ROTATING THE DIRECTION OF THE BRAND

Written By Matthew Cruz

The name mericanDREAM came to me around 2015. From there I wrote poetry and lyrics, I produced and arranged musical compositions and instrumentals primarily using FL Studios—but using Pro Tools Logic Pro and GarageBand from my phone—I drew and photoshopped concept art, and filmed and edited videos. All of that to promote my own personal brand. However during those 7 to 8 years, I worked numerous odd jobs from being a parts clerk at a trucking company, to working in retail. I was a lift operator in a ski resort. I was a dry press operator in a factory. I worked overnights as a gas attendant. I even whipped up delicious milkshakes in a little ice cream shop for a second job. Yet, even during all that, I always kept my brand in mind.

To be honest, I’ve been really unorganized with my product—if anything it’s convoluted—the message I’ve been trying to convey. It serves no direct purpose for the betterment of society, other than being a personal outlet for me—venting—so to speak. And I love making music, in various ways, however the practicality of it hasn’t been beneficial—financially, or academically. My music doesn’t lasso an audience where they can relate to it and share it. Maybe I’ve also been poor at marketing my craft, not engaging with others who share my passion. 

I want to rotate the direction my brand is going. Change how I operate and promote my business, and craft colorful stories where there’s an audience for each and every one of those stories. As I was explaining the jobs I’ve worked, the places I’ve traveled and lived, I’ve met so many colorful personalities. The stories and experiences they shared with me—I want my product to reflect that. Its been fun telling my story and my lovelife, but now I want to share my narrative on the characters I met—their joy and energy. Their struggles and accomplishments. It is what the American Dream is all about.

I’ve posted a lot of content on my YouTube channel and my instagram—not frequently though. I want to learn and deploy new marketing schemes for my YouTube, instagram, and my FaceBook page. I also want to post my singles and EPs at least monthly for my Spotify, iTunes, and SoundCloud—while also learning other trending platforms. I need to create an engagement with an audience where soon there will be business blooming from it. Maybe there’ll be a need for my skills such as sound engineering or photography, vice versa. From there, hopefully it creates a solid connection with other local artists who share the same passion as I—I am representing Denver, Colorado.

My mom has been my biggest fan since the beginning. She’s been my support and reason on why I’ve been continuing on my music and mixtape/album projects. I mean, I was on the fourth floor in the Main Branch, Denver Public Library just cranking out songs for my first album, IINDEPENDENCE, I was hella excited to have my mom hear my music. My second album Wolves Are Very Emotional was a taste in lyrical essence and soundwaves of the Rocky Mountains—and my mom understood that. I’ve been working on songs, EPs, and albums since I was a teenager. However, once I chose to have the artist name of mericanDREAM, there came album after album—my attempts in storytelling—my mom listened to these stories and loved them. Though I want to change the direction of my storytelling, I will continue the legacy my mom and I have invested so much time in.

I’m going to add and post more features on how I do my storytelling—that’ll be the introduction on product placement by mericanDREAM. For example, maybe I want to share a specific accessory I use to produce a song like an AKAI Professional brand, MPD218 Pad. Or I’ll share an app I use to do film editing. Give a little more insight on how production is done. Who knows, maybe someone will need to learn from what I post, for their own development or maybe, someone will comment on a more efficient way for me to do something. Again, engaging with an audience will be healthy for business.

It’s time to put my skills I’ve obtained over the years to good use. My vision for my brand and as an artist, mericanDREAM, is to add to and enhance the Colorado music and filming scene. And I’ve got a lot of work to do…

Written By

Matthew A Cruz

Matthew Cruz
Previous

From Our Indirect and Digital Encounter