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This planet is packed with people from all walks of life. The music business itself represents numerous vibrant charms from multiple upbringings and the relationships that take place within the industry are noteworthy, inventive, and often surprising. Figuring it all out on your own can be fun, but merging God-given talents with like-minded professionals who are striving towards a common goal can yield amazing results.
Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Michael “Kustom” Polk –grew up in an average middle class community with a clear ambition to be successful in the music industry. While his world was unlike individuals who hustle spending their lifetimes dreaming about getting into the music industry, Kustom's passion for music was no less intense. This drive lead him to pour disciplined hours, and even years of practice in the development and refinement of his sound, which is the splendor we hear from him today.
To hear the Kustom in person, one could easily confirm to his talent and creativity, but to get a better perspective of how unbelievable he is with music, all one has to do is take a trip back in time with Kustom to understand his influences growing up. Starting with his first piano lesson taught by a classical Russian pianist, one can easily see how music would end up having such a huge influence on Kustom’s future.
“I was always tangled in music activities,” Michael recalls fondly. “I was born with large hands and my parents were convinced that they should be used on the keys. I actually was taught by a classical Russian pianist who was quite the disciplinarian as well, which helped keep me focused at a young age. Besides from that, I was always listening to various types of music and I even was part of a band in high school. I was involved in a group when I was younger – we called ourselves “Tannix.” We were a rock band, a group of four guys and did the battle of the bands, opened up for Hootie and the Blowfish once, and even recorded our own material. I was the drummer rockin’ out in the back and I loved it! That’s what really got me started on everything.”
While those early days served as the foundation for Kustom’s musical discovery, he would eventually take his talents to a different level. Little did Kustom realize that everything he needed was pretty much right within his hands the whole time. It wasn’t until connecting with the online community of other musicians that he came across the revelation that decent music exists in more places than just the radio/TV.
“I had just gotten out of high school and I always thought to make music you had to have lots of expensive equipment and degrees to understand sound quality and acoustics,” Michael recalls. “I heard this band from back home, Marley Mar, and I heard his music and it was nice! I then heard one of my friends and he was doing music of the similar high quality but he was producing it out of his bedroom. From being in a band in school, I knew I could pick up basically self-teach myself how to make the sound I was trying to achieve.”
Kustom recognized how significant music was to his life and he began devoting extra time and money into his own equipment. While his creative vibes may have been ringing, he came to the cruel reality that he wasn’t in an optimal environment necessary to make the kind of moves that he wanted to make. It wasn’t until later, by fate perhaps, that he would make the necessary connections with other industry executives and in doing so would place himself in a position to flourish as a producer as he settled into life in Northern Virginia.
“I loved Lorton, DC, and Alexandria,” Michael recalls fondly of moving because of a commitment towards continuing education and working for the government. “I came from a small community of about 20,000 people around my area in West Ashley of Charleston, SC and not much of anything ever really went down with the type of music I was producing. They say that home is where the heart is, but the change did me well for the music business and the government. I was in a better situation in the DMV (DC/Maryland/Virginia) after graduating from the Citadel in 2010. I started music back home and even had a few songs on the streets with different artists but that was about it. I saw that in DC there was always something going on and somebody who could always help you out. I like the fast-paced environment and the non-stop grind for success lifestyle. I’m learning the music business is not much different.”
Kustom adapted to a new lifestyle in the DMV, but admits that he was in need of help. He jumped on the internet and used every social media tool he could to get his name, his brand, and his sound out the people he wanted to hear it. After some 2 years, his presence is finally known. With getting involved on the internet and the online music community, Kustom has been able to network to many leading music executives, travel to various shows and events, and meet several famous celebrities.
Of all the people Kustom has met, he devotes a good portion of his time on crafting nationally recognized artist, T.R.U.B., by producing his several mixtapes. “I just fell in love with Kustom’s work – It’s just something about his tracks that stand out from everything I’ve ever heard before,” T.R.U.B. explained. “He’s more than just a beat-maker… He can literally produce any genre and have it done any way I want it! Whether its rock, pop, hip hop, R&B, dance, dubstep… you name it and he can make it happen.”
Kustom and T.R.U.B. learned a lot more about each other while performing/producing new music together, but eventually they would reach a plateau as a team – so they started networking together and bringing in other artists to feature on T.R.U.B’s mixtapes, videos and Kustom’s tracks. The shady dealings of the industry would push the two young aspirants to alter their plan of attack, even if only for the moment.
At the moment the producer, known better as Kustom, is in the early stages of trying to make his dreams a reality. With every placement on TV, another artist, or event, there is a clear diversity that exists for Kustom to satisfy the need of music market. Thus, versatility is key when trying to produce across a wide spectrum of genres. Trying to find those key people in the game and best opportunities is part of the Kustom’s early objectives.
“You can’t be risk adverse in this game,” says Kustom. “You have keep your image and your name in people’s heads – sustaining that momentum is key or else you’ll fall off and be forgotten. Another important principle is that it pays off in the long-run to be unique… It’s never a good feeling to go to a record label meeting and have the exec tell you that your music sounds dated or they have heard it before by someone else. There’s a lot of imitators and copy-cat producers out there – so that’s why I try to stand out from the rest.”
With the formation of the Kustom’s network also comes the reality that it is a completely different ballgame. To succeed in the music industry, one must be on point and focused all of the time and there can be no room for error. Kustom will be the first to admit that getting involved in the music business has given him a new sense of how much work is still left to accomplished.
“As a solo producer, everything is on you,” Michael reveals. “You have to basically meet the criteria and fit the mold of what people are looking for. In a retrospect I think you can experiment more because there are more dimensions to add to the mix when you have to produce music for multiple personalities and genres. I can bring a lot more to the table. Instead of just being a one trick pony, I have lots of great angles and people that motivate me to produce unique pieces. The artists and producers I work with have varying personalities and mindsets; so if you put that together there is going to be some great music that comes out of that colorful combination of people. Music is a universal language, and I want to be fluent.”
“I’d love to do what Scott Storch, Drumma Boy, and J.R Rotem did,” the dynamic producer closes out. “I want to be even bigger if possible. I’ve made a small name in this industry, but I’ve got a lot more work to do. I want to take this as far as I can.”
As Kustom continues push forward with hard work and dedication, the talented youth understands that the road ahead of him is long and a path less traveled by most. With plenty of obstacles on that road, he knows he has to endure it and get over each hurdle. Kustom is proof that hard work, dedication, and persistence can make a big difference in the music business. Through growth and maturity, his skills will take him as far as the skies. Kustom will be the definitive musical answer to the world.
Kustom recognizes that his music has the influence to move the multitudes and he definitely delivers awe inspired music for the masses to enjoy. His uncanny ability to remain authentic with his core musical upbringing but also cross-over to any mainstream genre of music is purely a breath of fresh air; as we don’t see that to often from today’s so called “Top Producer’s”. Be on the look-out for Kustom.
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