DAVIS88 shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning DAVIS88, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What battle are you avoiding?
I am avoiding the battle of social media marketing. I struggle with maintaining consistency in posting and interacting on my pages. I got into music to write and perform songs. I understand how crucial building a community is to my career. However, I don’t enjoy the feeling that I “have” to post and spend so much time daily on socials instead of creating music. It is a constant battle to stay motivated to post and engage when I’d rather be working on writing or playing songs.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m DAVIS88, a songwriter and musician from Rockingham, North Carolina. I make Hard Rock and Nu-Metal music with some Country flair.
I’ve had two songs chart on National Radio and have opened for several great acts including Country Artist Jason Michael Carroll and Rock/Metal artist Josey Scott of Saliva.
I’ve released a couple EPs with several singles and I have two full albums worth of material slated to release in early 2026.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be… I was a kid from Rockingham, NC who loved sports and music. I played several sports growing up and like many, dreamed of playing professionally. Every sport had its own soundtrack and I would put on headphones before games. Music and sports were always connected for me that way.
As I approached my high school years, I realized a sports career wasn’t an option. It was out of my control. So I graduated, went to college and searched for something else. Always a big music fan, I decided to learn how to play the guitar. One thing led to another and I eventually began writing and recording my own music.
Unlike sports, I control when and if I stop pursuing music. The world can try to tell me who I “have to be” and I will continue to ignore it and live as who I choose to be. So in many ways, I am still the kid from Rockingham who loved sports and music. I always will be.
When you were sad or scared as a child, what helped?
Music helped. It’s a cliché in some ways, but for good reason. Music can influence your mood. I’ve always believed that. It’s a big reason why I do it. I want to get people inspired, excited and motivated with songs. Other times I just want to entertain and deliver something to remember. The ultimate goal when releasing music is to give people something they feel and connect with.
So when I was bummed out or worried about something, putting on the right music could snap me out of that funk or comfort me enough to get through whatever was affecting me emotionally.
It still applies as an adult. If you’ve had a tough day, you can put on the right song and it be cathartic to you. You can just release and let go with the help of music.
Music can be a great aid in those situations both as a child and adult.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would say that my family and friends really matter to me. They are most important. Those friends would go on to say that my music career and my ability to keep pursuing that passion really matters to me. Fulfilling my life while helping others to do the same matters to me.
To be more specific, they would describe my values. I highly value respect. I believe respect is earned by your actions and character. Show respect to others and receive it in return.
Privilege is earned. When you and those around you work, take action, or make choices that put you in a position of privilege, you should feel free to enjoy it. Do not apologize for it but at the same time, recognize the work and decisions that put you in such a position. Don’t abuse privileges.
Finally, they’d say loyalty is important to me. Loyalty, I believe is rare in life. True loyalty is hard to come by. When someone really shows their loyalty to you, your business, or your family… take note of it.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I am doing what I have to do in order to do what I was born to do. I have to work to be able to live properly and pay bills. I have to work a day job so that I can afford to pursue my passion. I feel I was born to make music and perform. I have always felt at my best when I’m creating. Something in me shifts and I can notice a physical and mental change in myself when I’m working on music. Ultimately , the goal is to create a full time career in music. Until I get there, I have to work doing something I may not love, to keep balance. So I’ll keep grinding it out in order to eventually focus solely on what I feel I was born to do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.davis88music.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davis88music/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/DAVIS88MUSIC/
- Youtube: http://youtube.com/davis88music
- Other: http://tiktok.com/davis88music
Image Credits
Logen Christopher
DAVIS88
