Meet crsh.

Today we’d like to introduce you to crsh.

Hi crsh., we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
For as long as I could remember I’ve always wanted to be an Artist. I was the kid who’d sped through schoolwork just to spend the rest of class creating my own comic books. Drawing was the only thing I could dedicate 100% of my focus to. By the grace, I had the opportunity to produce and record my first song with a childhood best friend in the 2nd grade that sparked a new love for the creation of music. I maintained the passion as long as I could by producing and performing music with friends well into high school. I reinforced my creativity by taking courses on art and art history, being the only black student enrolled. I was the only black student in calculus as well. I learned early on the relationship between art and math. Unfortunately at the time, the internet wasn’t “The Internet.” There were no platforms to accommodate artists as easily as it is now; pre-iPhone era. Being an “Artist” for a living was a pipe dream coming from where I was from; Bakersfield, CA. Math was my thing so I felt my only viable option was to take the college route. I enrolled at Arizona State for civil engineering, which resulted in me dropping out, returning to music and creating my company “Crashland.”

I released a rap experimental album which allowed me to open up for prominent artists on their tour stops in Phoenix. I grew tired of rap so I later fronted a rock band which caught the attention of Sony Music Publishing at a show we performed in Hollywood, CA during our first tour. I entertained the idea of moving to Los Angeles after that experience. During my time in Arizona, I grew close with a photographer and visionary from Los Angeles named Justin Smith who would later relocate back to LA and influence me to migrate to the city a few years later. Justin operated a studio named Two North, a space that serviced brands and connected various emerging creatives and playmakers in the city. It was there I met my initial network of creatives, some I continue to build with until this day up since my arrival in February 2016. By the grace, I was able to plant the right seeds and maintained watering them. I overcame years of darkness all while displaying ambition which later led me to composing music for artists and brands, launching the first rendition of my short-lived brand “room for error.”, starring in the movie “Teenage Badass” which went on to be nominated in the 2020 SXSW Film Awards, and forming Two West Studios with high school best friend Gerrell “Rellevant” King in honor of Justin Smith’s contributions and untimely demise in Spring 2019. Later in the fall that year, I enrolled in Santa Monica College and took courses on Piano & Music Theory to sharpen my skills. Soon after, I was handpicked by powerhouse advertisement producer, Veronica Beach, to score a documentary created for the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

Death was a disrupter in 2020. The passing of Gianna and Kobe Bryant in January, Breonna Taylor along with life as we knew it due to the mandated lockdown in March followed by the dreadful death of George Floyd in May had Los Angeles on edge. I attended a peaceful protest in the Fairfax District on May 30th to add my voice and body to the cause. Only a few hours went by before the protest turned chaotic by agitators. I found myself surrounded by pandemonium in front of an abandoned police squad car set on fire. I have reasons to believe the vehicle was planted there. Only having an iPhone to document, I captured the burning squad car. Unknown to me, this capture would trigger my interest in a new type of art form: photography.

I saw that the image of the burning squad car intrigued the people heavily, so much it compelled me to want to sell it as a print. So I created my first ever photography series entitled “the revoltage series.” including two other captures I took from the protest.

I relaunched my brand “room for error.” a second time, three weeks later on Juneteenth, the summer and heart of 2020. Honestly, the main focus for the relaunch was to promote myself as a music composer for film and tv while the prints were to bring in revenue to hold me over until I landed a sync deal. It became clear early on that the power of the brand was within the imagery as my prints began to sell across the United States. With the help of Blair Imani, two of the images from the “the revoltage series” were selected to be featured in a book published by Google recapping impactful moments of 2020. It was then that it dawned on me that people were starting to look at me as an actual photographer when I wasn’t. I was just an “iPhone photographer.” I didn’t want anyone to pull my card so I decided to learn real photography at that moment. I immediately bought a 35mm film camera, a Canon AF35 off Amazon and dove head first into film photography.

Divinely, everything just clicked after I loaded my first roll. Film photography brought back the feeling of creating without the instant gratification. I was reunited with that forgotten sensation of true anticipation and the process helped me see more beauty within humanity. Capturing people, places and things has opened up a whole new world for me I honestly never saw myself floating in. The reception has been robust and so far I’ve been awarded opportunities to work with brands like Sergio Velin, GVTC, Vans, Nike, and Andre Emery. Photography has even propelled me closer to music by providing me opportunities to work alongside critically acclaimed artists, songwriters and producers such as Lil Baby, Ty Dolla Sign, Coi Leray, Bee-B, Dreezy, Karl Rubin, Wale and Kanye West to name a few.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
There is nothing smooth about pursuing a life as an artist in Los Angeles. Every win I’ve ever gotten came by way of 100 L’s. From the moment I came to LA I was losing and the following years I’ve lost more: friends, money, resources, my mind, and almost my life. Through it all, I really had to embrace failure and see the silver lining in my downfalls. A lot of artists remain stagnant because they want things but don’t want to make the sacrifice. You only rise up when you deserve it, not when you want it. The only thing that saved me and continues to save me is opportunity. As long as I have the opportunity, I will never lose the war.

One struggle that stood out in my life since my arrival has been homelessness. Specifically when I first started “room for error.” in the Summer of 2018. The business was originally intended to be a recording studio. I was sleeping in my car at the time. I subleased a studio space to run the company out of. This allowed me to also use the studio as a place to sleep until I got caught by the studio manager and kicked out, thus ending the first rendition of “room for error.” Fall of 2018 I took a trip to Joshua Tree, CA for the first time, did some shrooms, had a good cry, and came back to LA on a mission to enhance my life. I was able to lock down a room to rent about a month before filming “Teenage Badass” in January 2019.

Another equally important struggle I had to overcome was learning how to love myself. In order to do that, I had to learn to understand myself. I’ve had anxiety since a child which stemmed from my father leaving and me being bullied. I unknowingly carried this disease into my adulthood which resulted in me having a warped perception of life and making bad decisions. The aftermath of those decisions welcomed guilt and depression which ultimately led to addiction. It took me until last year to put myself in clinical therapy and that was the best decision I’ve ever made for my life. Life is a battle for a lot of us so I encourage all my people in the fight to seek professional help. Our minds are our strongest weapon.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Music is my true love but right now I’m having an affair with film photography. I’m infatuated with it. I’m a street photographer at heart but I can shoot almost anything. I love capturing real moments involving either real people or real things. My work may appear dark but it contains a lot of light and beauty if you search for it. Since those art courses in high school, I’ve been fascinated with tenebrism and Italian paintings from the Baroque Period. I realized how impactful the Baroque style was to my work after a recent visit to Italy. I spent a bulk of my early childhood in Seattle, WA, so almost every day was cold, dark and gloomy. Plus, I was addicted to Batman movies; only the Tim Burton joints. I figured all that had to influence my creative outlook.

I’ve done a lot so I’m proud of a lot but as of late a few accomplishments stand out. Acting in “Teenage Badass” was one. Shot out to Grant McCord. One of my photos graced a billboard in Times Square, New York City this year; shot out to Compton’s own Brittany Barber. This year I also directed my first music video for singer Moxie Knox’s latest single, “Open Up (NIGHT VERSION).” Go run it up.

Ultimately, what wears the crown right now though is helping assemble a photoshoot for Kanye West in the name of DONDA SPORTS. I’m beyond blessed to have had the opportunity to assist one of the greatest and most influential artists to ever live. Especially with something named after his mother. Shot out to Hubble Studio for connecting the dots.

As a multi-disciplinary artist, I could be known for different things depending on when you met me. All my favorite artists are Swiss army knives: Dali, Pharrell, Ye, Andre 3000, etc. I’ve always pushed to be the same. What sets me apart from others is simply the things I choose to do with my time.

What’s next?
Really just molding “room for error.” into what it’s ultimately destined to be. The brand has and continues to act as my escape so I’m allowing the art to take me where it wants to. Everything doesn’t have to be perfect, that’s the whole meaning behind the name itself. Aside from more visual explorations, next on the menu, I’m stepping into merchandising. I have some hats about to drop amongst other items. I’m bringing all my talents together on this mission so you can definitely expect some music on the way; been chippin away at an album in the tuck. I have some concepts for charitable/philanthropic programs as well.

Above all, I’mma continues to build myself while building with other artists and brands. All I care about is executing ideas right now. I’m in debt to the culture so my focus is to continue to provide value to it. Many don’t make it out of my hometown in this fashion so I have to take it as far as I can. It’s more eyes on me than ever before so I gotta make my family and city proud. Best part is things just getting started.

My name is “crsh.”, pronounced Crash, but I ain’t pressed if you call me Crush.

Godspeed.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.roomforerror.co
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roomforerror_/ and https://www.instagram.com/crsh.187/

Image Credits
Personal photo of crsh. was taken by Tucker Audie. All other photos were taken by crsh., with exception of the Teenage Badass movie cover.