The Interview: Dusty

​​AUTHOR: JUSTIN GROME

​• Where are you from? Have your surroundings shaped you in a creative sense, and in what way?
I am from a town outside of Erie, Pennsylvania called Union City and I live in Edinboro, Pennsylvania now. And my surroundings have shaped me in a creative sense in different ways. Growing up music was a big thing in a family. My siblings grew up being taught how to play instruments and my dad was in a band. My parents played music all the time. 


• What’s your background like? Where do you stand on the music scene in your area?
I grew up in a small town with a huge drug problem. I know a lot of people that’s have went down the paths of hard drug use and know many that have passed because of it. Earlier in my life I can recall a lot of hard times but we always made it through. I’ve always been into music my whole life and now I’m going for it. There is almost no music scene and the area and it is terrible. There is a lot of talented artists around here and they go unnoticed for the most part because nobody decides to pay attention. I’m hoping by the time I’m done with music I will have played a big part in creating a scene in my area.


• What did you start doing first, producing or rapping? How did you get started?
I started rapping first. I was like 13 listening to like TI, Mac Miller, Wiz Khalifa and people like that and I decided to start trying to write stuff. Seeing two artists blow up just two hours away from where I lived inspired me to try it myself. I wrote stuff all through high school and freestyled, but I never recorded a song till I was 18-19. I’ve been recording every chance I get since then. After I started recording I did start producing though because I had no producers to get beats from. I still produce a bit sometimes but I mostly spend my time rapping.


• Do you have anyone that you consider your mentor? How has their help or advice shaped you? 
Yes, my man Drizztopher Walken has helped me a lot since I started working with him. He has taught me a lot about production and how things are supposed to be done when your creating a song. He has inspired me to never give up and keep grinding because if you put in the work it will happen.


• What is one experience in life that, without it, you wouldn’t be the artist you are today?
One time I was hanging out with all my friends and we were all just messing around playing beats. I decided to freestyle on it and they all started going crazy. After that moment I started writing and haven’t stopped since. Without that moment I wouldn’t even be an artist period.


• What do you hope to accomplish this year?
It’s almost the end of the year but I’m still hoping to start making a name for myself in the music industry by the end of the year. There’s still time left and I have a lot of moves left to make. Next year is my year if it doesn’t happen by the end of this year.


• What does your work aim to say?
I hope that some day my music helps people make it through long days or life in general. There’s a lot of times in my life that I may not have made it through without music and I believe anything is possible through music. I put a lot of meaning into a lot of my music. 


• Who are your biggest influences and what do you like about them the most?
Two of my biggest influences in music are Mac Miller and J. Cole. I love how both of them can make a wide variety of music. For Mac it is crazy how far he can go into different genres and make good songs still. When he chose to rap he could kill it on any beat he was given. With J. Cole his flow, cadences, and story telling are amazing. It’s hard not to look up to him when he is known as one of the best rappers to ever do it.


• How would you describe your own style?
I would say my style is unique. I let the beat decide what kind of style the song is gonna be and then add my own twist to it. Depending on the beats I may just rap the whole way through, I may do something more melodic, or I may mix the two together, you never know. I want to be able to make different kinds of music so I can make music for everybody.


• In what ways has your newest music changed from when you first started?
My music has changed a lot since I first started. My style is different, my song writing is better, my flow is better. Everything is way better since I started. There’s certain things I can do now that I can’t believe because I never thought I’d be able to.


• What are the main inspirations for the lyrics you write?
It all depends on what’s going on in my life at the moment. I try to base my music off of my life experiences so you never know what your gonna get.


• What would be your dream venue in which to perform?
Madison Square Gardens would be amazing to perform at some day.


• What’s a song you have stuck in your head these days?
Off Deez by J.I.D and J. Cole is amazing. I haven’t been able to stop playing it since it dropped.

REACH DUSTY HERE: