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

Hi Donovan, what role has risk played in your life or career?
What is a risk? To me it represents any choice/action that goes against the status quo. In life we’re raised to follow a certain path that provides the most security with the smallest chance of failure. Risks are seen as unsafe because they minimize comfort and emphasize danger. As a child I spent years around non- “risk takers”. I lived life surrounded by a poor excuse for comfort that I both appreciated and despised. To me there’s so much to life that we miss out on because we choose survival or living… to elaborate, we choose to take the little we have and hold it as tight as we can in fear that we may lose it instead of risking the little for a chance at a lot.

I decided to take risks because I wasn’t satisfied with the current system we live in. To me college was a waste, but my reasoning is different than the average person’s understanding… pay attention. I love education, I strive to learn something new everyday but our current college system has very little to do with education and more to do with a degree. People go to college for a certificate that verifies them as a qualified candidate for a position, not to be knowledgeable on a given subject.

I decided at that point that I’d rather be educated on my own terms and not just to say I have a piece of paper. For those that do, I respect it and your decisions but for me it seemed unreasonable. My choices thus far have led me to better understanding myself as an individual. I realized the first thing I did after my mother’s death was sing a song at her funeral. From that point on music has always held a special place in my heart. I write songs to put emotions on paper, eternalize it if you will. To some it’s risky and at the beginning it felt risky to me as well, but now it seems like I’ve finally come to terms with who I am and I’ll support me no matter what.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m currently a rising rapper, songwriter, and producer. I’ve produced, recorded, and even mixed myself on numerous occasions… not as good as I would like but improvement is my main goal. I see new artists, rappers, and producers everyday it seems. Most are following trends or riding a wave, hoping for fame and money, which is to be respected. For me, it’s more about the art of rapping… the lyrics, flow, emotion… I love how a good song can take you back to a great moment in time or help you cope with a rough patch. I don’t currently consider myself too far professionally but again my goal is constant improvement. As of now I’m working on my debut Album “Mirror Talk”, a project that was put together with a personal budget and some friends who produce. It’s expected to be featuring the likes of raps newest underground phenoms, including myself, a very difficult act to pull off I might add. From emailing managers, discussing budgets, and writing songs to finding the right engineers, videographers, and managing a very limited amount of money, I think we just might do it. I want the world to see me as just another person, someone who dared to dream despite the nightmares.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I’m being incredibly honest I haven’t spent much time exploring anything in any of the areas I frequent. My goal has been seeing this music thing through to fruition. As soon as my album is done I’m making my new goal to take every opportunity and experience it to the fullest. For now, I still have work to do. Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Groups/ Organizations

1.)WordXpress Huntsville, AL
2.)The Maitland Conservatory Huntsville, AL
3.)Digital 7 Music Group New York

Books

1.) Rich Dad Poor Dad
2.) The Art of War

My family is loved and appreciated.

Website: www.nvnddon.com

Other: You can find me on every social media site at NvndDon

Image Credits
Red Table Publishing Company & ServeMusic

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