Today we’d like to introduce you to Domino.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Domino. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
Well, I was always performing, even as a young kid. I filled a poetry book in the 3rd grade and was performing close up card magic proficiently by 12 years old. Magic was my life!
Then in high school, in my hometown of Roseville, Ca, I joined a class called “Peer Helping” – it aimed towards teaching the students how to communicate, feel, translate emotions, learn love languages and the basics of therapy/psychology techniques to help people or problem solve. It saved my life.
The class would do assemblies where they would have a team building, allowing students to open up to us through games, storytelling, etc. At the end of these events, about seven peer helpers would form a line in front of a gym of students, and tell their life stories, leading up to now; and how they deal with that…
These stories ranged from simple things to very very intense, real, problems, situations and life circumstances. I learned so much about people, and how the people we see every day are truly going through some of the hardest things you could imagine and still putting a smile on.
I learned about the truths of life through that class, as I began public speaking my sophomore year at these assemblies. At the time I began performing my spoken word poetry and would end my speeches with one. Having listened to hip hop/rap since I was young thanks to my dad, the poem always struck most people. People wanted to hear it over music so they could hear the stories and messages in more simple way.
From then on, I was obsessed with music, rapping, cadence, all of the craft that comes with the artistry. It took me a long while to unlearn the poetry techniques in order to create great songs; and I am still in that journey — one of unlearning, learning relearning and then repeating that process. In 2015 I moved to LA and thats where I truly began honing in on my craft and taking it seriously.
I already was proficient in Photoshop, photography, and videography – I had already started producing as well – I was certain I could continue to expand my brand and do what I could with what I knew. To this day, I do most of my album and song covers, logo designs, product designs, along with my clothing merch and art magazine series… And don’t get me wrong, I am surrounded by amazing artists, creatives, dancers, videographers, and all around artists.
I truly believe we are in an art renaissance and I believe even more the community I am in here will be at the forefront of that very soon. We all are working to balance more and support each other on more and more levels. I am thankful for these people in my life that continue to inspire and push me every single day… I am also blessed with a beautiful fan base of like-minded, amazing people.
Has it been a smooth road?
Absolutely not. I lived in a living room in la for two years. One time we didn’t have food, so Steeziak and I ate this weird spaghetti with this sausage thing my Oma gave me with roses in it or something… It was horrible. The noodles were mad undercooked too. But. It got us to the next day haha.
Even last year, when I was working on my last project, Board Games, my MacBook got stolen with all of my project on it. I had wanted to produce a lot of it myself, so I had all of the songs and instrumentals on there… Lost most of what I had. But! I am luckily surrounded by great people, and many came through to help.
Alex and Gabe at Galaxy Studios sat with me for a few more months after that re-recording every song and doing everything we could on the mixes. It was a dream saver. Pretty much every show is a challenge. Every session. Every song or project or merch drop. It all has its up and downs and failures and successes, but they’re all learning lessons that are strengthening us and training us for what’s to come.
We’d love to hear more about what you do.
Well, in 2012, I created the name Domino as a rap pseudonym. It has become a brand of sorts at this point. I will just list what I do to make it easier :
-I rap and write poetry
-I produce music
-I do photography
-I do videography
-I direct films and videos
-I do graphic design
-I do clothing design
-I do close up card magic
-I throw events
-I can juggle
-I can kind of tap dance (???)
Those are what I can think of right now haha. But I think those things, and how I do them sets me apart. I really try to create worlds with every drop. Whether thats with a project, a hoodie, it doesn’t matter. I put the extra effort to really put you into my world and see what I am seeing.
Down to what arrives in the merch packages, what is at each performance I do (sometimes I have The Gentle Ladies, an entire female dance intensive, perform with me, sometimes I have a live band, sometimes the inside of the venue is covered with paper planes, other times its covered in flowers) and all of the small details.
I am also very proud of my music videos, I have been blessed to have worked with many many of the most talented creative directors, filmers, videographers, and PEOPLE.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
The valley is a great place. A weird place some times, but where isn’t? I think there is SO MUCH TALENT HERE, but it is slept on by the mass community.
There are so many events, shows, performances and experiences happening in the valley by a special community, but it’s hard to get the word to people, let alone have people not bail in this place called Los Angeles. But I have hope. This city has bred some of the worlds greatest so it will continue to.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dominosmusic.com
- Email: thedominoproject@gmail.com
- Instagram: @dominosmusic
- Twitter: @dominosmusic
Image Credit:
Allie Costello, Kanya Iwana, Jordan Sotero
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
