Artist Spotlight: Darian Smith Jr. from Hawthorne, CA - Folded Waffle Artist Spotlight: Darian Smith Jr. from Hawthorne, CA - Folded Waffle

Artist Spotlight: Darian Smith Jr. from Hawthorne, CA

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What’s your stage name and where are you from?

My stage name is Darian Smith Jr., and I’m from Hawthorne, CA.

What’s the story behind your stage name?

I used to go by “The Entertainer” when I was younger, but I’ve always felt the need to stand apart from others in any shape, form, or fashion, and it was too close to Cedric The Entertainer. Over time, as I developed my craft, I knew I wanted to be more intentional with my storytelling and give people the raw version of who I am. The best way to do that was by giving them my real name. I was also inspired by Kendrick Lamar, who changed his name from K.Dot to Kendrick Lamar. I added “Jr.” to my name because, at the time of the change, my mom wasn’t present in my life, but my dad was. It felt like the right addition to my story. That said, I’m thinking of changing my name again—it’s too long.

Describe your musical journey in three sentences.

Knowledgeable: I’ve gained a lot of knowledge along the way and still am.

Challenging: Though my passion for music will never die, I face a lot of challenges, especially as an independent artist.

Godly: This journey has taken me places, opened many doors, and changed lives—solely from my experience.

Share an interesting experience you had while creating your latest track.

The latest track I created was “MOVE LIKE D,” which I released in August 2023. I wrote it at work and recorded it the following days, prepping for my weekly #DSMITHSATURDAYS II release. It wound up gaining so much attention—it’s my highest-streaming song to date on SoundCloud. People often tell me it’s one of their top three favorite songs of mine. While it’s a great song, I was shocked that this would be the one to gain so much attention.

What message do you want to convey through your music?

The main thing I want to convey is authenticity. I can’t really go further than that.

Tell us about a challenge you faced during production and how you overcame it.

Creating #DSMITHSATURDAYS II while crafting my album DiARY OF A BLK MAN was a huge challenge. I was writing new music weekly, shooting videos, editing them, releasing and promoting content, all while working two jobs—until I got fired from one. My focus was scattered because I had to wear so many hats, as I’ve yet to build a dedicated team. What kept me going was my passion for creating, my drive to raise the bar, and my effort to day-trade attention. I felt like a media broadcast company, balancing data and production while managing my personal life. I realized that when I run an empire, I’ll need this same mentality to inspire those around me.

If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?

3 Stacks. I was going to say K.Dot, but at this stage of my life, I feel like André 3000 and I would kick off a great session—possibly more than one. Having both of them in the room would be ideal.

Where do you see your music taking you in the next year?

As long as I stay focused on grabbing the tools I need to record, I see myself achieving things I can’t even fathom. I visualize connecting with fans and having people go out of their way to talk to me about my music. I see myself making money in a way that doesn’t rely on a single source of income, like a 9-5. I envision my music opening doors to explore my other passions with accessible resources. I can see myself getting within arm’s reach of my highest inspirations.

What’s the next big step for you as an artist?

Being able to tour and sell out tickets.

 

Where can we hear/watch your most recent work?

You can check out my SoundCloud and YouTube for updates on my audio and visual releases:

www.soundcloud.com/dariansmithjr | www.youtube.com/@dariansmithjr

What is the best way to contact you if fans want to give feedback or if other artists/producers want to collaborate?

DMs on Instagram are the best way: @dariansmithjr. Otherwise, email me at darainsmithjr@gmail.com—just make sure the header doesn’t look like spam!




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