May 7, 2019

Meet Bryan “Nayrb” Davison

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bryan “Nayrb” Davison.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
Well to start things off, I was born and raised in Columbus, Ga which is a city in the western part of Georgia. I was always interested in music and art. So much so that my music class was my favorite in elementary school, and I would always draw after school while waiting to be picked up. I would also sing around the house which always annoyed my sisters. There wasn’t much for young people to do in Columbus. That being said, I would get bored easily and playing outside by myself became old.

As I got older, I would stay inside and play around on my computer more often. I played Club Penguin a lot because it was fun. My favorite thing to do on there was creating my own little DJ mixes at the Night Club. In hindsight, this is where my passion for music started because I then began to experiment with actual DJing software. However as I learned more about music production, I decided to leave DJing alone and began producing when I was 12. I also attempted to write a few raps at the time, but I didn’t take creating songs seriously until I was in high school. It was my junior year when I decided that having a music career is what I wanted for my life. My mom inspired me to come up with the stage name “Nayrb” which is Bryan backward. At the same time, I began to edit short 15 second videos to the beats and songs I created.

In the fall of 2016, I came to Atlanta to attend Georgia State University. I’ve been staying on campus since then, and I stay with my sister, who lives outside of Buckhead, during the breaks. During my freshman and sophomore years, I took the time to perfect my creative skills in video editing, photo manipulation/editing, and music especially. Currently, I spend most of my time creating in some of way. If I’m not working on music, I’m editing photos, creating artwork, creating videos, or just learning new skills. I have slowly crafted my own sound as a music artist, and I’m in the process of paving my own lane to stand out.

As I wrap up my junior year, I’ve been getting more into 3D animation and generative design, which I feel will bring both my art and music to the next level. As I travel the path that life leads me, I’ve realized that I am a creator with a gift that I want to share with the world. I’ve made a lot of progress so far, and I have a lot more to learn, but this is only the start.

Please tell us about your art.
I make music, manipulate/edit photos, create digital artwork through collage, and edit short videos. I produce my music in Ableton and record my songs in my dorm room. I make music because it allows me to express my thoughts and feelings in a way that I couldn’t if I just spoke on them in a regular way. For example, my most recent project titled “Suspended Reality” is about my struggles with anxiety/depression and its effects on my life. I portray this as being stuck in a virtual world that I can’t escape from. I like the idea of starting from nothing and creating a sound that can convey any feeling or vibe that you can imagine. It’s like a superpower with unlimited potential and limits. For now, I want my music to make people understand or relate to my perspective and the things I’m going through. But for the future, I want my music to make people think and question.

Dadaism is my favorite art movement, but my favorite artists are the innovators of Dada’s descendant: Surrealism. Artists such as Man Ray, Max Ernst, Andre Breton, and Rene Magritte inspire me to think less and create more. I try not to think too hard about the choices I make when creating photo/video edits and collages. Surrealists learned how to tap into their subconscious to create their works, so I try to follow that blueprint. Surreal memes also inspire me, because of how abstract people make jokes/references; they can be very clever and funny. I create my works because it allows me to express how I feel or my view on something in subtle ways. I eventually want my artwork to make people think in a political sense and question the status quo because art is an important tool for political change. I also want some of my art to make people laugh. I feel as these takeaways aren’t as present now, but they will be more present in the future.

I’ve always been interested in technology. I used to tinker around with the internal parts of my family’s computer when I was younger. Because of the impact computing had on me, I try to implement those types of themes and references in my work. I do this as a way to challenge people to think or learn about what the references mean and how they relate to the work itself. So in a way, I want my work to make people learn about technology.

Given everything that is going on in the world today, do you think the role of artists has changed? How do local, national or international events and issues affect your art?
The role of artists hasn’t changed at all. Along with politics, art shapes the current culture and society. Artists have always been able to make people think, feel, express, and question, and that still continues to this day. When I speak of artists, this not only includes visual artists; It includes music artists as well. The only things that have changed are the artist’s reach and the opportunity for the artists or other entities to gain more profit.

National issues affect my art in some ways because these issues and events are part of my experience as a person. They shape my perspective, so I sometimes feel inclined to work them into my art. For example, I created this piece titled “The Spectre Watches.” It acknowledges we are watching capitalism in America boil over and unveil its true form: crony capitalism. Many people are becoming more aware of this, and they will tolerate it up to a certain point. The title is a reference to the Communist Manifesto. However, the specter in my piece does not represent communism specifically, but more so a broader idea that capitalism in America needs to get checked. With that being said, I’m working to improve my artistry so I can create more pieces such as this one. I want my future work to address more pressing issues we face locally, nationally, and worldwide.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
My music can be found on SoundCloud, Spotify, Apple Music/Itunes, and many other streaming platforms.

My photos, collages, and videos can be found on my website and occasionally on my Instagram.

You can support my work by listening to my music and keeping up with my website. But the easiest way to show your support is to simply share my creations with your friends on social media or by word of mouth.

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