PASSION: It's Time
UG Digital Magazine: How do you choose?
August Rigo: That’s the biggest question everyone asks, but I really don’t know. You just never know what kinds of opportunities come. I always go back to a story about Neyo. He wrote Let Me Love You, and it became Mario’s biggest song, and look at how far it’s taken Neyo? He could have said no, I’m keeping this song, and maybe no one would have heard it. For that reason, I don’t close the door on those things until I decide I’m releasing a song. I definitely won’t shop it after that.
UG Digital Magazine: With your second album, I feel like it was a better time for you. This issue is centered around being independent as an artist. The major labels will be there, but many artists would much rather be independent. It’s huge that you began with Def Jam, and ultimately became independent. How big was that for you?
August Rigo: It’s kind of a catch 22. I’m a control freak and enjoy having that kind of control, but the other side of the coin is it’s extremely difficult to be on your own. You are competing with the major labels. For me specifically because the music I do is contemporary Pop & R&B. The platforms for that are very standard. It’s radio, television, movies, and getting notoriety through those channels, rather than getting hot on Soundcloud or having a hot YouTube video. I’m not really that artist so it’s been a difficult transition for me. It’s been an awesome experience though. I really do enjoy figuring out the game. That’s the next challenge in my musical endeavors.
Are you working in a craeer that you love? Is it really your passion, or is it simply a paycheck?
At some point or another, we all ask ourselves that question. Very few of us, however, act accordingly in cases where we realize that we don't love what we do, it's not our true passion, or it's only a paycheck. Many people work constantly at a job that gives them no pleasure or joy, and they spend much of teir time stressed, noverworked, and often depressed about where they are. The truth in it all is it is never too late to do what you love. When you don't make it about money, you stand to have the time of your life doing something that never seems like a job. Now let's be real: money surely makes the world go round. You need it; I need it; we all need it! But your work still shouldn't be about money. When you're doing what you love, it's inevitable that the money will ultimately come to you.
As the Publisher of UGD, I speak from experience in the fact that I left a lucrative career to launch my own brand. Did I struggle? Definitely. Nevertheless, I made it through, and couldn't be happier! -JGJ