Meet I. Destiny: Creative DIrector & Music Artist

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

Hi I. Destiny, how do you think about risk?
Most of my life risk played a very small role; risk was either very calculated or nowhere to be found. I enjoyed playing it safe, I enjoyed knowing the outcome of my actions and the effects of other’s actions on me. I liked it that way!

However, over the last 6-8 years calculated and “over-researched” risks weren’t getting me the results I was looking for. I saw my peers failing forward and eventually getting where they wanted to go and I wanted that for myself. I wanted to try my hand at all the ideas swirling around in my head and be able to take risks while there was very little to lose.

So after a few years of tinkering around in my cave and putting a few works out to see if people were interested I just went all in. I left my corporate job 3 months before the pandemic hit, wrote song after song and eventually crowdfunded my latest project. It raised over $3,000 in about 6 weeks to fund the whole EP.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Where do I even start! Okay, so my music is avant-pop, neo soul. It draws from classical a capella style vocals as the base for the majority of the songs and can be atonal in nature. I really like the juxtaposition of classical and tribal sounds and chords with the lyrical delivery of more modern pop and contemporary music. This sets me apart in a way from most artists that structure their songs to be a radio hit: certain tempos, certain chords, around 2:30 seconds, popular elements. I just create the stuff that I like to listen to; whether it be 2 minutes or 10, one long verse or five verses, changing time signatures or one repeated chord. That’s what makes me happy.

I initially had the hardest time creating the music that I wanted to hear because I couldn’t find a producer in my price range that would make it abstract enough, and I had a difficult time communicating my exact ideas because music notation was never my strong suit. This is close to impossible when you want to create a piece with changing time signatures and notes you can’t pluck out on a piano. At least it felt that way!

Eventually, I realized I would have to sing my ideas into my iPad and create the structure for almost the entire song. No instrumentalist, no producer, no engineer. Just me, a tablet and a metronome. 30 or so songs later and I knew I had enough material to define my style and do an album. It took me about 9 years and dozens of voice notes to understand I had to be the solution to my problem and cultivate my gift to its fullest extent.

At the end of the day I just want my music to resonate with someone on such a deep level that it reveals the pains that they’ve hidden from the world. Something that will give a descriptor audibly and lyrically to the emotions that they cannot understand. I want them to know that they are not alone and to a certain extent, I understand.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am such a homebody, but anytime I feel the need to get out and away for a bit it’s usually the beach. I could just sit in the sand for hours staring at the water with some good food in hand. If we got an airbnb by the beach stocked with wine and just had food delivered from all of my hole-in-the-wall foodie joints, I would be ecstatic! Jamaican food, Indian food, sushi, tacos; something different every night.

Also, I love to ride bikes or roller blade from Santa Monica to Venice. We’d definitely have to do that. It’s such a mood and it’s great to support the mom and pop shops that sell trinkets and beach gear along the bike path. Hopefully we see a drum circle and stop by the skate park. Maybe even get on a few rides at the pier.

If we had time to make it to Oxnard and Ventura, staying in a house boat on the water would definitely be on the itinerary. Followed by shopping at the Camarillo outlets or thrifting in the valley.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I definitely want to thank all the backers from my crowdfunding campaign. They are just so amazing and patient and have been supportive through the last 4 months of my working diligently on this album. This whole project would not have been possible without every dollar and word of encouragement they’ve given throughout. Also, God because I was so scared to even start this project. My faith has carried me though so many times when I wanted to tap out. But He brought me through every step of the way even when I had no idea what to do next.

Website: https://www.theidestiny.com

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

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/theidestiny

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/indigenousdestiny

Image Credits
Marco Sari Sailing In The Desert Jamison Malaeloa