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Meet Mister ATL

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Mister ATL.

Mister, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am a songwriter and urban inspirational recording artist from Atlanta, raised in Decatur, GA. I started my journey in music around 4th grade. I fell in love with music after joining the church choir with my big sister. From there I grew to respect the art of making and understanding music. In 5th grade, my mother bought me a trumpet and I joined the Rowland Elementary band where I learned how to read and write music.

After leaving Rowland, I attended Towers High School where in 8th grade I joined the Titans Marching Band. I can say that being apart of the band really helped me develop and master an ear for verbalizing and writing. I was also able to hone in on my leadership skills after becoming head drum major. I remember in 9th grade sneaking out of class to use the restroom, but really me and my friend Jeff would go around the trailers to record raps that we wrote during class on a handheld recording. That was our studio at the time and it worked pretty good. I would write the raps and hooks and he would rap and freestyle verses while I beatbox. I knew then I really had a gift for songwriting and coming up with melodies and song concepts.

I continued to master these skills throughout high school after meeting Slim Terra, Dj Genius, Shad, Joey, Murk, and Dillz, we called ourselves the “Oc Clique.” We put out a mixtape that generated a small buzz around the school and city and booked our first show at a spot called Club Carib. We had ten people on stage with a one cord mic that reached the middle of the stage, but we made it work and I was so hyped after that show. I could officially say I had my first big performance as an artist. During my 11th and 12th grade year I started to really focus on my solo music with the help of Slim Terra. I started to come into my own sound after trying so many different styles from trap to pop. Some sounds stuck and some didn’t, but I continued to write music every single day. I really didn’t understand my own sound as a solo artist until I graduated and started College at Alabama State University. At the time I was going under a nickname given to me in the band and I remember one day in the studio a group called “ATL” had a song on 106 n Park.

Slim Terra saw the group and started joking around saying that I was the “real” Mr. ATL because I could sing and dance better than them. We laughed about it, but ironically that was the nickname given to me my freshman year when I started college. Everyone started calling me Mr. ATL I would rep the city with my music so on campus people knew where I was from and it stuck. I changed the Mr. to Mister because it showed growth and went by the new name Mister ATL. My freshman year at ASU I wrote a song called “The Bama State Anthem” which was picked up by Hot 105.7 in Montgomery, AL and became the #1 requested song on the radio for a month straight and stayed in rotation that whole year. It blew my mind because if I could write a song that was dedicated about a school and it go #1 on the radio, then I know all the song concepts my head would go #1 worldwide. All I needed was the right platform. So I started booking shows, doing tours, magazines, and red carpet interviews the whole nine. I thought I was on the top of the world and I knew that this dream of making music on a serious level could manifest itself if I continued to push it.

Fast forward to 2009, I had a major opportunity to sign a record deal with label out of Atlanta, GA. I remember driving back home from school over the weekend to meet with the AnR and CEO of the label. They took me out to eat and showed me what they could do for me if I signed. They had this nice studio complex, great energy, and a game plan that blew me away and I knew this was my new home as an artist. I recorded a couple of songs with them which sounded different at the time because I was making a transition in my life from partying and other to maturing and becoming man. So naturally, my subject matter changed with me. I wrote a song called “Black Love” that was going to be my lead single for the label. The song dealt with life and love. After I finished the record, we had a sit down to listen to the record. The CEO told me that he loved the record but, the content didn’t match me as an artist because I was talking too much about faith and GOD. He asked me to re-write it to take out the word GOD because he didn’t think it would sell as much with my image. As I sat there in the meeting something hit me like I was seeing a fork in the road, one side said success and fame and the other side said “No Compromise.” I remember declining to rewrite the song and left the meeting unsure of my decision.

As I was packing up to head back to school, I got a call from the AnR telling me they would part ways with me because it wasn’t the right fit. I remembering telling him I understood and thank you and hung up the phone. I literally broke down in the car because I thought I ruined my one chance at making it in the industry, but then GOD spoke to me and told me because I made the decision not to compromise my faith the same success I saw in the secular world he would double it if I gave my gift back over to him. And after that day the name Mister ATL went from representing the city that I’m from to Mister A.T.L (Anointed by The Lord) representing the GOD I love.

Today I am continuing to push the boundaries of my gift and have officially grown into my own sound and found my lane of making unique and profound music that not only touches hearts but change lives.

Currently, I am finishing up on my debut full-length studio album which is set to release this year with a new single and video to go along with it. I am excited to finally give the world a full body of work. This project took me years to formulate but I know its worth the wait. The album is a blend of poly-sounds from RnB, Hip Hop, Funk, and Soul. I guarantee this will be a new sound of music moving forward once it’s released. I wrote the entire project and recorded 95% of it at my own studio compound, Mister ATL Music Studios, so I am 100% dedicated to the making of this album. I have production by Terra Tunez, RonJMar, Od, Legacy, and MeZ mix and mastered by platinum engineer and producer Bao of Mixology Studios.

Has it been a smooth road?
It has not been an easy road, to be honest. Making the transition from secular to gospel and then to urban inspirational with my music was challenging. I remember after dropping my first gospel EP “Church Gone Wild” project I was banned from a couple of online Christian websites, youtube pages, and gospel radio stations because of my music, my look, and my live performances were too edgy and radical for the time. I remember being booked to perform at a youth day event and being asked to perform the edited versions of my single “No Wed No Bed” and “Sinner Like Me” even though my music was profanity-free and clean.

I knew that people weren’t ready for my type of music back then and I never understood why I was being crucified for trying to create positive music. It was a point in time when all I was booking was secular events, clubs, bike events, etc. I saw that the world accepted me more than the church. I can’t lie; it made me bitter for a period of time because I felt like I was doing the right thing. I was delivering a good message so why the people who I was making it for accepting and supporting it? I started to question myself as an artist and if it was really meant for me to create this type of music. As I grew and matured as an artist, I started to realize that my music isn’t for everyone and the type of music I make is not meant for the crowd inside of the four walls.

My music reflects various styles of RnB, Hip Hop, Urban-Soul, Funk, and Gospel. I am comfortable with what I create. I talk about sex, romance, love, marriage, my past struggles, real-life issues and the whole nine. It’s a different vibe that is needed in today’s music especially coming from an urban inspirational artist. Most people will try to shy away from this type of subject matter, but I feel it’s necessary. If they’re not hearing it from me, they will hear it from someone who do not have their best interest at heart. I have my own lane, my own sound, my own look, and yes it is different, but it’s unique.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am an entrepreneur and grew up watching my mother and father staying active in the community, church, and business. So the naturally I wanted to stay active once I grew up because that seed was planted at an early age. I consider myself a Renaissance man because I wear many hats in the city. I am an Interrelated Social Studies Middle school teacher, Founder and mentor for the P.O.L.O (Pushing Objectives, Learning, and Overcoming) Club, male mentor program, and track coach in Dekalb County. I am also the Youth Pastor at Hope for Tomorrow Deliverance Center in Decatur, GA.

I own several businesses including a nonprofit organization called The T.A.L.K project (Teach, Accomplish, Learn, Connect) where we work with at-risk youth, teens, adults and families through academics, sports, business prep, and life skills. I also own a music and songwriting consulting agency and publishing company through my parenting managing company Davies La Forth LLC. Through this umbrella I service out my Born Sinner Dying Saved clothing line and apparel brand for male and female, my photography, graphics, and videography service Davies Diamond Digital, a mobile DJ and lights company, a Family Fitness and health training company Davies Family Fitness and a Dental Staffing agency with my wife called Davies Traveling Dental Assistants. I am also a published model and clothing designer and award-winning choreographer.

I most proud of how each of the companies is growing and showing effective results. A lot of people ask how I maintain so many entities and still have time for life lol. I always tell people you make time for whatever you have a passion for and my passion is utilize all of my gifts.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I would highly recommend business owner especially those of color to open up business in this great city. It is so many opportunities available at your fingertips to become successful.

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Image Credit:
@Jusmichiah, [email protected]

Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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