An Interview With The Baltimore-Based Musician, WORDSMITH!

Wordsmith is the always-professional, ever-expanding, worldwide movement based out of Baltimore, MD.  His mission is to entertain and educate through a Message of Purpose, and always by example relate that message through clean, quality, and marketable Music for the Masses.

Wordsmith’s 5 release Perspective Jukebox was released on Friday, July 21st via NU Revolution Entertainment.

This emcee looks to represent his city on national and international stages with his Consciou-Commercial Hip-Hop and theatrical stage shows. Free of profanity, full of message driven content and fun for all ages Wordsmith’s music is considered blue collar to the core.

Making great strides in the independent music scene Wordsmith was accepted into the Grammy voting committee due to his numerous songwriting credits over the years.  His label NU Revolution Entertainment is recognized by his alma mater Salisbury University as a certified alumni business. Major accomplishments include being a Top 5 winner in the Great American Song Contest, touring Africa & Israel for Wordsmith’s American Music Abroad Tour, Five Artist to Watch Presented by JBL, featured music at Red bulls BC One World Final, a spread in the Baltimore Sun Newspaper Fall Arts Guide and coverage of Wordsmith’s Hip Hop narration for “Carnival of the Animals” with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra from January 11th, 14th and February 10th, 2018!

Wordsmith has developed corporate approval through the licensing of over 30 songs for film, television, internet video, video games and advertisement purposes with companies like NFL Network, CBS, NBC, Fox, Style, Bravo, Nintendo Wii and many more.  Recent ad placements include Wordsmith’s “Happy Hour the Universal Blackout” used in Kicks promo ad, while providing the soundtrack to the amazing documentary Road trip Nation: Ready Rise  Other placements include “We Do It Better” featured in Red Bull’s Street Skating Mystic Sk8 , “On My Job” appearing on NFL Networks Top 100 Players 2015 and “Eye for the Spotlight” used in ESPN’s Sportscenter in Review show to name a few.  Film placements include the movies Hollidaysburg and Slow Learners.

Wordsmith has made charitable contributions a pillar of his NU Revo label and performances are just the beginning. For four years running Wordsmith has been the performing artist for students at local inner-city schools for the annual Red Day festival sponsored by Open Door Baltimore and Keller Williams. Wordsmith started entering middle schools to deliver Anti-Bully lectures/performances along with joining Baltimore based homeless shelter Project   to feed and provide gifts to their clients. Recently, Wordsmith debuted his Studio to the Stage: A Hip Hop Fundamentals Workshop during his American Music Abroad Tour to Africa and Israel!

Connect With Wordsmith Here:

www.facebook.com/wordsmith

www.instagram.com/wordsmithmusic

www.twitter.com/Wordsmith

www.wordsmithmusic.com

https://tinyurl.com/kx4rqg2 (YouTube)

Learn more about Wordsmith in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time! What are some words you would use to describe 2016 for you and your music? How has 2017 been treating you? 

Words that come to mind for 2016 are enlightening, humbling and full of purpose. I didn’t release an album in 2016 as I spent most of the year touring domestically/internationally. The word preparation comes to mind in regards to 2017 as I look forward to releasing my new album “Perspective Jukebox” on July 21^st.

Where does this interview find you today? Is there music playing in the background? If so, what is it? What kind of music do you listen to when you are working? What music gets you instantly out of a bad mood?

There are a few artists who are staples in my everyday life along with playing the background at times. This might surprise people, but Hip Hop doesn’t make my playlist most of the time as I enjoy my favorite band Coldplay, Alina Baraz, Betty Who, 21 Pilots, Metallica, Jon Bellion and Rufus Du Sol.

Growing up, did you always want to be a musician? Can you recall your earliest musical memory?

I can’t say I always wanted to be a musician, but more a collector of music. I still have a pristine tape collection of over 200 classic albums and singles.

If you weren’t a musician today, what else could you see yourself doing? Or could you really not see yourself doing anything else?

I would definitely say politics because I truly care about people and the numerous issues surrounding our communities. Being a native of Baltimore we have a profound homeless problem in the city, so I spend time weekly giving away money, clothes and food. Over the years I’ve teamed up with companies like Project Plase in Baltimore for a Christmas Food drive while working with Keller Williams Realty to bring field day to underprivileged schools in Baltimore City.

How did you come up with your artist name, Wordsmith? What other names were you considering?

Haaaa I laugh when I hear this question only because I think about some of the terrible names I once had. At one point I went by Thoro followed by Franchize before I settled on Wordsmith. The first two names had no meaning, but I stumbled upon Wordsmith by chance. I remember I writing a verse and I happened to use the word blacksmith and it kind of jumped out at me in my mind. A blacksmith makes and repairs things in iron by hand so I metaphored it to music; Wordsmith was born.

I always like to ask artists about where they came from and have that city or town has influenced them as an artist now. So how do you think being from Baltimore has shaped who you are as a musician and the kind of music that you create?

Crazy thing is I have dual citizenship as I was born in Frankfurt, Germany while my father was stationed there with the Army; he served 27 years. In all I lived in 7 different states growing up and never stayed in one place longer than 2 years before landing in Baltimore. A football scholarship to Morgan State put me in the area and I soon fell in love with city life. After close to 13 years the blue collar mind frame of Baltimore City has shaped my perspective on life at times. My music is very down to earth, relatable and about everyday life, so it reflects a Baltimore way of life, while being acceptable worldwide.

Let’s talk about your 5the release Perspective Jukebox that will be released next month. Where did the inspiration for this collection come from? How will this music be different or similar to anything else that you have put out?

I consider myself a conscious commercial musician meaning my music always has a message, but can easily be played on the radio or in a club. When putting together my new body of work I wanted to create an album that plays like the jukebox you hear in a bar; thumping beats, party anthems and ballads.  The twist is each record has a perspective on life that is relatable to the general public.

What was it like getting accepted into the Grammy voting committee? As a songwriter, do you feel like it validated you and your skills to an extent? Have you gotten the chance to vote yet for anything?

It was a great honor because you have to earn a certain amount of writing credits over the years to get an invitation to come on the committee. It’s made up of major label artists, but also very successful independent artists in the industry. It was just a cool experience to get the voting ballot in the mail, but also an official invite to attend the Grammy’s; small things like that are big for an indie artists career. I plan to submit Perspective Jukebox for Grammy consideration, so there is excitement in having the opportunity to go up against other great artists.

Can you elaborate on starting your label NU Revolution Entertainment? What first gave you the idea and what then motivated you to go out and finally make it happen? What are some other artists that you work with under it?

I opened up my label in 2009 with the idea of it being an entertainment company over a label. My college degree is in TV Production and Theater Arts, so I knew at some point I would want to dive back into both of those fields along with my music. I wanted to be in full control of my career and expand my monetary goals, so having my own company was the route to go. I’ve built it to the point that I am a regular licensor for NFL Network, ESPN, Redbull, MLB, while having access to retail distribution, shooting music videos, photo shoots and creating business plans.

You already have tour dates set for 2018 so can you talk a little about these two big upcoming shows in January and February? What can people expect from one of your shows?

Sure and thanks for asking; I’ll be working with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra January 11^th & 14^th along with February 10^th, 2018 providing original Hip Hop narration to a musical composition called “Carnival of the Animals”. The community outreach this creates will be amazing as we want all races to appreciate Classical and Hip Hop music alike. Please feel free to stay up to date with my tour schedule via Bands in town http://www.bandsintown.com/Wordsmith

Your music has been featured in numerous ad campaigns so I’m curious what it’s like hearing it on TV or elsewhere? Can you remember the first place one of your songs was used?

The first time I heard a song of mine appear on a broadcast level was around the time the Nintendo Wii came out. Sega put out a game called “Madworld” and I was contracted to write a song for the game/soundtrack called “Death & Honor”. Sega sent me a free copy of the game and soundtrack, so it was a cool experience to see something I wrote involved in a game millions of people bought.

In general, how do you think you continue to grow and mature year after year in this business?

I think you just get smarter and savvier about the people who make up this industry. Unfortunately, the music business is filled with the same types of people who don’t have your best interest at heart most of the time. A lot of people try to make quick money and it’s usually at the expense of the artist. I look to work with people who are already successful or showing signs of moving in that direction and that cuts down on the pitfalls. Other than that know the business; know what a PRO society is, how to copyright your music, how to register your music with Mediabase/bds, how to license music, start a label, etc. This stuff is more important than the music when you’re first getting started.

Who are some of your very favorite artists or rather, what musicians have continued to inspire you and your music? What musicians would you absolutely love to work with in the future?

Hands down Coldplay as Chris Martin is a genius songwriter to me. I’ve been playing electric guitar for the past 6 months so I continue to gain motivation from Coldplay and recently saw Metallica when they kicked off their tour at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore; highly motivated to add the electric guitar to my live show in the future as a Hip Hop artist.

What do you hope is the message of your music? What do you hope people continue to take away from your songs?

I hope people will hear I’m a man of purpose seeking to entertain and educate humanity.

What advice would you give to someone just getting started on this music path? Or even to someone young that is thinking of becoming a musician one day?

I would say take your time to learn the business and plan for the future. A lot of artists are anxious to put out music which is understandable, but knowing the business will support your career for many years to come.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers about yourself or your music?

Please feel free to visit my official Website along with my social networks to keep on touch with me!