Exposed Vocals Interviews Dtox Dtreeman
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
Dtox Dtreeman: I grew up in Elizabeth, NJ. They call it “Eastwick”. I’m originally from a modest 480 apartment housing project called Pierce Manor, “PM”, when it first opened. I was a DJ first, started when I was 12. I became an artist mostly out of being challenged at first. My cousin was an artist and told me that I couldn’t be. So I set out to show him he was wrong and fell in love with the process in the interim.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
Dtox Dtreeman: I was given the name by a college friend of mine. I was a college athlete (football) and had to figure out how to make money and still attend all classes, study halls, practices, video watching sessions, weight room workouts, etc. There ended up being a lot of marijuana involved and that’s how i got my name. Long story short.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
Dtox Dtreeman: I would think as an artist you would want your music to be shared. How else can new people be exposed to your music. Even back when music wasn’t free someone would let you hear the latest song off of the cd that they just purchased, which was free for you to hear. I definitely give music away for free. One reason is that the climate of music today has major artists giving away music and/or videos. If a well known artist is doing for free it is hard to justify to someone that has never heard my music that they should pay for it. Another reason is that making it more accessible, free, more people will be willing to give it a try and i will gain more fans who will be willing to pay for merchandise or a live show and I can make money that way.
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
Dtox Dtreeman: Network. Go everywhere you can and meet everyone you can. Master and show off your craft and don’t stop. You’ll weed out the people who can’t help or who are hindering your career and replace them with people who can help you achieve your dreams. Keep business cards or cds or thumb drives on you at all times to appear professional.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
Dtox Dtreeman: It comes from different places which is why guess each song can be really different. Sometimes events happen that inspire music and sometimes you hear the music, an unfinished song, and your imagination finishes the song for you. The woman will tell you what she wants. The beat will tell you what to do too. You just have to listen!
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
Dtox Dtreeman: www.iamburnproof.com I use just about everything i can. I mean the worst thing that can happen is more people hear my music, which is great. Mostly I use youtube, soundcloud, twitter, blogs, internet radio stations, and e-mail. You can get me on IG: dtoxdtreeman or twitter @dtoxdtreeman
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
Dtox Dtreeman: I would pay the mortgage for as year, start a farm, and make music. I would spend it promoting my music. Probably pay for a few collabs with major artists that i like.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Dtox Dtreeman: Actually hiring people to do marketing for me is the most effective. My product is solid so i just need opportunities to get it in front of people. If everyone you know introduces you to everyone they know, now you know a lot of people. I do not have as much free time as i would like to do it all myself so I invest in my music.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
Dtox Dtreeman:My next upcoming project being released is called “Paraphernalia”. That will be onwww.iamburnproof.com and www.soundcloud/dtox on 4/20! I actually already released it physically for the paying fans and am now releasing it digitally. I have already started working on my next project though, dropping this summer, titled “I Need Dtox”. “Live Life” is the first single off of that project.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Dtox Dtreeman: Dying slowly!
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
Dtox Dtreeman: It is very difficult. You have to take care of everything else first and then use what little time you have left to devote to your craft.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?
Dtox Dtreeman: Paraphernalia is dropping 4/20 on www.iamburnproof.com and www.soundcloud.com/dtox and “I Need Dtox” will be dropping later towards the end of the summer. You can get your “I Need Dtox” T-shirts via IG atwww.instagram.com/dtoxdtreeman