a spiritual conduit
Hailing from a background that wasn't inherently musical, I discovered my passion for music through exposure to diverse music that resonated with my soul. Music became more than sound; it became a spiritual conduit, flooding my body with emotions, ideas, and life-force energy.
The genesis of Father Venus was due to the self-actualizing expedition that blossomed during my graduate school years. In the face of challenges with the principles of academia, music emerged as both a sanctuary and response. A metamorphosis occurred as I transitioned from a commentator on art to a creator, wielding my artistic prowess to craft music that conveys the depths of my emotions and experiences.
Navigating My artistic journey wasn't
linear
Rooted in a family history intertwined with challenges and triumphs, my journey is deeply imbued with the legacy of my father's murder, a defining event that shaped my path. Raised in Harlem amidst a backdrop of vibrant culture and government-sponsored systemic turmoil, I emerged from a life impacted by U.S. violence alongside the life-giving cultural pulse of Harlem’s Black and brown community. With my father's passing, I found myself catapulted into a role of carrying forth his legacy.
Navigating my artistic journey wasn't linear. I initially ventured down an academic path, expressing my creativity through “academic” research and scholarship. Yet, the confines of academia felt stifling, prompting a pivotal breakdown and realization. The clash of my true desires against the forced path led me back to my profound love for creating my own music.
Father Venus liberated me from external expectations
Within the confines of my apartment closet turned studio, the first notes of my music was recorded, symbolizing a personal rebirth. The intensity of graduate school paved the way for my emergence as a lyricist at the intersection of music orated as both lectures & lullabies.