Today we’d like to introduce you to Davion Farris.
Davion, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I fell in love with music at an early age, being introduced to singing and songwriting by my mother. She used to have my brothers and I sitting around the piano teaching us all she knows about theory and developing our ears. My brothers and I even had a deal with DreamWorks Records at the ages of 9,10, and 11. The man who signed us, Jheryl Busby, passed away while we were being developed, thus cutting our time with DreamWorks short. We did make our way back to industry though. At the age of 19, I started to write for other artists, eventually landing a publishing deal with Warner Chappell a few years later, and an ASCAP award for “Never” by Jahiem. That would start a trend that landed me in the studio with the likes of Tyrese, Mary J. Blige, Marsha Ambrosius, Ginuwine, and many more.
Great, 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?
One of the biggest challenges of being a professional creative is time and money management. On one hand, you need time to read, watch movies, listen to music, go to museums, whatever you do to find inspiration. Then you need time to create and hone your craft. Problem is, there’s a cost for all that including rent, so you have to figure out how to make a living while focusing on your creative endeavors. It’s definitely been a challenging road. There’s always this moment of, “What am I doing?” “Where will the money to live come from?” “Things are slow, should I go get a job?” And there are the times when I had to be humble and go get a job, even though I was in the studio with Timbaland the night before. Moments like that always manage to help keep the ego in check.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am my business/brand. I’m a singer/songwriter/actor. The acting is new so there’ll be more on that next time, but I am singer/songwriter by trade. I’ve sung background for Chaka Khan and written for some of the premier names in the music industry like Trey Songz, MJB, Tyrese, etc. I’d have to say I’m most proud of my ability to persevere. I know many people who have come and gone in music, and I’ve been able to make a living for some years now. I think what sets me apart is my passion for the art. I love every part of the process that is being an artist, melodies, lyrics, harmonies, background parts, and pulling the concepts together. I also think what sets me apart is my honest perspective. My music tells you how men feel about love, loss, winning, learning and all the above, from the perspective of a masculine man.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Passion. I needed to have the passion and love for the music to keep me there when times were extremely difficult. And the same passion is what people connect to when they hear my music and see me perform.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: iamdavionf
- Twitter: iamdavionf
Image Credit:
Karina Allen, Nicole Woodland, Nicolette Carney
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