We had the good fortune of connecting with Deejay Young and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Deejay, what do you attribute your success to?
I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to be an independent artist, as well as an entertainer in the performing arts industry. The success I’ve had in my career has been built from the ground up & I’ve been granted several opportunities just from being persistent & consistent in branding myself.

To be perfectly honest however, I think the most pertinent factor of this success has been being authentic with my artistry & with my humanity. What comes from the heart always reaches the heart. With whatever I do, if my art doesn’t inspire people to be their best selves, or to make my audience think in a more compelling way…I don’t think I’ve done my job as an artist.

When I recorded my latest album, PRIMITIVE in the prime of the pandemic shutdown last summer, I didn’t know if it was lucrative to put out an album at that time, or if people would listen to it, (despite the fact it’d been three years since my previous project.) I did know, however, that I wanted to create a body of work that celebrated the human essence & people of color — to let them know how special & beautiful we all are. I made an album promoting self-love & the beauty of love.

PRIMITIVE debuted atop the U.S. R&B Albums Chart, (#3 peak) alongside Brandy & The Weeknd’s new releases, & The Top 100 Global Albums overall during release week. As an artist, I’ve learned to trust myself, my artistic expression, & to be authentically who I am. Whenever you do that, whatever & whoever you are meant to reach will always come to fruition. THAT is what’s important.

The success is a bonus, & will organically come, in conjunction with the work you do. I’ve learned NOT to try to be like anyone else or sound like anyone else; nor do I try to approach things artistically as any other artist or vocalist would! Be you. Be free. It will always reach the people that way. That’s where true success & freedom lies, in any profession.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I feel like what sets me apart from others is my ability to find a special connection with those around me. I know that’s a God-given thing. I can’t quite explain it, but I have a way of speaking directly to people with my artistic expression & I am so grateful for that. I want to make music that inspires people to the fullest: their best.

I am most proud of being an award-winning independent recording artist & having my original music be listening to around the world. I am equally proud to be part of the National Tour of the Broadway hit-show Hamilton, & I’m looking forward to reuniting with my cast after the pandemic.
I’ve overcome lots of NO’s to reach these YES’s in my life & wouldn’t trade these experiences for anything. These experiences have taught me persistence & determination, as well as how to make MY OWN opportunities for myself.
Whether it’s recording my own music, acting on stage in HAMILTON, or any other show, I know that I have the tools to use my gifts and talents for a purpose beyond myself & I am incredibly grateful for where I am now, & where I’ve yet for my footsteps to take me. I want the world & any other aspiring performer or artist out there to know that anything is possible with hard work, determination, faith, & BELIEVING in yourself.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
So, I’m a Florida boy, which means I love Florida. I love everything about it — the culture, the people, the weather & most importantly…the food! 😉 I was born & raised here so there are many spots in the state that are beautiful & special to me.

In Tampa, one of my new favorite hot spots is 7th & Grove, a black-owned restaurant with a fresh spin on Southern Cuisine! A must-attend foodie spot. Did I mention that it’s black-owned?! Love that. As far as Miami goes, I love Mac & Cheese, so I make it my business to drop by House of Mac, chill out & relax by the beach on South Beach & enjoy the Miami city life.
Being currently based in Orlando, we love to Brunch, so there are so many fav Brunch hubs I like to visit! A few: Santiago’s Bodega, Maxine’s on Shine, & SOCO in the Downtown area.
There are a plethora of other wonderful small businesses & other hidden gems in the Central & South Florida area with tons to explore the many that have their doors open regularly. You’ve gotta love Florida!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to shoutout my Creative Writing teachers from High School, Gianna Russo & John Fairweather. As a Creative Writing major in High School, I still had an extreme passion for music & during my time in the program, at some point we had to go through an Oral Interpretation quarter where we had to perform our work.

I of course utilized song & spoken word style/rap in my performances – which no other student had done at the time. But; they both embraced my artistry with open arms. They also taught me discipline, work ethic, & they pushed me to be the best that I can be.

I honestly believe that I wouldn’t have the drive that I have today without their love & support. They allowed me to be free with my artistic expression & gave me the tools I never knew I’d need as a songwriter. To Mrs. Russo & Mr. Fairweather, & to all of the other educators, as well as up & coming creatives, inspirers, & doers in the world, know that I love & appreciate you, & pray we all continue to dream bigger every single day:)

Website: http://www.DeejayYoung.com

Instagram: http://www.Instagram.com/WhoIzDeejayYoung

Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/DeejayYoung

Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/OfficialDeejayYoung

Youtube: http://www.YouTube.com/WhoIzDeejayYoung

Other: My latest album “PRIMITIVE” is now available on all digital outlets worldwide, here: http://www.smarturl.it./primitivealbum/

Image Credits
PROMOTIONAL PHOTOS Photography Provided by Jonathan Massey, Jonathan James Photography, Durell Young, Triple D Photography & Herb Maximo, Herb Maximo & Deejay Young

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