Meet Marcus Fitzgerald

We were lucky to catch up with Marcus Fitzgerald recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Marcus , thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

I got my work ethic from my moms (Nancy Jane Fitzgerald). She was a stay at home mom of seven children who always made sure we were prepared for school, church, and extra curricular activities. She always ensured that rent was paid, dinner was made and more importantly, ensuring that we had faith in god. We grew up poor on the westside of Chicago and it was those virtues and faith based activities that stuck with me and propelled me to be the man that I am today.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

As a music writer, composer, engineer and producer, I started an independent record label alongside my brother and close friends in 2000 called One Shadow Records. We were well known on the West Side of Chicago for selling our music in the streets. However, once I got older my priorities shifted so that I could support my family. So instead, I focused on my corporate career in engineering and stopped selling records, but I never stopped making music. I continued creating hip projects (10 lps) to keep my skills intact and stay engaged with my die-hard listeners.

Over the span of my career I’ve worked alongside countless independent artists, most notably A.D Carson a University of Virginia Associate Professor of Hip Hop as well as Skooda Chose, Nature, Jason Ferg and MC Eiht. One major accomplishment that I’m extremely proud of is my participation in the production of the National Museum of African American Music interactive rap exhibit in Nashville, TN. More recently I’ve been fortunate to reconnect with my friend Comedian & Actor Lil Rel Howery. Through that partnership I’ve written/produced several songs for many of his projects as well as serving as the music supervisor for his HBO special entitled “I said it, Y’all Thinking It”. My next big project (for which I can’t disclose all the details yet) will be the music score for a major film.

I’m thrilled that I’ve been able to be successful at work, at home and as an artist, but my ultimate goal is to be submerged in the artistry fulltime. Staying active has allowed me to be a part of some pretty incredible projects. My motto is MMF (Make Music Forever, a song from my latest project ITLSTS Reprise)

Notable Projects:

Owning My Masters: The Rhetorics of Rhymes & Revolutions – A.D Carson (Producer, Writer)
Sleep Walking – A.D Carson (Producer, Engineer)
I Used To Love To Dream – A.D Carson (Producer, Writer & Engineer)
V: Illicit – A Mixtape Essay – A.D Carson (Producer, Writer & Engineer)
The Wonder Years – Skooda Chose (Producer & Engineer)
Classic Hip Hop Lives – Knowledge Beckom (featuring Skooda Chose, Mc Eiht, Nature) (Producer, Writer & Engineer)
Bounce – Truth & Jay Ferg (Producer, Writer & Engineer)
Bounce 2 – Truth & Jay Ferg (Producer, Writer & Engineer)
4347 – One Shadow (Producer, Writer & Engineer)
If The Lord Say The Same – One Shadow (Producer, Writer & Engineer)
Say Something – One Shadow (Producer, Writer & Engineer)
ITLSTS the Reprise – One Shadow (Producer, Writer & Engineer)
What’s Funny Comedy Festival EP – One Shadow (Producer, Writer & Engineer)
Humbly Wonderful – Lil Rel Howery (Producer, Writer & Engineer)
Keepin It Rel Podcast Theme – One Shadow (Producer, Writer & Engineer)

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I am an introvert who is extremely detailed oriented. I believe this skill has helped me in my career as an engineer and with music. I obsess over details with the goal to present a cathartic experience to the listeners.

I love mastering new technology. Everything from Microsoft Excel, Photo Shop, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, Native Instruments: Maschine to name a few. These skills allow me to create and organize efficiently and swiftly. I believe I have a reputation of getting things done quickly while still maintaining a high level of quality.

I am a music nerd. I love various genres of music and as a music producer who samples, I always ensure that I study the greatest of the genres that I’m interested in. This interest has introduced me to various sounds and textures of music that serve as a reservoir for ideas, which I feel keep me inspired all of the time.

My recommendation for any artist or businessman is to study, study, study. In a world of Social Media and fast food information, the individual who has the muscle to study, listen, learn and absorb has an advantage over the competition.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

I workout and meditate daily. There were times in my life where I let my painful experiences dictate my decisions and ideas with the goal to protect myself from disappointment and pain. Challenges are a part of life and you need to be at a balanced state as you face the inevitable adversities of life. I sit in the sauna for 15 minutes utilizing the calm app with the goal to quiet the mind and afterwards I lift weights, jump in the pool or run. It’s the best part of my day leaving me energized and inspired to create or strategize my next move.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

All images shot by Katterina Fitzgerald

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