Today we’d like to introduce you to Byron Crenshaw.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I feel like the people in my hometown, Tulsa, Oklahoma, were so supportive of passionate young kids that I never really felt a moment where I wasn’t inspired or improving. I remember my dad telling me wild stories about his old funk band “G-Factor.” I remember making little music jingles and beats hour after hour on my mom’s dusty PC using whatever free music software I could find. I remember people at the town’s Jazz Hall taking me in and showing me the ropes of being a Jazz musician. That’s what got me started. Now fast forward, I’m on my last semester of a Jazz Bass degree at UNT while I still listen to funk music and make beats on my own dusty laptop.
Please tell us about your art.
I started this project, The Growth Eternal because I felt like there was a lot being left unsaid artistically in my life. I love the spontaneity of Jazz or being a freelance bassist (which I still am primarily), but when playing so many other people’s music and so much instrumental music, a lot can be lost in translation. This is my project to not have to translate. This is my project to shout. I like to write about things I struggle with within and things we all struggle with as people in our current climate. I shout about dependency. I shout about gun violence and paranoia. I shout about dudes who only hit you up at 2 AM. If someone asked me to sum up what my project is about in three words, I would say “sustainability and growth.” I just hope I can keep improving myself and the world around me like the people in my life have done for me.
Do you have any advice for other artists? Any lessons you wished you learned earlier?
I’m just 22, so I still have pretty much no idea what’s going on hahaha. So far it’s looked like it’s the same for great artists and great people. I would say if your intentions are honest, and your devotion is unconditional, you’re golden. Being prepared for opportunity is huge. Self-reflection is key.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I have music on all the major streaming services, plus a few more on my Bandcamp page, all under the name The Growth Eternal. I also just released a more experimental youtube video about black expression called “Trap Catharsis,” check it out!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://soundcloud.com/user-845457561
- Email: thegrowtheternal@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegrowtheternal/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Musician/The-Growth-Eternal-220727485144746/
- Other: https://thegrowtheternal.bandcamp.com/
Image Credit:
Adriana Valdez Huff
Elizabeth Dieterich
Noah Spencer
Svatantrya Temple
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
