is crazy. I see a man who strategically aligned himself with the right people in order to become a 300 million dollar brand. I tell my nephews do you want to be in Jay-Z’s position at his age or be in your late 30's standing on the corner talking about “keeping 100" with your jeans hanging off your ass. Keyshia Cole is holding down for many women from a business perspective! I aspire to be the Keyshia Cole to my family. Given them that better life. Plies is genuine, intelligent and a deep dude. I respect&love him for that all day.
What other business ventures do you have?
I have a real estate business with my best friend. And I’m managing my group 2nd and Sloops.
They have a hot new single “what’s ya a.i.m?” blowing up. I mean, if you think about it who doesn’t have an a.i.m today so it was clever thinking on their part.
What makes people say “there’s something about that girl right there”?
I was born to be rich and successful. I guess certain people sense it and feel it when they talk to me. I listen, learn, research, and quietly watch. When someone gives me advice I take what I need and wipe my ass with the rest. That’s my motto.
