Artist Spotlight

Get To Know ImJustDane, A Multi-talented Rapper And Songwriter Who Is Making Waves In The Music Industry

Hailing from the South side of Chicago, ImJustDane is a multi-talented rapper and songwriter who has risen from the ashes and built an audience from the ground up, displaying rare talent and true emotion which you may have been missing from your daily playlist. He grew up on the South side of Chicago, IL with 3 older siblings and a single mother. After all these hard times, he never gave up but rather he built an empire from the ground up. His main motivation these days is not having his kids experience that same trauma he went through early on in life.

Life is something that is truly fun with ups and downs. The only thing constant is change, and music always shown us that. It always has the songs we need when we’re down that fit, that somber feeling we may be having, but it also can bring a sound that feels good to hear, as it’s the soundtrack to you beating the odds. ImJustDane makes you feel on top of the world on his new uplifting song “Like I Do”. The production has a colorful Pop and Hip Hop infused sound to it, as ImJustDane lyrically takes us through his journey in a real way. His high energy signature flow shines more than ever, as you can hear the underlying hunger in his voice that gives the song its extra level of soul.

Listen to ImJustDane recent track “Like I Do” on Spotify:

Hi there, welcome to Honk Magazine. Thank you so much for taking out time to respond to us. To kick things off, Can you tell our readers about what really inspired you to write music?

ImJustDane – My music is majorly inspired by my real life experiences. Every trial and tribulation I’ve had. There are also some R&B/Pop artists that inspired me as a kid both past and present. To name two of the biggest ones off the top of my head I think of Michael Jackson first. He made me want to be an artist watching him razzle and dazzle audiences all over the world inspired me to branch out from choir singing because I have a church background to make songs of my own. If I’m keeping it a thousand though Usher was probably the biggest influence on me artistically as I learned probably every word to every early song of his and mimicked him a lot in my younger years.

When did you realize you were going to make music professionally?

ImJustDane – In 2018! I had been doing jobs and trying things out to get by but always coming back to music and messing around but one day it just clicked and I say I’m all in on this because this is what i’m supposed to be doing. I’ve never been one to grab a regular 9-5 and just work 50-55 years of my life away. Not that there’s anything wrong with that it’s just not for me. I want something more, something I can call my own and look back and be proud of.

Tell us what is so unique about you and your music?

ImJustDane – My sound is unlike anything you’ve heard because it’s a blend of old and new school. I’m not trying to be a rapper. I actually can sing and I’m proud of myself for having great vocal ability along with hypnotizing melodies and catchy lyrics. I have spent years alongside my production partner in crime “Slim Duckey” perfecting my sound and I think we’ve finally reached a level of something special.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

ImJustDane – Well that was being in a group with 3 unmotivated friends in high school. Rich kids that just wanted to say they made music. Me being the poorest of the group and passionate about the music i.e “Church background/Choir boy” either you go hard or you go home. The major lesson I learned there is it’s better to go solo then put your future and career in other people’s hands. Funniest thing about that is I wrote all the music for the whole group lol.

Can you tell us about your latest releases and what inspired you to create them?

ImJustDane – Actually I have 3 recent tracks namely: Extraordinary, Like I Do & That One.

On “Extraordinary” I collaborated with producer “Retrospekt” on this introspective record talking about the tough times in life we all go through via ballad type singing. It manifested itself into the amazing record I released. Fun fact: I started writing the chorus as I was going to perform at the country fair in Pomona, CA. I was vibing that much with the beat I had to get the words out.

Then there is “Like I Do”, probably lyrically one of my strongest records to date and heartfelt as I was really having a conversation with myself. I was going through a transition in life with friends and loved ones that just did a lot of damage to me that externally no one could see but internally I felt deeply so I wrote about breaking free of that.

And finally “That One” co-written by friends and writing partner Lamorse Compton. Really this song came out of an amazing studio session where we vibed and got the chorus one night, then I sat with it and added my flavor to it on the verse and bridge another night. Lamor wrote the hook and performed the reference for me to go in and kill it and that’s what I did.

Can you give us a brief insight about your upcoming projects?

ImJustDane – Two come to mind that I want to shed more light on. On the 12th of September, 2022, I’m releasing a new single titled “Chicago Cold ” that’s an amazing record on the plight of transplants from Chicago to L.A and how that goes. Then my upcoming album release party on the 8th of January, 2023 for my 4 album DaneJerus & Beautiful and then I’m hitting the road on a tour.

What do you wish you were told when you first started making music that you think would help artists just starting out?

ImJustDane – Always going with what you feel is right. Everyone has advice on what you should do but they’ve never done it. They want to tell you how you should be out here moving but the best person to tell you that is you. I wish I would have listened to me more than trying to please everyone around me cause it always set me back more than pushed me forward. I would tell any artist getting in this field to go with your gut and mainly stay consistent on your own pace.

Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?

ImJustDane – Like I was saying earlier, go at your own pace. We live in a society nowadays of instant gratification and everything at our fingertips. Artists get overwhelmed with staying relevant and not losing they’re audience. But what is for you will never pass you by and I truly believe that. If you love something you’d do it for free if you never got paid so really you couldn’t get too burnt out on something you’re extremely passionate about. Break though you will need them.

What do you do when you don’t do music (creative or otherwise) and that you are passionate about?

ImJustDane – I like to hoop & workout and meditate. Mind, body & spirit keeps me balanced.

Any last piece of advice for those artists who just started making music?

ImJustDane – Yes, you’re going to have the people closest to you tell you that you can’t do this and you should quit and get a real job. Don’t listen to people who gave up on their dreams telling you to give up on yours. The surprising thing is when you keep going things tend to just fall in your lap if you’re consistent enough.

How can our readers follow you online?

ImJustDane – You can all follow me on all social media platforms, mainly on;

Instagram – @imjustdane and

Tik-Tok for fun & lifestyle @imjust_dane.

You can also go to my website imjustdane.com and subscribe by leaving their emails.

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Artist Spotlight

Exclusive Interview With Dante Williamson

Today we had an exclusive chance to interview Dante Williamson.

Who is Dante Williamson? Sounds unfamiliar? How does he intend to make an impact with music? Read more to find out about the rare and talented musician.

QUESTIONS:

What would you do differently if you were starting in your industry now?

I would strategize better and seek more insight from artists I know currently in the industry. Learning from other’s stories and miscalculations might’ve helped me from falling into the same traps.

What 3 things does anyone starting in your industry need to know?

– Do what makes you happy and sounds good!

– Build your fanbase.

– Think big picture and keep the main thing, the main thing.

Which people or books have had the most influence on your growth and why?

My friends WHOISJORDAN, Beau Collins, Canon and my dad have influenced me tremendously. They keep it real and never beat around the bush. They’re all very knowledgeable in their own respect, providing an array of perspectives and insightful alternatives.

Artist Spotlight

Exclusive Interview With Rising Sensation Jarred Brown

Jarred Brown

Hello Jarred Brown, Thanks for Coming To Honk Magazine To Talk About Your Music Career.

Let’s start off by introducing yourself, you know the basics like name, age, where you’re from. As much or little as you’re comfortable sharing.

I’m Jarred Brown AKA Horizon Wake an RnB/Pop artist currently based out of London, Ontario. I found my introduction into music as a child in Toronto, Canada where I taught myself to play guitar and started singing for my rock band when nobody else wanted to do it.

Talk me through your creative process.

My creative process is in large part a collaborative effort with my long time friend and producer Jesgee Beats. Typically I’ll start off with an idea that’s usually inspired by some kind of life event, a memory, or sometimes even a dream.

I’ll take that and it usually comes along with a melody and basic lyrics that most of the time end up becoming the foundation for the hook section. Lately I’ve been recording vocals, guitar, bass, or a combination of the three and sending/taking them over to Jesgee where we work together to transform it into what you hear in my releases. The pandemic played a big role in shaping our current process and actually strengthened our ability to work together. We began working online during quarantine and at some points I was even recording demos from my car before I was able to get my home studio up and running. We still continue to start most of our work through discord.

How do you solve productivity/scheduling problems and reduce overwhelming situations?

Productivity and scheduling typically isn’t a huge issue for me at this stage but I do find that when situations begin to get a little overwhelming or there is a lack of productivity being direct is a huge help. This industry is collaborative by nature. I’m responsible for the music while someone else takes care of videos or mixing, or whatever else needs to be done to take the music where it needs to go. I learned over time that being direct, keeping open communication, and taking charge of the scheduling or whatever other issue is the key. Set deadlines and communicate them firmly.

What’s the best advice you ever received concerning music?

I’ve received a lot of good advice over the years and I think the best advice given to me regarding music creation is to not get comfortable and don’t let genre box you in. I find that a lot of new artists will approach writing/producing new music in a way that is almost like a cookie cutter style where they take something that someone else in the genre has done well and replicate it over and over.

Sometimes artists feel like they can’t write a certain lyric or use a certain instrument or melody because it doesn’t sound RnB or Hip Hop. This kind of thinking crushes creativity. Artists should keep experimenting and evolving. Otherwise how do we grow and improve?

What is still your biggest challenge?

For me I’d say my biggest challenge is knowing when a song is complete. I can sometimes be a bit of a perfectionist or judge myself a bit too harshly before releasing a project. It’s really easy to overthink or keep making tweaks to your songs past the point where you should. Knowing when to take time away really helps and getting a second opinion from people you trust to give honest feedback goes a long way.

What would you have done differently if you knew then what you know now?

Don’t rely on the wrong people. If I could go back to the day I started I’d push myself to record everything as often as possible and to make connections with people that are just as passionate as I am. Starting out I formed a lot of relationships with people who just weren’t in music for the long-term. So many people have so much potential but lose the drive to keep pushing. I don’t think I can ever stop making music. For some of us it is a part of who we are. Find those people and push forward together or learn how to do as much as you can for yourself so you aren’t slowed down by others.

If you could go open a show for any artist who would it be?

There are so many amazing artists that I would love to perform with or open up for. To be honest I’m a huge fan of Post Malone. I’m incorporating more guitar in my music and performances. I think we could rock out together.

What are you focusing your time on now?

Right now I’m focussing my time on developing my new sound and releasing an EP. I’ve had a shift where I’m blending my RnB sound with more pop and rock elements to better suit my musical background. I plan on having the EP for release in November and it’ll be much more pop influenced than what I’ve released previously.

I’ve got a new song about a bad relationship called “Young Girl Games” featuring Coobie and Golden G dropping on September 30th.

How do you currently feel about the state of Hip-hop in general?

I think hip-hop is in a really cool spot. Over the past few years it’s really grown and become integrated deeply into the mainstream. Most modern pop music has more than a few hip-hop elements where there never would have been before.

Growing up I remember my mom throwing out my Eminem CDs and not understanding rap music as art. Now she listens to a lot of the same things that I do. I think now more than ever we have the ability to experiment with our production in the hip-hop space. We’re blurring the lines between genres. I think its awesome.