indieRepublik: Tell us a little bit about your musical background
1amdonny: My background comes from a mix of being in a church choir and taking piano lessons as a kid. I didn’t really do it for that long because I was more focused on basketball at the time. But once I realized I wasn’t growing and that basketball wasn’t going to be a route for me, music kind of popped up in front of me again, and the universe was like, “here you go.”
My school built a studio, and I was in there almost every single day, writing songs for people. My dad even helped me as well. I was just writing for others because I didn’t like my own voice. Then, when I realized I couldn’t rely on people to make music at the pace I wanted, I decided to just go for it and take it as seriously as possible.
indieRepublik: How did you come up with the name 1amdonny?
1amdonny: My name was inspired by the fact that, as a kid, I would always be up late watching motivational videos when I was supposed to be sleeping. It’s also a play on the phrase “I think, therefore I am.” I use that as a belief that since I exist, anything is possible. I shouldn’t be worried about any outcomes because arguably the most impossible thing being born in this specific timeline proves that I can do whatever I want.
My school built a studio, and I was in there almost every single day, writing songs for people
indieRepublik: How does the songwriting process work for you?
1amdonny: I would say it’s intentional sometimes but very spontaneous as well. I’ll see a word off of a building or a line from a movie and start the verse or hook with that. Other times, I’m very intentional with what I want to convey. Sometimes it’s an emotion that I haven’t been able to express and it just comes out by freestyling, so it’s usually what’s in front of me.
I might not make a song for a couple of days, or I might make five songs a day for the next two weeks. I also look at songwriting as practice, preparing myself for those moments when I get a genuine spark for something. By practicing, I can enhance those genuine moments with the skills I’ve been working on.
My music for a deaf person? It’s like a golf course in the middle of july and its dusk and you can see neon lights of a city in the far distance with a hint of fireflies roaming here and there and like a breeze to go with the humid air
indieRepublik: If you had to describe your music to a deaf person, what would you say?
1amdonny: Thats a good question. I haven’t really thought about something like that ever. Maybe I would say its like standing in a warm waterfall or liminal space kind of like a golf course in the middle of july and its dusk and you can see neon lights of a city in the far distance with a hint of fireflies roaming here and there and like a breeze to go with the humid air giving it maybe like oasis ish feel, thats the best way I would like to describe it.
indieRepublik: If your music was a movie, which genre would it be in?
1amdonny: Oooo, sheesh, I don’t know. I really be all over the place, but I think it would be centered in sci-fi with hints of drama,romance, fantasy, and action.
indieRepublik: What was your biggest stage fuck-up?
1amdonny: I was performing in New York I believe 2022 with my brother Saane and I dropped the mic because I just had so much energy and lost it but it didn’t mess up the audio so I picked it back up and went right back at it and the video of it actually looked really cool so I was l fine with it
indieRepublik: How do you think the audience in Berlin is different to the audience in the US?
1amdonny: I’ve never had the opportunity to perform in Berlin but I bet it is a great environment and a fantastic experience. I would love to come out there if you guys would like to have me just let me know.
indieRepublik: In ten years you look back to today and think:
1amdonny: I’m gonna look back and be amazed by the impact I had on the planet and the lives I touched with my music and ideas. I’ll definitely reflect on all the new cultures I was able to experience by traveling because of my music while also appreciating how those cultures changed my life.
Also being able to see the longevity of my art/passion for my work and progression I made will be extremely beautiful to see and feel. From not wanting to even recording my voice to eventually being one of if not the best artist of my generation and hopefully being in those same conversations with some of the greatest to ever do it.
indieRepublik: Do you dream in colour or black and white?
1amdonny: black and white but definitely had some dreams in color I think
indieRepublik: a. What is your preference and b. Where do you think the music industry is headed: NFTs, mp3s, more streaming, less streaming, CDs, vinyl, cassettes, something else entirely?
1amdonny: I use streaming because its more convenient but I like vinyls. Unless the internet gets shut down or something wild happens I don’t think streaming is going away anytime soon just like how vinyls never went away, because the access to the world music library at any given moment is just unprecedented. But I definitely feel artists will start making fans of music actually pay for their music instead of getting it for free which will change the appreciation for the art a lot more.
indieRepublik: How would you define indie? What do you personally think it means?
1amdonny: To me it means creative freedom and independence and having full control and ownership over your art and being innovative.
indieRepublik: What do you like most about indieRepublik?
1amdonny: What I like most about indieRepublik is its passion to showcase authentic, independent artists. It’s a platform that I believe genuinely supports and is trying their best to celebrate creativity. By being able to provide and help give space for unique and unheard artist to be seen. I am thankful for how it connects artists with a passionate community and giving somebody like me an opportunity to get highlighted.
Find 1amDonny here
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