Today we’d like to introduce you to Finian St Omer.
Hi Finian, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In 1990, at the age of 13 in Hunts Point Avenue in the South Bronx, I had the aspiration of becoming a DJ. My cousin Natlee and I used to battle each other just about every day. After my sister saw how much I was into DJ’ing, she invited her friend, DJ Jazzy Joyce, over to the house and she taught my cousin and I how to blend. But shortly after my life as a DJ was short-lived because I started to realize how expensive it is to be a DJ. So during the summer one of my friends by the name of Fred Black got me into rapping. Since being an emcee didn’t require buying a whole bunch of expensive equipment and records, it was the best option for me at the time.
The funny thing is I never aspired to become an emcee before that moment. But once I started writing, I never stopped! As I entered high school later that year, I battled just about everyone that said they were a rapper and I sharpened my skills every day. But what made me want to take my career seriously was seeing another neighborhood friend of mine, Mic Smooth, who had a single pressed-on vinyl and was sold at the local record store, Flip Side Records. I heard people playing his music every day in my neighborhood and that made me want to do more. As I am replaying these memories and typing this out I am realizing how many people from Hunts Point inspired me to really do this. Nel Smooth Suave, another emcee from Hunts Point Ave, took me to the studio to watch him record his new song. This was the 1st time I was ever in a recording studio and that blew my mind. Then 3 years later, I teamed up with two of my friends from Stevenson High School, D.L. & Phae Raw, and we formed a crew called the S.W.A.T Team (Stacked With Annihilating Techniques). Once we got into the studio it changed everything and thats when I knew what I was going to do with the rest of my life!
Fast forward to 1999, I transferred to North Carolina Central University and I met Phonte and Rapper Big Pooh, who later became the legendary group, Little Brother, and we formed a 15 member collective called The Justus League. After a couple of years performing locally in the RDU area, I released my first mixtape ‘Slow Leaks’ in 2003. Then after Little Brother’s debut album “The Listening” became critically acclaimed it broadened my scope on how I should record an album and how to release music. Watching them really shaped my business model in order to continue to make a full-time career as a recording artist. After releasing a few more mixtapes I finally released my debut album ‘Carnage’ in 2008. Then I followed up with my next album, ‘No Excuses’ in 2010. In 2011, my manager Big Dho told me I had an opportunity to start my own label and get distribution with Empire. After getting my corporation papers filed I started my label Golden Era Music Inc., and in 2012 I released my first album on my new label ‘The Jammington’ which received high praise throughout the blogosphere.
In 2015, I returned to my 1st love, djing. Since technology made it easier and less expensive, I jumped at the chance to start my career behind the turntables. I officially got my start at the barbershop in Raleigh NC. Yes, I was djing at a barbershop. After a few weeks there, Reggie Winston, the owner of the barbershop, asked me to DJ for him at Packapalooza at NC State, to promote his business. After playing two songs my services were acquired by Skyzone, a trampoline park in Raleigh. Then three months later, I started getting booked for corporate events all over North Carolina. Once my name as a DJ started buzzing I met a rising star by the name of Shame Gang. He asked me to be his show DJ, then I became his manager. I still DJ for him to this day and he is on the cusp of being the next big star!
I also run a t-shirt printing company. As a recording artist, merchandise is vital to making money while on tour. So it made sense for me to start my t-shirt printing company under Golden Era Music Inc. and print shirts for other artists, and companies in the U.S. With all that being said, and trust me there is a lot more that hasn’t been included in the story, what kept me going from my humble beginnings to where I am today was the belief in myself. I knew what I wanted and I learned what I needed to know in order for me to execute.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road hasn’t been smooth but it wasn’t incredibly difficult to navigate either. I was blessed to have the right people around me throughout the years that made this journey easier than most people have experienced. My entire career was built off being independent which gave me the power to do what I want when I wanted to.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As a songwriter, producer, DJ, and record label owner I am proud of being able to make this my full-time job. I get to work with artists I grew up listening to and traveling the world. What sets me apart from others is my authenticity. I never made up a persona to sell a record or to be accepted by a certain group of people. I am unapologetically me! I won’t compromise my integrity to succeed.
I am not afraid to take the slow and steady route to get where I need to be and the people I have worked with within this industry respect that. Another thing that sets me apart from others is my business acumen. Talent is one thing that will get you in the building but the art of business is what keeps you there.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was a cool kid. I was loved and nurtured by my mother, father, and older sister. What I learned from them molded me to become easy-going, attentive, driven, and to make my dreams become a reality. Music was always played in my house so no wonder why I chose this path for myself. My father was a DJ while he was growing up in St. Lucia so like every son, I wanted to be like my dad! Outside of music, like every kid, cartoons, video games, WWF Wrestling was the main interest.
Pricing:
- DJ – $500 & up
- To feature me on a song – $750
- Production – $350
- T-shirt Printing – Contact finian@goldeneramusicinc.com for more info
Contact Info:
- Email: FINIAN@GOLDENERAMUSICINC.COM
- Website: www.goldeneramusicinc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finianstomer/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/finian.st.omer/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/finianstomer
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/GOLDENERAMUSIC
Image Credits
Tobias Rose, Kompleks Creative
