SMASH Mag: How do you navigate the balance between staying true to your artistic vision and adapting to market trends or expectations?
DonnyJ: I think this is more of a horse and a cart situation. Without vision, any trend or expectation is futile. So I employ all my focus on the artistic vision and everything else is secondary.
SMASH Mag: What role do you think social media plays in your artistic journey, and how has it influenced your work or creative process?
DonnyJ: Social media was my God when I started making music. All I used to dream about was Instagram likes. But now, you can say that I'm getting old or have developed a deeper understanding of life, I've entirely focused myself on the creation of music. Social media has taken a backseat for me and I only ever use it for creative avenues like writing some interesting thoughts or sharing some artwork that I create.
SMASH Mag: How do you determine when a piece of art is "finished" or ready to be shared with the world?
DonnyJ: Art doesn't have an "end point". It's never finished. And it'll never be ready to share with the world. That's just the nature of the beast. I've seen art that looked like a wireframe created by a 3 year old, sold for millions and I've heard full blown orchestral pieces that received 3 views. Make sense of that.
SMASH Mag: What is the most significant challenge you face as an emerging artist, and how do you work through it?
DonnyJ: When am I going to finally "emerge"?! To exist as an artist is to work through that problem I guess.
SMASH Mag: Can you describe a moment or experience that significantly shaped your artistic identity?
DonnyJ: The day I had to resort to picking food from the trash, everything changed.
SMASH Mag: How do you incorporate feedback or critique from others without compromising your own creative integrity?
DonnyJ: Do you seek feedback when you ogle at a cute puppy? I don't seek feedback (not that I kick people when they give it). My art is not a solution to anyone's problem that needs rectification. It's merely an expression.
SMASH Mag: What is your approach to experimentation and risk-taking in your art, and how do you embrace the unknown in your creative process?
DonnyJ: I'm constantly experimenting. With words, with melodies, with structures, with instrumentation, with vocals. What I end up creating, in and of itself is the biggest unknown. So I face it daily. There's nothing I can think of that can get classified as "risk taking."
SMASH Mag: In what ways do you use different media or techniques to push the boundaries of traditional art, and why?
DonnyJ: One of the ways that I constantly push boundaries is to ensure that I don't adhere to convention, at any cost. That keeps my product unique and fresh.
SMASH Mag: How do you envision your art evolving in the next 5 years, and what steps are you taking to make that vision a reality?
DonnyJ: I have no clue. Who knows if I'll even be making art 5 years down the line?! All I know is that I love making music right now and it's the engine that drives my life.
SMASH Mag: How do you stay inspired during periods of creative burnout, and what practices help you reconnect with your artistic flow?
DonnyJ: If I'm burnt out, I don't create. Simple. It's not a chore. It's not a duty. There's only so many years to live, why would I want to spend my remaining years doing something I don't feel like?
.png)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
