Getting to know music artist IamDerby

Nice to meet you! Tell us about you:

My name is IamDerby and I am from Portsmouth, Virginia.

I have more than just a love for music. I’m IN LOVE with music. It started as an outlet for myself that helped me interpret and express things that I battled with alone mentally. In more recent times you can hear my music being more fun, uplifting, and encouraging to the listening audience. The drum set was my first love in the whole music scene before anything else. I’ve been a Church drummer for half my life playing in many different places for many different people. The way I see people feel my beat and how their moods change does something great in my spirit and it’s a feeling that can’t really be explained. I really just love being able to connect positively with people on a massive level.

What separates me from other artists, especially in my area, is that I actually be in the field. By that statement I mean that I practice what I preach by giving back to my community. I actually go out and try my best to put in the work that way my actions can speak for my music that it be known that I’m not your typical local musician/ artist. I don’t make music for notoriety or clout. Personally, I create music for my mental health and also to help lead others that may feel the same way I feel. Every track I have is real and personal to me and there is a story behind each and every one of them wether people believe them or not. What also separates me is that I do more than make music. I write music for other people across the states. I do cameo’s and appearances in other peoples projects. I make commercials & jingles for products and

brands, etc;. It’s more than just being an artist for me.

In 5 years I see myself really becoming a stable and well known figure in the music industry across multiple states and not known just for the music but also acting and anything else that involves entertainment. It’s in my blood to be in the entertainment business for sure.

My biggest goal in life is to accomplish just that and create a stable career for myself in the entertainment business. One of my biggest inspirations and aspirations in the business is Wanda Sykes, who happens to be my older cousin. If she can make it from my family and from the same city and town in which I still reside, there is no reason why I cannot do the same.

To the music community, I bring a 24 year old self producing, self engineering, self managed artist. I do just about everything you see or hear with my name.

Not a lot of artist can say they record, mix and master, and produce their own music and sounds. I put in the work to see the results. It’s not an easy task but for what I love is what I’m willing to do. You are going to see my face and hear my name everywhere even if it’s somewhere else’s song that I have credit on.

I want to be remembered for my love and passion for music and others. I want my music to withstand the test of time that way there really is no “remembering” me as if I am still here when I depart from this life. I want to be able to still have an impact on peoples lives when my time is here is done.