Meet Dustin Brown

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dustin Brown a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Dustin, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?

As much as it feels uncomfortable to say, I think being the only one in that room is a the edge one may need. It doesn’t feel that way when you’re all alone in your endeavors though. I think being outside of what others are doing and the way that they are doing it though has helped me. Being selfishly focused in that room while curating healthy honest friendships outside of it.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am just a creative. I like to try it my way and learn things. As a kid I would build elaborate scenes using action figures, Legos, Lincoln Logs and Erector Sets. Painting these giant battles and daring rescues in my mind alone in my room. Later on it was hammers and nails which led to welding and mechanics. I too during that time would run around the house imitating performers. Putting on shows for the family with my cousins.
Later on once I had learned guitar and how to write a little, I started a band in high-school. When others started college I moved to Austin to be a rockstar… it was during that time I figured that other skill, welding would do me better. So off I went to be a commercial diver/underwater welder. That was my life for almost six years before it dried up and I wised up for a better job. That brought me home to Texas where I resumed my music ventures. I had been gaining life experiences and writing all that time though and now had something to say.
After a few moments of encouragement I realized that people were digging my songs. It was then I decided that I’d rather do it and fail than to live a life wondering “what if.”
Fast forward to now and I’ve played hundreds of shows solo and with the band. I’m on my fifth year of hosting “In A Jam Down By The River” music festival and generally doing the thing.

I’ve been releasing a single a month for the past 6 months and I’m releasing a new self titled EP with a little bit different sound than my norm later this summer.

The previous mentioned festival I organize will be Oct 17-20th 2024

So lots of fresh things that I am creating and just staying the course.

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?

How to set up a guitar.
How to fix a car.
How to find a good bar.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Other real people who can’t help but create and just want a community. I’ve seen what it takes and who gets to “the big time” and how they act. Not for me.. not all of them are as so, but A good bit if them are fake. Just looking for fame and money. To feed the ego and give self worth. Not that I’m not plauged with some of those same desires. I just try to avoid them and remember why I wanted this.
• Friends.
• To play music for the joy of it.
• Community
•Create etc.
Sure, I wouldn’t mind paying my bills with just my creative acts.. that’s just a hard thing to do and can rob the pure joy you get from being a part of music and creating it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dustinbrownsongs.com
• Instagram: @dustinbrownsongs
• Facebook: Dustin Brown Songs
• Youtube: Dustin Brown Songs
• Other: 🙄Tiktok @dustinbrownsongs

Image Credits

Instagram:
@neonjackrabbit