New Q&A I did with UK-based website A Creation. We talk about my backstory, how I landed certain interviews, and more!

SD: I love how music is your life. Did you ever want to make music, or did you watch music interviews and aspire to that career straight away?
DC: Thank you. I’ve always been interested in seeing quote unquote “celebrities” for the human beings that they are and learning about their life stories, so I grew up reading a lot of biography books about my favorite athletes and musicians and watching documentaries like VH1’s “Behind the Music,” even some of Sway’s interviews on MTV. But it definitely took a while for me to see interviewing, or even journalism as a whole, as a viable career choice for myself.

In terms of wanting to make music, not many people even know this about me, but there was actually a brief period of my life when I wanted to grow up to be a rapper. It was just a phase, though, and I eventually grew out of it. But I definitely spent a lot of time in 5th grade writing out the lyrics to my favorite rap songs and memorizing/reciting them, which ultimately lead to me performing “Number 1” by Nelly in front of all my classmates at the school talent show that year. Somewhere along the line, I started writing some songs of my own as well, but thankfully they never saw the light of day.

SD: Looking at your site, it looks like you present for your own website MuziksMyLife.com. Is this website how you established a name for yourself?
DC: Definitely. Ever since I realized that I wanted to make a career out of this, I’ve always sort of looked at my site as a public portfolio: all of my interviews, write-ups, and — to a certain extent —experiences in the music industry on full display for the world to see. Basically, my intentions with the site have always been to ultimately use it as a stepping stone to greater opportunities, once I’ve proven myself worthy of them.

SD: How long ago did you set up the site and did it begin as a music interview website?
DC: I started the site in 2007, when I was a junior in high school, as a way to help keep people up to date with the latest music because at the time, hip-hop blogs (and music blogs in general) weren’t nearly as common as they are today, and not many people even knew about the few that existed. Friends of mine were often asking me to update their iPods for them, so I saw it as a way to help people out on a larger scale. I was spending all my time on these other sites anyways, so one day I just decided to start one of my own, and I called it MuziksMyLife.

As things progressed, I eventually started doing interviews in 2010 as a way to contribute exclusive content to the culture, while also giving my viewers a chance to learn about certain artists and hopefully feel more connected to them as human beings. But for a while I just dabbled, even though I was becoming more and more known for it. I didn’t like the thought of being boxed in and felt like people were overlooking the fact that I could do other things too, so at the time I was still trying to expand my repertoire.

About a year and a half ago, however, I had somewhat of an epiphany. I finally realized that interviewing was what would not only take me the furthest in my career, but also where my passion and talent truly lied. So I decided to fully embrace the role by eliminating all distractions and focusing solely on conducting as many quality interviews as possible.

SD: Was your first interview of a famous person? How did you achieve your first interview, and how did you achieve your first interview with an established person?
DC: I feel like ‘fame’ is a relative term, but the first interview I ever did was with a Miami-based rapper named Billy Blue, which was pretty surreal ‘cause his song “Story of My Life” was the summer anthem for my friends and I the year before. If memory serves me right, I think I got a hold of him over Twitter and he messaged me his manager’s number, who in turn helped me set up a phone call with the man himself that ended up lasting a whopping 26 minutes. That was the first time I realized what types of doors my site could open for me.

But the first time I felt like I had knocked a door down, so to speak, was when I interviewed Wiz Khalifa, and I credit that one in particular to persistence. It was only my third on-camera interview (fourth overall), so clearly I hadn’t established myself yet. Not only that, but “Black and Yellow” was already No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 well on its way to becoming No. 1.

Needless to say, the odds were stacked against me—so much so that I actually got ignored for like a week straight. But I knew deep down that I could make it worth their while, and that it would ultimately give me the credibility I needed to move forward, so I refused to accept defeat and was eventually able to convince Will, his manager, to give me a chance. From there, I knew that anything would be possible.

SD: How did you achieve your goals in terms of writing and interviewing? Does it help being based in Michigan?
DC: I had to learn to appreciate it, but I’ve definitely come to realize that being based in Michigan gives me a competitive advantage. For starters, I conduct the majority of my interviews when artists come through on tour, and it seems like almost every single tour makes at least one stop in Michigan, if not more. We have so many different markets — Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Ann Arbor, the list goes on — and each one has multiple venues varying in capacity, which allows for a wide range of talent to come here and perform. And when all else fails, I’m still only three hours from Chicago.

Not only that, but if I lived in a media hub like New York City then I’d be further down the totem pole and therefore less of a priority for artists seeking press coverage while in town. Whereas here in The Mitten, I feel like I’ve marked my territory in a sense and really established myself as the go-to guy for on-camera interviews—at least in hip-hop, anyway.

Over the years, I’ve also become increasingly familiar with different venues and their tendencies, built rapport with certain staff and security, etc. And since none of these interviews are ever truly guaranteed until they’re completed, it helps to know your way around in case you happen to find yourself in a pinch.

SD: Did you receive any help to get to your position? What tips would you give people trying to make a name for themselves?
DC: Oh, definitely. I mean, on the one hand I’m essentially a freelance journalist who just so happens to have his own platform, so it’s certainly an independent grind in the sense that I’ve had to create a lot of my own opportunities. But at the same time, I’d be foolish to think that I could have made it this far without all the people who’ve supported me over the years and ultimately contributed to my success—whether they even realize it or not. I try my best not to take anything for granted, so I could go on for days recalling certain situations and thanking those who’ve played a role up until this point. But to save on time I’d just like to say that this entire journey, much like life in general, has been about one thing leading to another. It all adds up.

Taking that into account, my advice to anyone reading this would be to try and live a regret-free life from this point forward. I know, easier said than done. But think about it: not only are you dwelling on the past, but you’re allowing its negativity to seep into your present. Sure, it can be beneficial to look back on things from time to time and learn from the direct consequences of certain decisions so that you can apply those experiences down the road if you so choose. But the fact of the matter is…even if you could go back in time and change something, it’s utterly impossible to know what type of outcome that would have on even the world in general, much less your own specific situation. It’s the butterfly effect, plain and simple. So there comes a point when dissecting your past only distracts you from your future.

​SD: Would you consider yourself an artist? Or how would you describe yourself?
DC: Absolutely. I don’t go around referring to myself as an artist, per se. If someone asks, I’ll say I’m an interviewer or, at most, an interview personality. But if you really break it down, interviewing has become my outlet for creative expression. Just like any other art form, it’s my craft for others to critique, study, and — most of all — enjoy, and I take great pride in my work. I strive for all of my interviews to be the best that they can possibly be, and in the process, refuse to ever sacrifice their artistic integrity.

​SD: Are you working 24/7 in your field to maintain a name for yourself?
DC: The last thing I would ever want to do is get caught up in the past and rest on my success, so I eat, sleep, and breathe this stuff. Not only to maintain a name for myself, knowing that all of this could be gone tomorrow if I allowed it to be, but more importantly to continue pushing the boundaries and building upon my accomplishments — always taking things to the next level.

As I mentioned earlier, I named my site MuziksMyLife because at the time, I was spending all of my free time listening to music and studying the game, trying to keep up with everything that was going on within the industry. But since then, music — and more specifically as of late, interviewing musicians — truly has become my life, 24/7. One of the things that I love most about what I do is that I don’t have time to be bored. Regardless of what it is, there’s always something productive that I can be doing to help further my career. Even when I am off doing something else, which is rare, I’m usually still multitasking or, at the very least, thinking about my musical endeavors.

​SD: Is there anything else you’d like to add?
DC: I’d just like to thank you for taking the time out to interview me. I really appreciate the opportunity and can’t even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed your questions. I’d also like to thank anyone who took the time to read this. If you’re interested in watching any of my interviews, you can find them all on MuziksMyLife.com. My contact info is on there as well. Thanks again!

Following Kid Ink’s performance at The Loft in Lansing, Michigan, the Alumni rapper and I sat down for an exclusive backstage interview. During which, we discussed the producer-turned-rapper’s musical origins, favorite hobbies, and more!

Shot by AaronKlisman

New “Hot off the Press” feature I did with Kennedy Blue Communications. We talk about my past experiences, interview techniques, and more!

1. How did you get started in music journalism?

When I was in high school, I’d spend every night on the computer downloading new music and keeping up with all my favorite hip-hop blogs, and I started to notice more and more of my friends asking me to update their iPods for them as a result. Eventually, I was becoming so invested as a fan of the culture that I decided to make my own site as a way to help other kids like me, and I called it MuziksMyLife.

Soon thereafter, my brother brought me to Kanye West’s “Glow in the Dark” concert in Detroit for my 17th birthday, which I can honestly say changed my life forever. From that moment on, I knew I wanted to make a full-blown career out of my passion for music, and it’s been a snowball effect ever since.

2. A lot of artists are seeking blog and Internet coverage. Where do you see the role of the video journalist in a musician’s career?

The thing to remember is that the Internet never forgets. 50 years from now, someone could be surfing YouTube and stumble across an interview of mine for their very first time. So I feel like I owe it to myself and the artists I’m interviewing, as well as the viewers, to make each one timeless, thereby maximizing its potential for future enjoyment.

Look at it this way: tomorrow I could interview an upcoming artist, who goes on to become the next Michael Jackson. Or better yet, the first so-and-so. Suddenly, everything they’ve been a part of becomes a historic moment in time, including their past interviews—they become iconic.

Even if an artist is just starting to build a descent buzz, their new fans are gonna be digging up old interviews to get a better feel for who this person is. By that same token, someone could be so intrigued by an interview of mine that they end up wanting to see more of my work. In which case, they’re just a click away from possibly discovering their new favorite artist.

So it goes hand in hand, and we feed off each other’s success—both that of the past and of the future. That’s why I go into each interview with the mindset that it has no expiration date…because under the right circumstances, a 10-minute interview could potentially last a lifetime.

3. What techniques do you use on your interviews?

I feel like in-depth research has become sort of a lost art when it comes to interviews, unless your name starts with “N” and ends with “ardwuar.” A lot journalists and their employers seem to be solely concerned with what just happened or what’s about to happen, and when such and such is gonna drop. Basically, they’re focused on delivering the news. Which is completely OK if that’s your M.O., because I believe everything serves its purpose.

But at the end of the day, these artists are human beings. They all have real-life stories just like you and I. And I believe that people are interested in not only seeing a different, perhaps more relatable side of their favorite musicians, but also in actually hearing those stories. Because that’s the sort of stuff I’ve always been interested in. Growing up, for example, I would always read biographies about my favorite athletes and musicians. I would see them on TV and wanna learn more about who they were as individuals, and how they made it to where they did.

So what I do to prep for my interviews is gather up all the information I can possibly find, and then just sort of sift through and pick out the most interesting topics before aligning them in a way that everything can hopefully tie together from beginning to end, making for a more fluent conversation. Jay-Z once said that “there’s poetry in how someone does an interview” and how they “segue to the next subject,” so I’ve always placed a lot of focus on transitions and what not.

In terms of actually conducting the interviews, I try to make artists feel as comfortable as possible; especially since interviews, in their nature, could potentially be somewhat awkward and intimidating. So I try to ease them of that stigma by matching their vibe and being as polite as can be. But in order for that to work, it can’t feel forced, so it really just boils down to your ability (or inability, for that matter) to strike up a casual conversation with a complete stranger while maintaining some entertainment value. All in all, I just see my interviews as an extension of my personality.

4. As an editor and site curator you are bombarded with requests by publicists. Can you share any real-life examples of good or bad pitching?

First off, I’m extremely grateful to finally be at a point where certain publicists are taking notice and reaching out to me, because there was a time when I would’ve been lucky to even get responses from some of these people. And I still have to scratch and claw for a lot of my interviews, so it’s always great when opportunity comes knocking.

For example, the interview I did with YG was pitched to me by a publicist at Def Jam who accidentally got my name wrong and referred to me as two people instead of one, before later apologizing for her typo. But I wouldn’t have cared if she called me Santa Clause, for that matter, because if it wasn’t for that initial email, I wouldn’t have been able to do the interview.

The best part about that pitch, as well as the one from a publicist at Roc Nation which lead to my interview with Casey Veggies, was that they were personalized. They were sent specifically to me, regarding the artists’ shows in my area, so it wasn’t like I was bcc’d on some email blast. I feel like it’s always best when these sorts of exchanges occur organically.

5. What has been your greatest career achievement thus far?

Fortunately I’ve been able to experience quite a bit these past few years, but I would still have to consider my interview with Wiz Khalifa to be my greatest career achievement thus far. That’s what really got the ball rolling for me.

I was 19 years old, it was only my third on-camera interview (fourth overall), and “Black and Yellow” was peaking at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100, on its way to becoming No. 1. Needless to say, considering the circumstances, it took a great deal of persistence for me to land that one. But I was finally able to convince his right-hand man, Will, who’s gone on to help me set up several Taylor Gang interviews since.

In fact, Wiz even made an unexpected appearance during my interview with Berner this past summer, and a screenshot of that cameo somehow made its way into his video for “STU” off ‘Cabin Fever 2’. So it’s crazy how one thing can lead to another.

Get up close and personal with T. Mills during our extensive, 23-minute interview, which took place on his tour bus following a stellar performance at Pontiac, Michigan’s Crofoot Ballroom.

“You’re connecting so much shit in my life right now,” acknowledges the Thrillionaire rapper, as he reenacts a defining moment that occurred in the backseat of his mom’s SUV, recalls performing at his grandma’s wedding when he was just five years old, and—the ladies man that he’s become—even reminisces about his very first kiss.

Shot by Aaron Klisman

Had the pleasure of answering a few questions for FAYD Apparel. Check out the Q&A below…

“Believing in yourself wholeheartedly truly is the key to successfully following your dreams. Nothing good ever comes from allowing doubt to cloud your judgment. Others have criticized certain decisions of mine, but I took that negativity and used it as extra motivation, and I would strongly encourage anyone else in that position to do the same. Obviously you’d be somewhat foolish not to at least take the opinions of those you respect into consideration, but at the end of the day nobody knows you as well as you know yourself. Only you truly understand your strengths and your weaknesses, your desires, emotions you’ve felt and things you’ve gone through in life that lead you to the point you’re at today. Nobody in this world has taken as many steps in your shoes as you have, so you’re the only one who could possibly be capable of making the absolute best decisions for yourself. And when it’s all said and done and you leave this earth, nobody else comes with you. So it’s your gift and your gift only to spend the limited time you have as you wish before the hourglass runs out of sand. If you reach a point where you’re able to shield your dreams from negativity and outside influence, and maintain that tunnel vision without second-guessing yourself, nothing can stop you from turning your dreams into reality.“

Q: Where are you originally from, current school, and did you always have that entrepreneurial mindset?
A: I think I’ve always just been one to really follow my heart and live life on my own terms (within reason, of course), rather than conform to what may typically be expected by society. Everyone has their own path, and I’ve just always marched to the beat of my own drum. For example, I’m actually not even in school. I gave college a shot (here in Michigan where I was born and raised) but soon realized that it wasn’t for me. I also feel like you can’t really wait for anyone to hand you anything. Instead, you have to go out and make things happen yourself. There’s always gonna be other people who play a role in your success, and you certainly shouldn’t take them for granted, but I’m a firm believer in creating your own opportunities and letting the rest fall into place.

Q: What is the name of your music blog and can you tell us how you differentiate yourself from other blogs?
A: My website is MuziksMyLife.com, and although it used to be in a rat race with all the other hip-hop blogs in terms of keeping up with ‘round-the-clock updates about the culture, it has since evolved into a hub for my interviews and other exclusive content, as well as a way for those who are interested to stay in the loop with what I have going on career-wise. To those of you reading this, you should definitely check it out!

Q: Most music blogs post links to music and a lot of the time the content is lacking. What prompted you for the idea to base the blog around video interviews?
A: Well I started the site my junior year of high school in 2007 as a way to help my friends keep up with all the latest music since more and more people were asking me to update their iPods. I spent so much of my free time on other blogs anyway, so I thought I’d take a crack at running one of my own. As things progressed, I started doing interviews in 2010 and for a while was just dabbling. But for the most part, I had always been the only one updating the site, and eventually I realized that despite all the effort I put into my write-ups, I was still just blending in with the crowd—especially as more and more blogs started popping up. So about a year ago I worked up the courage to drop everything else and focus solely on interviewing. I was already beginning to be known best for that anyway, so I finally decided to fully embrace it. I realized it was what would not only separate me from the pack and ultimately take me the furthest in my career, but also how I could make the biggest impact on the culture, and truly where my passion lied.

Q: You’ve interviewed the likes of Wiz Khalifa, Mac Miller, Big Sean, and other very talented artists… How were you able to become so well-connected and expand the way you have lately?
A: It’s really just a matter of one thing leading to another. I often use the term ‘exponential growth’ because this entire journey has just been one big snowball effect. I think a lot of the recent success in particular has to do with establishing myself as an interviewer like I mentioned before, rather than the jack of all trades that I was trying to be at one point, because it makes me more identifiable as that and only that—to where someone will see me and be like, “Oh, the interview guy,” because that’s all they really have to go off of. And I think that helps people respect and appreciate my efforts a lot more as well, because they realize that this is what I’m truly passionate about and where my complete focus is at as opposed to someone who has their eggs in more than one basket and therefore isn’t eating, sleeping, and breathing their one craft.

Also, I feel like consistency gets you noticed, whereas quality makes you memorable. So while I do try to bang out as many interviews as possible, I also refuse to sacrifice quality in any regard. I’ve become obsessed with the art form as a whole, as well as fine-tuning my particular style and approach, so I put a great deal of effort into making each interview the best that it can possibly be and people seem to not only recognize, but truly appreciate that.

And in terms of making solid connections and building long-lasting relationships, what that ultimately boils down to is not only maintaining your professionalism at all times, but also just having good people skills and understanding how to handle certain situations, knowing how to treat others with respect—not just for your own benefit, but out of the goodness of your heart. Things like that go a long way. But I could go on for days because as I said, there are a number of factors that come into play and at the end of the day it all adds up.

Q: What’s the vision for your blog?
A: I plan on hanging onto the blog forever regardless of what happens, but the goal isn’t even necessarily to grow and expand the site so much as it is to partner up with a larger platform when the time is right and further my interviewing career as a whole. At the moment, this is all being done at an entirely independent level. I’m basically a freelance interviewer, it just so happens that I have my own audience as well as my own outlet to release the content through and can do so on my own terms. Not to take away from the MuziksMyLife brand, but aside from my cameraman, a buddy from high school who edits the interviews, and all of the wonderful people who’ve supported me over the years, I am MuziksMyLife and MuziksMyLife is me. I don’t think that’s something I could ever run away from even if I wanted to, which I wouldn’t, because that’s what I’ve spent 6 years establishing, so I’ll be able to take that with me wherever I go. But the goal, at least short term, is definitely to land a position with a network like MTV, Fuse, etc., or even an internet-based platform like KarmaloopTV or Noisey. But I’m also not rushing things, either. I feel like I’m at a point now where I’ve finally hit my stride in terms of developing a particular interview style, so I’d still like to test the waters for a little bit longer and see where things can go. Beyond that, who knows what could happen. I just turned 22 last month, so I feel like time is still on my side, especially in the grand scheme of things.

Q: What does the brand FAYD and its mantra “Forgetting All Your Doubts and Following All Your Dreams” mean to you and your entrepreneurial venture?
A: It’s crazy because when I first found out what FAYD stood for I thought to myself, “Wow…that pretty much sums up my entire existence.” Believing in yourself wholeheartedly truly is the key to successfully following your dreams. Nothing good ever comes from allowing doubt to cloud your judgment. Others have criticized certain decisions of mine, but I took that negativity and used it as extra motivation, and I would strongly encourage anyone else in that position to do the same. Obviously you’d be somewhat foolish not to at least take the opinions of those you respect into consideration, but at the end of the day nobody knows you as well as you know yourself. Only you truly understand your strengths and your weaknesses, your desires, emotions you’ve felt and things you’ve gone through in life that lead you to the point you’re at today. Nobody in this world has taken as many steps in your shoes as you have, so you’re the only one who could possibly be capable of making the absolute best decisions for yourself. And when it’s all said and done and you leave this earth, nobody else comes with you. So it’s your gift and your gift only to spend the limited time you have as you wish before the hourglass runs out of sand. If you reach a point where you’re able to shield your dreams from negativity and outside influence, and maintain that tunnel vision without second-guessing yourself, nothing can stop you from turning your dreams into reality.

Felt really passionate about this so I thought I’d share. It’s an excerpt from my FAYD apparel feature, which drops at noon on faydapparel.com.