Exclusive Interview with DaeShawn Forrest

Today we had an exclusive chance to interview aspiring rapper DaeShawn Forrest:

Talk me through your creative process.
My creative process is mainly based on how I feel in the moment. I always try to create naturally out of what I’m feeling at the time. Meaning, if I’m feeling sad and heartbroken, I’m not going to attempt to make something that feels more happy and uplifting. I find that it’s so important for me to create in whatever mental and emotional state I’m in because it comes out so relatable and reflective of everyday life. When creating I usually work my way from the ground up, figuratively speaking. I start out by producing a bunch of beats and I make sure I take my time and stay consistent until I feel like I’ve really made something special. Likewise, with songwriting. I’ll rewrite and rewrite and rewrite until I feel like I have something I absolutely have to record. Even after recording, I’ll come back and listen to it and hear ways that I can make it better. The goal for me is to always make something that would be impactful.

Have you heard the theory that some musicians write their best music while they’re depressed or going through a bad time?
I haven’t heard of this theory before, but speaking from recent experience, I can say for a fact that this is true. When writing my latest single, “A Moment’s Time” , I was going through an extremely hard breakup. The relationship ended just a handful of months before what would have been our wedding day. Soon afterwards, I found myself in a depression and battling suicidal thoughts. During this time I created an album and I can confidently say without a doubt that my upcoming album is the best music that I’ve ever made personally. It’s a little hard to describe. I don’t know if other musicians can say the exact same thing, but speaking for myself, it feels like when life has you at your lowest point something on the inside unlocks. Next thing you know, you rise up feeling better than ever. And if you’re a musician who made music during that time, the music just comes out better than ever.

What is still your biggest challenge?
Honestly speaking, I’ve actually been in a phase where I’ve thought a lot about this. I’ve concluded that my biggest challenge is actually getting out of my own head. I’m someone who overthinks to the max and I’ve learned that it actually doesn’t take much to trigger things for me. I guess overthinking is okay if you’re thinking about all of the positive things. But, it gets dangerous if it’s negative, and oftentimes for me, it’s been negative. From self-doubt, to the uncertainty of the future, and even questioning whether or not I’ve chosen the right path in life. But, I’ve learned the importance of keeping my head up and remaining optimistic about my future. Experiencing doubt is natural, but you can never let it get the best of you. It’s easier said than done, but it can be done and we have examples everywhere.

How would you describe the music that you typically create?
Transparent, authentic, and relatable. I feel like this is the best way to describe it since my music is always made in the moment and is mainly inspired by my real life experiences. My ultimate goal, however, is for people to be able to also describe my music by saying it’s impactful. I feel the most fulfilled when people tell me how my music has impacted or inspired them. Music is powerful, and the fact that I’m creating is something I don’t take for granted.

Who would you most like to collaborate with?
That’s a tough one. I have a whole list of artists that I’ve been influenced by and continuously study. If I had it my way I’d collaborate with all of them. But, I think the one I would like to work with the most is J. Cole. The way he always delivers on a song, whether it be his own or something he’s featured on, is phenomenal. I’ve been a fan of his since my sophomore year in high school. Collaborating with someone like J. Cole would push me to dig deeper and work even harder. I feel like the end result would be something special.

What are you focusing your time on now (e.g., recording a new record, touring the Midwest, writing, etc.)?
My main focus now is releasing my album, Transparent 2. I gave myself a year to work on it and get it as close to perfection as possible. During that time I also shot a lot of music videos and other forms of content for it. I’ve released several projects in the past and I feel like this album is the best collection of music I’ve ever made. I believe it has great potential to impact the lives of people throughout the world and I cannot wait until it is completely out.

What will your next album sound like?
“Transparent 2” is deep. It’s emotional, inspiring, and very relatable. You’re literally going to experience me pit falling and being restored. I made it a point to not hold back on the many different things I was going through in my life at the time from my relationship ending and the heartache from that, to my depression, suicidal thoughts and my anxiety, trust issues, you name it. But, when going through all of those things, if you’re serious about finding the light at the end of the dark tunnel, you’ll find it. And after a while I found it. So, on this album you might cry, and then you might get angry. You might end up feeling inspired and rejuvenated, developing a new appreciation for life like how I did. Or, maybe, you’ll end up being reminded of the importance of letting go of the past. Perhaps, you’ll end up experiencing all of the above. One thing is for sure, this album is for anybody who has ever gone through a dark time.

What do you want your legacy to be? How do you want to be remembered?
When my time is up, I want to be remembered as someone who was truly dedicated to being who God called him to be and impacting the world. I want people to be able to say that my art was instrumental in them getting through life and through hardships. I want to be remembered as someone who kept God first and wasn’t afraid about his own weaknesses and shortcomings on display. It’s a part of life and we all aren’t perfect. I don’t want to be someone who puts up a front to protect an inaccurate image. I want to be remembered as authentic and truthful. I want to create the type of music that when I pass away, people are still playing it and passing it down to the next generation.