Today we’d like to introduce you to Natown
Hi Natown, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Honestly, music is in my blood. My mother was a singer and songwriter and still sings. My uncle was a professional drummer for acts like Bootsy Collins, Roger Troutman, the Five Blind Boys of Alabama, and others. My grandfather, who passed away earlier this year on January 16th, was a deacon and led our church’s devotional service by singing. He also taught me how to play the piano via “Lean On Me” by Bill Withers, which was his favorite song. I never knew I was going to do music; I just knew I was surrounded by it and loved it because it became a soundtrack to my life, regardless of the genre. I started rapping around 1999 when I was 9 or 10. My mom always got my brother and me music instruments, from little drums to pianos. In 2004/2005, I started getting into the production side, and after my next-door neighbor showed me his home studio, including an Akai MPC 2000 and Korg Electribe drum machines, I’ve been a music producer ever since. He also introduced me to Pro Tools, and I recorded my first studio record. Fast forward from all the grueling hours of learning how to be better, I’ve won 13 beat battles, produced for countless independent and major artists, have an R&B/rap Billboard number one, and am a music composer for TV and film, including the Real Housewives brand, and networks such as Netflix, ABC, Starz, etc., as well as working with music and sound libraries to continue adding bricks to my legacy.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Reflecting on everything, my road has been pretty smooth because everything I’ve done is based on me and either of my comfort level or my moral compass. I was able to do craft my career at my pace and at my discretion. Now would I like to be rich sooner than later, absolutely! LOL
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m an overall artist, but for the most part, I’m a music producer and audio engineer, and I specialize in any genre that I attempt by working hard and caring about the artists I work with and the music I create. I’ve climbed to be one of the top producers in the city of Cincinnati, but I realized Cincinnati is one city out of thousands, and my thought process has always been that even though I’m from Cincinnati, it’s not cool to be stuck in Cincinnati. One of the things that sets me apart is that I’m not looking for gratification, because it’s always work to do with that mindset, and everything I do makes me proud because it’s a step further from where I could be and statistically where I should be. If there’s one thing that sets me apart, it is my ability to learn. That skill set is probably my crowning jewel because it assures me that as long as I attempt, I can do.
How do you think about happiness?
Understanding God, my reality and knowledge of self are first. My happiness is at home with my wife/best friend/partner in my legacy and our family. Once I learned that, everything else is extracurricular. My happiness is also my external family and network around me because I was raised by a village and that village built me up to have the strength and values to continue building myself and now as an adult I have my adult village of friends and family to build with and help others build as well. In this business you’re either driven by hurt, love, sadness, freedom, or passion. Having the right element around you can determine which energy you’re pulling from, so that’s why I had to find which I could do and continue to be productive, I’m somewhere between freedom, love, and passion. That is a beautiful step for me because at one point I was on the hurt/sadness side. Thank God for growth!
Pricing:
- Instrumental licensing is around $250 for a exclusive licensing for one year for independent artists
- Mixing starts at $200 per record
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/natownbeats
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/natownbeats
- Twitter: https://X.com/natownbeats
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@natownbeats
