Exclusive Interview: Rising Artist Vernon 

What three things does anyone starting in your industry need to know?
Don’t get too caught up in social media metrics and perfection. Stay patient and consistent, and have faith that success will come.

What would you do differently if you were starting in your industry now?
If I were to start over, I would have released a shorter project as my debut. Full-length albums give listeners a great selection, but they are expensive to market if you aren’t on a label.

Which people or books have had the most influence on your growth and why?
Some of the people who have inspired me are Nipsey Hussle, Travis Scott, Kobe Bryant, Lil Wayne, Deadmau5, Beyoncé, and Timbaland. They all had a unique approach to their crafts and never gave up. Recently, I finished reading a book called “10% Happier” by Dan Harris. The book provides a detailed explanation of mindful meditation, and how it can help manage overall stress. I like to read books between studio sessions to give my ears a break and unwind.

What has been your biggest success story? Why do you think it was a success?
My biggest success story happened when my album hit one million streams on Spotify. This happened around the same time as the crypto boom, and I was fortunate enough to be an early investor in Ethereum. Once I saw that my album was gaining popularity, I was able to buy my dream car, a Mercedes Benz E-Class sedan, which I had wanted since high school. Since then, I have received several plaques for the millions of streams generated by my project on both Spotify and SoundCloud.

What keeps you going when things get tough in the music industry?
I usually take some time to reflect on my progress so far. I remind myself that success takes time and rarely happens as quickly as I hope it will. In the music industry, it can be easy to feel discouraged by the size of the artist you need to become in order to achieve even a small amount of success. However, if you are able to keep working hard and remain consistent, you will eventually build up a catalog and become the successful artist you aspire to be.

What made you pursue being an artist full time?
Being an artist is another avenue that I pursue. I am grateful and fortunate enough to be able to have a few LLCs as well as investments. I don’t believe in putting all my eggs in one basket, but music is where I devote most of my time.

Would you sign to a label?
I’m not very concerned about signing to a label. It would be nice but I prefer to have complete control over all aspects of my music. I own all my masters and copyrights. While being signed to a label can increase audience and exposure, I believe it could result in less control over my work even with a small label.

What projects are you working on for the rest of 2024?