Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexander Vernon.
Hi Alexander, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started playing music around 2000-2001 in my local church. My father got me a piano keyboard for Christmas Y2K, and as I liked the piano, I wasn’t particularly interested in the lessons. Later on in church, I started playing the drums and fell in love with it. I later on went to perform in my High School Band and Latin Jazz Group as a trombone player and percussionist. I have performed in venues such as the world-famous “Shea’s Performing Arts Theater”, the “Buffalo Philharmonic”, Darien Lake, and more. These experiences led to an idea to start making beats and ultimately produce music, around age of 16. Ages 17-23 I was hosting and DJ’Ing parties around my neighborhood.
Around age of 23-24 I decided to go to business school. While attending school, I met a few people in the neighborhood, who are now a part of my business W.N.Y Records LLC. These people are Yung Ren, JoSanti, Kobra Man, and AR.
Josanti & I had an Idea one day in 2020, to create a record label with the talent we had in our group of friends.
We then formed “Why Not You Records”, with me and Josanti being Co-C.E.O’s, Kobra Man as our 1st signed artist, and Yung Ren as the second.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It hasn’t exactly been a smooth road on this journey. I come from a poverty-stricken environment, so financial opportunities were not abundant. I watched my father, a single dad, struggle to provide for me and my sister. I have struggled a bit as an adult, especially since my mother passed away. She was my biggest motivator, and supporter. My father is always there for me for encouragement, but my mom knew how to connect and get me to understand things. My city (Buffalo, NY) is not exactly a business hub, so information and opportunities came later in life for me. The internet really helped with that. It’s now allowed people in my city to make extra money, from new streams of income, in form of new business models being introduced to us.
The music industry I operate in is indeed saturated, so competition is at an all-time high. Gaining exposure has become more easily obtainable, but still very expensive.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am Co-C.E.O, Manager, & Producer for “W.N.Y Records LLC”. I personally make all of the beats for the artists signed to my label.
Album Production Credits:
Josanti-“Live Life”
Kobra Man- “Man On A Mission”
I also manage them, which include:
Consulting,
Marketing,
Music & music video production/distribution,
Photo/video shoot coordination,
Radio & magazine placement coordination, & much more.
I’m most proud of my team, believing in each other and themselves. I know what I’m capable of, but to inspire another person to be the best version of themselves, is a great accomplishment to me. Alhamdulillah.
The amount of knowledge I have, along with the sheer work ethic instilled into me by my father, is what sets me apart from others. Respectfully, I have yet to meet someone as equally talented, intelligent & driven as I am.
A lot of people have 1 out of the 3, some have 2, very few have all 3.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My father was the first person in my life who saw I had an eye for business and music. He bought me my first instrument, a piano keyboard (which I still have today). My mother later on in my life, encouraged me through college. My sister Vanessa gave me advice and encouragement whenever she could. Her along with Josanti’s sister, helped me understand how social media works. The team I have now has been a great influence and support system since we first met until now.
Debbie Lewis of Atlanta has been a consultant and brief mentor to me and my team. As well as the owner of “Hotlanta Signs”. We’ve learned valuable information from those ladies, and have since started booking venues for live performances, and landing Radio Placements for our artists. Another person is a man known as “Loca Joka”. He has been a great ally and mentor to my artist Kobra Man, which in turn has positively impacted me. I also have to give credit to the models and DJs in Atlanta who we do business with, and who support our music. They have been very welcoming and supportive of our business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wny-records.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djceasel/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ceasel5
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/WNY_Records
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeWWCyjoXOmwIg1WTVrwJDw
- Other: https://wny-records.com/smart-link
