Fathom 9 started out in the music scene performing hip hop and emceeing at open mic nights at coffee shops. Before he picked up a microphone, he wielded a pen and wrote free verse prose poetry. As a child he aspired to be a scientist, but also developed interests in music and creative writing. But as time and "life" passed on he was led to pursue emceeing and music production as an outlet to share his experiences. His inspirations range from author Kahlil Gibran to groups like A Tribe Called Quest and Organized Konfusion to artists Frantz Litsz and Monk.
The best part of being a performer to Fathom 9 is true freedom. When he performs he feels the ability to forget all hardships and everything that's wrong in the world. "Or when I’m in the lab creating music and I stumble upon a dope moment that was spawned from a ‘happy accident,’ words cannot adequately convey the euphoria I experience. I embrace my continued growth as an artist, and feel I have been commissioned to be who I am by the Universe. As a performer, I have learned that this art—the way we express is larger than us; someone somewhere is watching, feeling-and what we express is energy, and that energy must be handled with care."
One of his major highlights in his career was participating in the local NARAS Chapter's Urban Music Showcase where a lot of industry moguls were present. He, and the rest of his group The Genesis Experiment, played it cool and professional until they performed. "They were not expecting a true underground Hip Hop presence that night, but when we touched the mics, a slew of supporters came rushing past the VIP tables to the front of the stage—and we gave one hell of a show, so awesome Chris Herrington of the Memphis Flyer did a feature on us that following issue. For me—that night was confirmation that we could do anything the industry could, without compromising our artistic integrity for the sake of a record deal—and that has remained a key component to my personal artistic philosophy: Never Compromise your integrity."
Coming up, the artist has a solo project titled "Revenge of the Nice Guy" that's near completion. He's also released instrumental projects on Bandcamp.com called Soul-Heart Sessions: Winter Leaves, The Colorful Grey: Moods of Fathom 9, SHS: Blue Notes from a Brown Soul pt.1 (Sounds for Sojourners), and Untitled (Pulse Beta).
When it comes to his city, which he affectionately refers to as "The Delta Quadrant," he finds himself constantly defending it, but Memphis' closed mindedness hurts him deeply. "Because this city is so very historically rich, especially in terms of music, it baffles me how so many can be non-responsive to a diversity of sound. Blues and Memphis Rap are but two of a vast array of sounds coming from this city. Jazz musicians who came out of our own Manassas High School’s music program, who played with jazz greats like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Clifford Brown and Max Roach should be celebrated. Booker Little, who died far before his time, was a trumpet player from Memphis, and innovated his style that Charlie Parker and others later became famous for. Unfortunately, this history isn’t as celebrated as it should be." Thankfully there are people such as Fathom 9 who will keep their memory alive and spread the word about artists that he feels is underappreciated.
Currently, he is on sabbatical focusing on his craft, but learning. He sees himself as a student, both literally and figuratively.
Fathom 9 Memphis Recommendations:
Music Venue:
Otherlands, Java Cabana
Local Artists You Recommend (music, film, art):
Artistic Approach, Mike Joyner, LottaLox, Royal T, Cities Aviv, Tonya Dyson, Max Ptah, Richard Douglass Jones
