We had the good fortune of connecting with Samii Austin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Samii, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
We e always been told to follow our heart growing up. Despite what is ideal, Despite what pays the bills, Despite what people say. For me music has always been an outlet. My source of peace and freedom. It’s given me a voice when life tries to silence me. I serves as a beacon of light for others who need to find themselves outside the darkens. With all of that is more than a career and more of a calling.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
For as long as I can remember, music has always moved me. As a baby my dad would throw on a good tune a my legs would just move. With no since of direction, only instinct. It’s something we laugh about to this day. Dance was my first love, but wasn’t something that was nurtured (unless you were a girl in the 90’s). In between sports practices and band practice YouTube became my dance studio and I would learn moves that way since taking classes wasn’t in the question. In middle school, my English teacher noticed how much of a wordsmith I was after turning in a poem assignment and got me into writing classes which eventually lead to submitting my work for competitions. With all of that I was still underwhelmed until one late night as my radio was low and my mind fighting sleep, I just started writing to whatever song was on and then it hit me. “This is actually kind of fire!” I couldn’t wait to show my friends the next day and when I did, within a week the Center Floor Boyz was born. In the era of “Crank That” we just KNEW we’d be the next big thing. Nothing came of it but the writing continued. Collections of random written freestyles and song remakes filled my composition notebook. As social media grew, I’d drop random rap videos of things I wrote just because. 2017 in the break room of my first office job I meet my NOW best friend DiiJai The Singer. We chat it up about some nobody he was dating and growing a bond and friendship that now seems unbreakable. I always knew he was a singer and I passively mentioned I rap and from there we’d talk music on and off. One day he sends me a file. A song of the same nobody we spoke about before. Not going to lie the song was FIRE. Knowing the situation, Within 20 minutes I sent back a audio recording of a verse I wrote as if I was i. The situation myself. HE LOVED IT and I said “We are going to the studio THIS WEEKEND!”. I was so excited and for some reason nervous. After an amazing studio session we talk about shooting a visual and “F**k N****” was born. Mid conversation, I think to myself “Am I really doing this right now?”. We shoot the visual, drop the song and perform the song and as traction grew the decision was made. I’m going to pursue a career in music. From there Samii Austin took on a life of his own and has been evolving ever since.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Starting off we HAVE to have an in house brunch to set the tone. I must say I make a mean French Toast. Add on some grits, beef bacon or sausage, and Prosseco (with a splash of Tropical Red Bull) then we are OFF! Its a must that we stroll Club Beltline, making sure we capture every moment filming some content is our only proof that a good time was indeed had. Superica for lunch and a delicious marg. Then we head home to take a solid 2 hour break before we are back outside again. Pre-game spots like Virgils Gullah Kitchen in Midtown, Lore on Edgewood, or your nearest JJ’s Fish and Chicken usually does the trick before we are off to the clubs. Atlanta Eagle, Bulldogs, Casa, Mixx, you choose, regardless we are bound to turn up……..thats just day 1!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Vanick Killing who is a phenomenal photographer. He has vision that seems to tell a story that captures the attention of many.

Website: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/samii-austin/1316058963

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whois_samiiaustin?

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@whois_samiiaustin?_r=1&_t=ZT-95L8g0x0PUs

Image Credits
VShane’s Visions

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