Music Projects – A Personal, Artistic, and Purpose-Driven Journey
Context
I’ve always been a passionate music listener, especially when it comes to rap. After graduating high school, I enrolled in a BTS program that didn’t work out. I decided to start working instead, taking on temporary factory jobs. It was a physically and mentally challenging time—but one thing kept me grounded: music. Being able to listen to music while working gave me strength and focus, and became a daily source of motivation.
During those long hours, I had time to reflect. That’s when I realized what I wanted to do with my life: work in music. Music has given me so much that I feel a kind of debt to it. I began researching careers in the industry, and quickly found that being an artist manager matched both my personality and long-term vision.
While continuing my studies and working at Kinoba, I began leading musical side projects from artist management to creative brand-artist collaborations.
Brand x Artist Collaboration – Connecting Creative Worlds
One of the most ambitious projects I led involved a partnership between the clothing brand GazingShirt and several emerging rappers.
I proposed a concept of 360° artistic collaboration, where each artist would co-design a t-shirt with the brand founder, then release a rap track and music video inspired by the collaboration.
The idea was to create a capsule collection, preparing all five collaborations in advance. Each one would include a new track (compiled into a mixtape), a music video shared on social media, and the t-shirt released on the brand’s website unveiled one by one, like episodes in a creative series.
Artist Management – Structure, Support, Strategy
I also managed a young Canadian rapper named Neimo for the release of several music projects (EPs).
I helped shape his artistic direction, guided him through track selection and cover art choices, and coordinated the release strategy. We ran targeted social media campaigns before, during, and after each drop, and reached out to media outlets to boost visibility resulting in playlist placements and editorial features.
What I Learned
These experiences helped me develop concrete skills in music project management, including:
Artist outreach and networking
Budgeting for creative projects
Negotiation with artists and collaborators
Planning recording sessions and music video shoots
Leading creative sessions between artists and brands
Building original collaborative project formats
Creating social media strategies
Working with music and culture media outlets
Providing artistic direction and managing tight timelines
Participating in music-related events
Conclusion
These projects gave me real, hands-on exposure to the music world. They taught me how to connect with artists, understand their creative vision, and find meaningful ways to support them.
It was an incredibly enriching experience, both human and professional. I met many talented people, and I still collaborate with several of them today. My passion for artist development has only grown stronger, and these first steps confirmed that I’m heading in the right direction.
