I Started a Magazine
Made Myself an Editor. Made Myself a Chief.
The dream of having my own magazine turned into a reality today. Merely talking and thinking about it became old news, as I've taken action. One day, I woke up and decided to just go for it. Jet, Nylon, Right On, Seventeen, Vogue, Complex…all served as templates. Growing up, posters covered the walls in my bedroom, and I collected magazines like they were baseball cards. Mysteriously, the physical copies didn't survive Y2K, but the inspiration remains.
Luckily, I was blessed with an obsession for art, great taste in music, and the ability to spot talent. Lowkey, I should have been an A&R or a casting director, but my social anxiety fumbled those bags a long time ago. That is a story for another time. As for now, we’ll talk about how creating a magazine from the comfort of my home is more up my alley. Researching people, places, and things is my not-so-secret weapon. I can find out if your significant other is cheating and with whom in record time, but I’d rather expend that energy into something more productive. Something like finding out what made a producer in the middle of America begin creating music out of only cassette tapes. Or how a 14-year-old rapper got the courage to book her first show. The passion for putting a publication together that displays well-researched stories behind the talent is what helps me burn the midnight oil. The ideas pour out of my head and into my laptop like fresh-squeezed orange juice (the superior breakfast drink, by the way).
Speaking of 14-year-olds booking their own shows, I met someone who actually did just that. Her name is D’Vyne. She’s in her early twenties now and raps 360s around most of the rappers on my timeline. Actually, it feels like calling her a mere rapper is sort of an insult. She’s a LYRICIST. Being a lyricist, in my opinion, is much harder than just…rapping. After just one listen, it’s obvious that she WRITES. The flow is there, the delivery is there, and the complex rhyme schemes and energy are all there. Happy to say, she’s the first cover girl for my magazine. Lab Ave Magazine, to be exact.
Anyone who knows me knows I’m a music connoisseur. Although no one knows me because I’m an introverted, socially awkward homebody who’s never outside (but that’s ANOTHER ‘nother story). But let’s stay on topic. I know what I’m talking about regarding D’Vyne. She’s on fire, and as long as she stays focused and keeps up the momentum, I definitely see her going to high places in the music industry. She’s from Chicago by way of Memphis with a sprinkle of New York City, and in two weeks, she’ll be international as she is embarking on her first performance overseas.
We had a conversation about her origins, inspirations, and motivations last month. The vibe was so natural, and it felt like talking to a childhood friend. I chopped up our talk into multiple segments. Here’s the first one for you to enjoy. Thank you for reading.
- Bisawonder