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

Hi DirtyBlakRat, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Being artistic/creative is in my DNA, it is who I am in every aspect of my life. 1940 Pinocchio amazed me when I was young and still does to this day. From the time I was a child, I’ve been writing short stories, acting out a scene from a movie or music video. Growing up, my family pushed academic’s and never really thought of my talents as something to build into a career, it wasn’t until a few years ago when I thought to myself about making this a a career. Making that choice brings with it a scarlet letter of sorts, as this business is hard, and you either make millions and are considered successful, or you’re part of the struggle to get there. I’ve kept at it, first becoming a SAG member, acting in General Hospital and then discovering my true creative nature in music, releasing my first 2 albums (Latest is UFO at the Disco). Creating music has really opened my the creative beast in me, realizing I can be creative whenever I want, making my own material, using my own stories and can reach an audience world wide. Being a creative is about expressing one’s self. The freeing feeling of writing a song or album from nothing is one of the best feelings. Something that is not real and turn it into words on a song or visuals for a video.

If you look back In time. 100 of years ago. There was always creatives. Something in them that makes them create. Perusing a career in this is the only thing that make sense for me

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have released two album’s “Run” and “UFO at the Disco, which is my latest album. This album is an adrenaline rush that was created to let you escape. The album represents a theatrical experience, with in-depth story telling, which delivers a different type of message than what is out in the market today, thus making it unique. What sets me apart from other artists is I’m a complete package, a vertical integrated company in a one man design, I write and produce all of my music, star in my own video’s that are shot and edited by me as well. The vision of the song is performed theatrically in the video. My brand of music gives you the feeling / struggle of a rat and the exploration. The rush of the struggle and exploration, leaves you with a vibe that is both suspenseful and fun. The struggle is real no matter if you rich, poor or a rat.

The road you choose as a creative is a hard one no matter how successful you are, with such a demand for quality roles, the competition is fierce and this make the road lonely. I’ve experienced many challenges along the way. Starting with acting, hearing more “no’s” than “yes’s” , learning to accept the rejection. Music, has its own struggles, in that you can create classics and not have an audience to hear it, while the new world of music is all online, getting exposure in that vast world takes money, and a marketing team to get you to the right audience. Despite this, I stuck with the process of the craft, kept writing, expanded my imagination and never cut myself off from the source of creating. The valuable lesson I’ve learned, work the art and everything elsewhere will come, and never give up, keep doing what you love to do!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There is so much to do in LA, and so many cities to get lost in. I would stick to the basics, the spots everyone hears about who doesn’t live in LA. Starting with Santa Monica, the pier is a must see, with so many restaurants to choose from. Going north up the coast, Malibu is next on the list, with drinks at moon shadows, followed by dinner at Nobu. Hollywood and Sunset Blvd is another place we could walk around, people watch and look at the stars on the ground, is must see in LA. Lakers game and to see the statues of the Lakers greats, and of course garlic fries at a night time Dodger game. The final day has to be Disneyland, no matter how old you get, this takes you back to being a kid, feeling magical and always inspires the creative in me.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There is always people along the way that guides you and imparts wisdom. Two people that influenced my career come to mind. Dwight Bacquie, was an instructor of a play I had a lead role in, called “The Zoo Story”. He taught me the art of breaking down a script, understanding the character’s personality. He stressed the importance of the technical part of acting, this has helped create my character’s in my stories and my music. Gwen Hillier was a casting director for General Hospital who gave me job on the show. I called her out the blue and I asked “How do I get on this show”, and she ask me my name, to ask me to send in a headshot. 2 weeks later, she called me in to be an orderly on the show, which I continued to do for several years. Giving me the opportunity is what I needed to keep going in this business, it helped me pay my SAG dues, feel apart of the action, and instill in me that sometimes you just need to ask for an opportunity to get it. This was a pivotal point in pursing the arts because there was hope. The little things people do to inspire or provide a hand up, sets you for the next thing. We need more of that in this business.

Website: https://www.dirtyblakrat.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dirtyblakrat

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DirtyBlakRat

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dirtyblakrat

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@dirtyblakrat

Other: TIC TOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@dirtyblakrat

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