Today we’d like to introduce you to Sean Tolton Jr.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Sean. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born and raised in PG County, Maryland, but was blessed to be able to go to Hamilton College, a liberal arts school in upstate NY. This was where I noticed that I always had a knack for finding really good music and spread it just by word of mouth and social media. I was studying World Politics in school and was looking to potentially work for the government, but realized that I could do something I love for the rest of my life, and that became the only option for me.
One of my childhood friends, Emmanuel, now rapper/songwriter ADB Lil E, showed some real interest in making music and has incredible potential. I realized that I could be the person to tap that potential and help him to get on the map. He took the chance with me and agreed to let me manage him. Together, we founded “A Different Breed Entertainment,” which is an artistic collective, but I also wanted something to really call my own and something that I could make my mark on. I signed my second artist, Loudland, a producer out of Denver, sometime later and opened ‘Diamonds Alive.’ These two have put their trust in me and I will be forever grateful to them. Having those two and the support of all of my close friends and family has really made this possible and have kept me on track to chase my goals.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It most definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. The legal side of the industry and understanding everything without having been taught that in school was definitely tough. It was just one of those things that I had to do my research on and better understand what I was looking at. It’s so important to understand in order to reach that ultimate goal, so no matter how tedious it may have seemed to study and learn, I was going to learn and understand it.
Every journey has its hindrances and struggles, but that’s what makes the success stories so great. Some of my personal struggles have been with the grind of it all and finding motivation when pieces aren’t moving as much. I think that whenever you want to start something and build it from the ground up, intrinsic motivation is the key to growth and not staying static.
Diamonds Alive Music – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Diamonds Alive is an artist management company. Our services include finding promotional outlets and collaboration opportunities. We set up live show opportunities and organize events. We manage social media and fan engagement. We making real tangible plans for the success of the artist. We really serve as a one-stop-shop for artists.
I pride myself in putting the artists first. I feel like so much of the industry right now is very controlling, so I always look to work in my clients’ best interests. Also, I pride myself on being more than just a manager; I want to be personable and open with my artists because we see so many tragedies happen to artists that don’t think they’re being heard.
I think that the thing that sets me apart is that I’m a young black man, now in a position that is frequently occupied by older white men; I think people connecting with these artists on a daily basis and can better understand the things that they go through ought to represent them. In my opinion, this breeds more healthy business relationships and a better general understanding between artists and their representation.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I have two moments that stand out immediately. One thing that always makes me proud is showing my artists off. My producer, Loudland, recently dropped an album, “Welcome to Loudland,” and when I showed my friends, seeing their heads bobbing and hearing that satisfied “oooo” or “mmm” is always great. Also, the moment that really blew my mind was when my rapper and songwriter, ADB Lil E, sold out his first show ever in DC at Songbyrd Music House; just standing there watching how he was moving the crowd and seeing what we made happen was incredible.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 240-608-8008
- Email: diamondsalivemusic@gmail.com
- Instagram: @dmndsalive @seantolton
- Twitter: @iamseanjr
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