Conversations with David Timothy

Today we’d like to introduce you to David Timothy.

Hi David, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Being of Nigerian descent, born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden, and the United States. I am a product of a multitude of cultures. My love for music is a byproduct of that. My earliest musical memories find me playing beautiful, cohesive melodies on the piano at two years old. Fast forward a few years, and I was the soloist in a church choir in Ohio at nine years old, at ten, I’m at a kit. These two instruments (vocals and drums) are my true passions.

After some time in the states studying music, I moved back to Sweden. Coming back to Sweden was one of the best things that could have happened to me because, coincidentally, it’s where I found hip-hop. In my early teens, my main influences were the likes of Eminem, Jay-Z, and Andy Mineo. However, this also encouraged me to explore other artists and genres, such as Samm Henshaw, Bruno Mars, and Justin Timberlake. A true testament to the myriad of influences that would later be molded into my identity.

During my time in Sweden, I was given the opportunity to perform at Stockholms annual culture festival, headline Abba Museum’s Pop House, and be featured in Sweden’s “Idol” which aired nationally. On the cusp of these accomplishments, I traveled back to the US ultimately because I wanted to be challenged socially and musically, and I felt that part of my identity was to be solidified over here. After some time in college, I began to write more fervently and created my first project, “Identity Crisis.”

Identity crisis allowed me to explore what it really means to be an ambitious young man with so many different influences, so many different cultures, and so many different voices speaking into my life. Two singles from it, “Let’s Ride” and “Fast Lane” can be found on all streaming platforms. Writing that project allowed me to perform even more, which I did a lot in Boston. I was blessed to be surrounded by amazing musicians and creators who really brought my vision to life and further strengthened my resolve to continue creating and pursuing my dream.

That brings us to today, I now live in LA, and my days consist of continuously cultivating my musical gift in collaboration with awesome producers and songwriters, working towards creating a brand and an image that will inspire joy and encourage love without being afraid to talk about the things that we all encounter (i.e., self-doubt, shame, love, joy excitement, disappointment, etc.) I’m looking forward to sharing more music with the world very soon.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Life is a winding road of seemingly incoherent choices that ultimately determine where you’re supposed to be. But it will always teach you something you didn’t know you needed to learn. My journey to today has been filled with financial hardship, disappointing album sales, disappointing show numbers, and bad songs. But at the end of the day, I can say that I’m grateful for every single failed relationship, unanswered text message, and lousy turnout. It motivates me because I’ve always pushed for greatness, and if everything was just handed to me, I don’t think I’d be able to steward it properly.

Without the pain and dissatisfaction, I wouldn’t have discovered that my passion lies in utilizing my talent to uplift and give a voice to humans worldwide. But it also showed me that this isn’t about me, and it never has been. It’s about the music. It’s about making sure that everyone has an opportunity to be heard, even if they don’t know how to make that possible or what they’re trying to say. It’s about leading people out of darkness and into the light. It’s about creating moments of bliss and encouraging people to consider things they’d never considered.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a rapper, singer, and drummer. My writing style varies depending on what is needed. Typically, when I write, I specialize in pop and hip-hop; when I play drums, I specialize in rock, pop, Hip-hop, and funk. I’m most proud of my song Fast Lane and look forward to seeing even more success with my subsequent releases. My dedication to staying true to myself, my versatility, and my live performance are three things that set me apart from other artists out there.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Trust the process. Know that the only way to any type of success is consistency. As early as possible set goals you want to reach in your musicality and determine routines you can enact. This will not only help you achieve your goals, but you will see growth which is what will keep you in this. You can love music with all your heart, but if you never see any growth, then you will start to wonder if it’s for you. The key to any type of success is consistency and persistence in the face of adversity.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: instagram.com/thedavidtimothy
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDavidTimothy
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/thedavidtimothy

Image Credits
Will Rowan Airham Almonte Andrew Dziuba