In this interview spotlight, I chop it up with Admonish about the latest project, AI in music, dream collabs, and more.

Full Q&A along with links and music below.

This AI thing is getting way out of control. I have students using ChatGPT to write death metal songs about country music…and country songs about being sad. You can feed some Ais a text prompt and create a Hollywood-quality short film. How do you feel about this new wave of technological innovation?

AI is a scary technology. Yes, there are many people who see pros and others who see cons. As with any technology. I’m most concerned with how lazy it’s making a lot of people, such as creatives. Art is a feeling, a moment caught on tape, computer, canvas or paper. It’s not emulations or data points of what someone else did. It’s a connection to one’s emotions and character. You can’t AI that. 

I know it’s hard…but what’s your favorite song and/or favorite artist of all time? If not favorite, in your top 3?

Wow! That’s a tough one, lol. Rakim, Marvin Gaye and Bob Marley. Though there are many, many others I love and appreciate immensely for their creative contributions. However, those 3 have spark something in me that at 1 time or another changed my life for the better. Truly amazing artist.

Were you trying to accomplish anything specific or different with this project? What’s the back story?

Lol ok, the back story is funny. I’m working onnbuilding relationships in the sync licensing portion of the music industry. So 1 day I saw a post speaking on how an instrumental album improves your chances of sync placements, album placements and of course you can generate sales. So as I began working on beats. I noticed I was gravitating to my roots in sampling music while making beats. So I thought, I don’t want to clear samples for the album and have to worry about clearing theme for sync projects. How can I make them “sound” sampled? How I studied chord and chord progressions, listened to plenty of Isaasc Hayes, Holland-Dozier-Holland and Quincy Jones. Then I fell into this flow of melodies, drums and basslines. After working on the music I spent a ton of time working on making the tracks sound sampled with vinyl static, eqing and filters. When I got that down. I recording myself pressing a tape recorder, needle touching vinyl and a cd player. That’s when the thought of making the album feel like a time piece. The 1st 3rd sounds like recordsnfrom the vinyl Era, the 2nd 3rd the tape Era and the final 3rd the cd era. Then I had to make sure the cover reflected that’s sound. So I shot the cover with a high-quality digital camera so all the elements are seen and then layered it with static and dirt to make it feel nostalgic. Like I sampled the cover as well.

What drives you to create? What keeps you going, especially on the bad days?

Purpose. I’m a very purpose driven individual. Everything I do is purposefully done. My clothing brand, my consulting company and of course my music production company. I am very aware that my talents are to be shared with others. I create because I’m blessed with the talent and I create because it’s in me and needs to be released to have its full purpose. What others do with it or feel a out it is completely out of my control. When I have a down day or a bad day. I create because the feeling fulfills me. I am blessed to have a partner in my wife that not only encourages and pushes me but she is a creative as well. So to have her asking what did I create today and to receive honest and unbiased feedback from someone you trust is amazing in itself. 

If you could collaborate with anyone – dead or alive, famous or unknown – who would it be and why? Please plug them with a link so readers can check them out.

Well 1st on my list would definitely be @thegodrakim , Marvin Gaye, Bob Marley, Quincy Jones, @whoisconway , @nas , @larussell lol I can go on for days. I want to work with great artist and make great timeless music.

Where is the best place to stay connected with You?

My website www.admonishmusic.com and on social Instagram www.instagram.com/admonishmusic Threads www.threads.com/admonishmusic & Facebook www.facebook.com/admonishmusic 

I appreciate Your time. Want to say anything else before we sign off? 

Thank you for the kind words regarding my music. I greatly appreciate the opportunity for this interview. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your platform. 🙏🏼 the album is available on my website and https://www.even.biz/releases/you-ve-been-warned both with “pay what you want” options. I’d also like to say, coaster what it is you want to accomplish in your life. Just do it. You are filly capable. Don’t think anyone owes you any help. You just get up and do it,  don’t chase it, do it. Again thank you.