Hey Dom! Thanks for taking time out to speak with us. I know you’re very busy getting ready for the HUGE “Red Rum Festival” coming up in Maine. Tell us all about it. Who’s performing? How did you come up with the concept? What can fans expect?
The Red Rum Music Festival is the first of its kind around Central Maine, offering a half outdoor / half indoor, all day music festival. My goal is to bring Music and Arts back into the city, while also giving Artists of Regional and National recognition, a platform to play on, especially after Covid. We essentially have 13 bands performing 30 minute sets, every 45 minutes from 11 AM to 11 PM! I’ve always been a fan of Jimmy Buffet’s approach to his career as an Entrepreneur, not just an Artist. My plan is to create a movement with this music festival and find a rum distillery that would be willing to endorse my own Red Rum recipe to offer at the festival in future years, while also giving up-and-coming Nashville Artists a chance to play on the same stage as the stars. I’ve built a lot of strong friendships from living in Nashville and it’s an honor to be able to give those friends a chance to perform. The festival’s lineup this year has artists such as Kaylee Rose, Ryan Robinette, Secondhand Serenade, Radio Romance, Isaac Geralds, Nestor AnDress, and Ellis Falls to name a few! Fans can expect a musical explosion, a Fair-like authenticity from local food truck vendors, and enough drinks to go around for everybody!
You have very humble beginnings as an artist. You were the subject of immense bullying in school. How did you deal with it, and overcome it? What can you tell kids going thru similar situations?
Honestly, as a teenager, I didn’t handle it well. I became so anxious and angry, that I got to a point where I would just implode rather than deal with my mental health and seek help. It wasn’t until the age of 17 until I finally told my parents and close friends what I had been going through. When I graduated high school, I decided to shed that skin and start fresh. I knew that it was just a bad chapter of my life and that the rest was still unwritten; that I had complete control over the next pages in my life. I decided to get my tongue cut by doctors in hopes of correcting my lisp and stutter from being tongue-tied. I also decided I wanted to go on an independent National anti-bully tour where I could just tell my story in hopes of having other teenagers feel that they were not alone and could seek help at any point if they were dealing with similar issues. The impact of the tour did not just affect the kids I had spoken to by the thousands, but it helped me heal from those past “demons” that seemed to still control my life. I learned to let go, to face those demons head on, and to keep pushing forward one day at a time. One thing I speak about in my assemblies to the kids, is that you have so much power in your words. Whether you use it for good, or use it for bad on social media to ridicule another individual, your words can have a huge impact on somebody’s life. It’s so unfortunate, but happens on a daily basis, that words affect kids strongly enough to end their own life. I just want to help in any way, even in a small way, by just being someone these kids can look up to; to see that I went through Hell and back and made it out okay, that they have enough hope to keep pushing forward.
You have lived on both coasts and in middle America…how has each place influenced you as an artist, and how are they similar/different?
I would say that living in Maine for most of my life, I learned the most about who I am and who I wanted to become. This state built me and broke me for all the right reasons, so I could grow strong enough to handle the Entertainment Industry.
Living in LA taught me the toughest lessons about the industry. I failed more times in this city than any accomplishments to write home about, but those failures turned into valuable lessons. I was a naive 19 year old boy moving to a studio apartment in Burbank, California after dropping out of college in my hometown. When I left LA to move to Nashville, I was a stronger man, ready to take on a new city and bigger opportunities.
Living in Nashville has felt the most like home out of any city I’ve lived in. Nashville is where I learned the most about myself as an Artist, a Songwriter, and a Producer. I’ve signed terrible management deals here; I’ve had all the broken promises; I’ve been through all the almost maybe’s; I’ve smiled and I’ve cried. My heart will always be in Nashville; my head in Maine; my bruises in Los Angeles.
Tell us about the single “Demons.” Congrats on its success!
Thank you so much! Demons came about during quarantine in my little home studio during a writing session with Idin Kain. Idin brought this slow acoustic feel to the verse, but after writing more to the song, I knew I wanted to give it more of a Pop Lo-Fi feel. I admire Fineas as a producer where he takes these sad, depressing lyrics with Billie Eilish, and compliments the style with a feel good back beat. I took the same approach to Demons with lines such as “Where do we go where demons won’t follow?” While also giving you a beat you can bob your head to.
You are also a personal trainer. How does that compliment your music, and vice versa?
I got into fitness and personal training to deal with my depression and anxiety. I knew I didn’t want to ever get back to that dark place I was in as a teenager, so I channel that energy into workouts to clear my head and prepare myself for any obstacles the day may bring. If I can also help someone else in their fitness and mental health goals, then that’s what it’s all about for me. I’m not one that would ever want to compete in a fitness competition, but I also feel that fitness is more than a hobby for me. I come up with my best lyrics while working out, since I can zone the world out and let my mind be creative.
Any plans for a “Demons” video?
Absolutely! I’d like to take a new approach with this next video. I’ve always co-directed my music videos and I will do the same for “Demons”, but with a little more vulnerability and multiple sides to the story.
Do you have a “next single” picked out yet? Any plans for a full-length?
I definitely will be doing a full-length album within the next year, but for now, I want to focus on single by single, until I feel I’m ready for that album to describe exactly who I am as an Artist and a Writer. I’m torn on which single to release next, as it may be a Feature with an Artist named Enzo from Nashville, that I’m currently producing a project for. He’s got one hell of a voice and I want to showcase it in one of my next singles!
What’s your favorite thing about performing on the road? Least favorite thing?
My favorite thing about performing on the road, is actually performing for strangers and turning them into fans by the end of the set. It’s always been a challenge of mine to turn at least one stranger into a believer at every show. My least favorite thing would be the vocal fatigue my throat endures. I’m not one of those singers that just lowers a key and sings an easy song. I go for the gold! Runs and all. So night after night of big songs can definitely take a toll on my vocal cords.
What is one thing that you would like your fans to know about you that they don’t already know?
I’m not just an Artist, a Songwriter, a Producer, an Actor, or a Public Speaker. I’m an Entrepreneur that approaches my career like a start up business. I have a few talents that help the common goal of becoming a Brand. I don’t ever want to be a sellout, but I also understand the importance of having a team around you to create synergy. I’m really excited about these coming years for my Brand and what I’ll be able to accomplish.
We are excited to watch, Dom! Thank you for your time and good luck!
