How many hats does an artist have to manage to sustain a career?.. According to Dozen, there are “3 hats” the modern music artist switches through and tries on for size.
“The inner child" should fit like a wide brim Fedora, denoting limitless childlike creativity.
“The business” is a yellow-hard-hat, worn during the making and construction of an artistic brand. “The visionary” should be the third and most important according to Dozen. It sits on his head like the warbonnet of a Native American chief.
Rap talent Dozenthewav balances the demands of creativity and industry with such entrepreneurial focus and artistic flex. From Milton Keynes - he expresses himself in the genre of Trap-pop. I met him at the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance in London, where he studies Music Production.
Once upon a time - managers, promoters, publicity agents, A&Rs and record labels, all of them roamed the backlot of the artist's mind ready to support, represent, and interject.
New technology and social media saved the day. It afforded artists a direct means to cultivate an audience, bypass the middle people, and manage their own creative output and independence.
But still, heavy is the head that balances this responsibility.
In the meantime, to provide you with a look at Dozen's closet, and the possessions he holds timeless at this stage in his music evolution - I asked him to pick 3 items of personal effect to be buried in a time capsule for the next 100 years.
Here are the three artefacts he’s chosen for the century-long stint, and what each one represents. In his own words.
~My Macbook~
"For every thought, draft, demo and beat production - my macbook's there.."
~A waist belt~
"The belt holds up my trousers, I can’t be having my trousers sag..."
~ My lighter
" Whether its for a cig or a candle, its needed."
Instagram: @dozenthewav
Written by Dan O. Eboka
Published: 06/11/2022
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