November 4, 2021 By Idriss Al' Rashad
With the increased availability of music, there has never been a better time to become an independent music artist.
Now that music can be submitted directly to DSP’s, there is little need for a major record deal. The demand for artist managers however, is one that will not be not be going away until that process becomes automated.
We’ve seen successful manager/record executives such Jermaine Dupri Scott Braun, Ray Daniels and Matthew Knowles to name a few.
I found myself acquainted with music having supported many upcoming artists over the years. I’ve always provided constructive criticism and all too often have been the only one to show up to their performances but that was just the beginning.
In 2019 I purchased camera equipment to begin filming under my production company “Scimitar Dreams Studios.” The intent was to provide creative solutions for aviation companies which didn’t bring much traction going into the pandemic.
Still I had a grand plan, I documented that if the aviation did not work I would step into creating film. Our first project was producing a drama series about music artists. It was from that project that we would’ve established a record label and music management company.
A project that was soon written off due to creative differences and the temporary dissolution of the Scimitar Dreams brand. But it did not mean that I would not revisit the music side of the house.
On April 6, 2021, I kept getting visions and felt a tremendous pull.
I started preparing for the launch of a joint record label/music management company.
I always told myself that I was not a music artist so I never thought to try making music.
At most, I wanted to either produce or write the songs for artists and build their brand.
I realized that I couldn’t become the manager that an artist truly needs if I had my own doubts and wasn’t well rounded to understand the music creation process.
I needed to experience all the emotions and mental states to be of better assistance.
There is an immense sense of pressure involved once you’re in the studio, followed by the feeling of whether your song is good enough (I’ll talk more about this in upcoming blogs).
With all the challenges that come with this vision, persistence and self-reflection key. The legacy returns.