Meet Princeton Brown | Recording Artist | Music Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Princeton Brown and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Princeton, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
For me, it was all about pursuing something that I’m deeply passionate about. I changed my mindset from looking towards how can I make the most money possible with the degree I have to how can I live a more meaningful life? A life where how I spend my time is the most important thing, and second to that is how I believe I can impact the most people possible. Combining these thoughts with my gifts for producing and writing music jolted me into figuring out how to be a recording artist/producer full time (which I am now), so that I can dedicate 100% of my time towards making the best art and impact possible.

There are many people who can replace me in many jobs that my college degree provides, but none that can ever replace the art and music I create because I am unique as an individual.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a lover of all genres and forms of music. Growing up I started my music journey as a musician learning the piano and drums. Throughout early school years I was always playing in the school bands as music was more “cool” to me than being an athlete. Having a rich background in playing music as a musician even before writing/producing songs I believe is a key component to what separates me from others today. Many artists only know music through what they’re able to do on the computer nowadays.

In addition, I have a father from Jamaica who when I was growing up was an active DJ so I would hear loads of vinyl records coming from all genres of music, but many from reggae, dancehall, and the first pioneered Jamaican music. Along with this we would travel as a family back to Jamaica every year ever since I was a little boy, so the culture and music of Jamaica are embedded deep within my sound. Growing up in the US also exposed me to more POP and RNB sounds as well though, so my sound is a culmination of bridging Caribbean music with more popular American genres of RNB and POP together.

The only way I can say I’ve gotten to where I’m at now professionally as an artist and producer is through never giving up. I’ve had this dream and actualization of being a world recognized and admired recording artist/producer since middle school, and I am now 29 years young. Through this journey I’ve had to constantly go against society and what society as well as other family members thought my life should look like. Living in Minnesota wasn’t easy for music because the music scene there was very “clicky” in my experience, and there wasn’t nearly as much structure and people working in the industry as there are here in LA to support artists. I graduated college with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics (which is not easy to obtain) thinking I’ll go into engineering because that’s what would make good money and my family happy (in a way), but instead had to muster the courage to leave all that behind to pursue something I’m daily passionate about, which is music. My extended family never really understood what I was doing. Being in Minnesota especially for the kind of music I was making felt very lonely at times. I always wanted to speak positivity in my music, but the music that seemed to be getting the most attention in Minnesota were most negative, degrading, or too “flashy” and not really having any depth or meaning. I wasn’t in music just to flex and for show, I knew I had a calling to create change, bring people together, and tell beautiful stories through music.

I’ve learned throughout my journey till now that what matters most is being YOU. There is and will never be another you in the art you create. Create things that resonate with you on a metaphysical level, and aren’t just pieces of music or art that look or sound good, or could be compared to “xyz…” Wether someone else in the world likes it or not is not the point. The point is you absolutely love it and you hope others will too. When you come from this standpoint you are truly creating something new, needed, and refreshing in my opinion.

I want the world to know that I’m someone who never gave up on their vision, even till today. Even when family, society, social media, and all other powers were against me to give up, conform to a basic 9-5 lifestyle and not pursue my art as a full time career I never gave up on it. I’m not here in LA helping others and pursuing my art better than ever with the support I need, and I think it’s important others should know you’ll always get what you want if you want it bad enough. You have to have endurance, and not be looking for the quick pay day, but rather the beauty in the life you lived, how you spent your time, and the legacy you’ll have when gone.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my friends or family were visiting I would first take them to the beaches of Santa Monica, Venice, Ocean Park area. This is where I first fell in love with Los Angeles. The beauty of having the ocean so close with some of the most beautiful sunsets in the world is magical.

I would take them to Sage plant based bistro because this is my favorite restaurant that never misses. I’m also vegan and think everyone should at least try a full plant based meal.

I’m a very active and outdoors kinda person so I would take them to some of my favorite hikes in Santa Monica mountains, as well as the mountains near Pasadena, and Altadena. One that comes to mind is “Echo Mountain.” There are so many great hikes in LA with amazing views and it’s a great way to get a workout, as well as connect with nature.

I would have to take my friends/fam along PCH as well all the way up to as far as we want to go, but ideally the bay area. It’s magical. The cliffs, water hitting the rocks, amazing high up views, winding roads, the change in climates. You get it all. It’s one of the best ways to see California in my opinion.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family and parents first and foremost. They started me in music at a very young age of 4 years old and never doubted my abilities. They have supported my decisions every step of the way from leaving the “traditional” lifestyle of working a 9-5, moving across country to LA, and now pursing music full time.

A book I have to give credit to is the 4-hour work week by Tim Ferris. This book opened my eyes to see how I could live and make a living working many less hours at a time when I was still working a 9-5 job. It sparked my entrepreneurial spirit, and now I a have a growing music production business “Sonic Gold Production” that services recording artists and producers all over the world helping them create better music through education, recording, production, mixing & mastering.

My musician and producer peers. I have been blessed in my journey to meet some really talented people who have gone on to become very succesful in the music industry. Having such a personal connection to them at a point in time when they weren’t as big gives a lot of encouragement towards my journey knowing what I’m striving to achieve is possible.

Website: www.sonicgoldproductions.com

Instagram: @princetonbrownmusic @sonigcoldproductions

Youtube: /sonicgoldproductions

Other: For personal music look up “Princeton Brown” on all streaming platforms.

Image Credits
Nicole Alvarenga (@nicolevisions)