Today we’d like to introduce you to Simmon (Moni’ye) Belaineh.
Hi Simmon (Moni’ye), we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Arlington, TX and grew up in a tight-knit Ethiopian/Eritrean community. Since I was a kid, I connected with music and other creative channels on a deep level and would often get lost inside my imagination.
I was always intrigued and moved by different genres and art forms, but when my older cousin introduced me to Hip Hop and Hip Hop culture, it hit different. I started writing songs and raps when I was 13, mainly as a way to articulate experiences and emotions in ways that I found difficult through conventional dialogue. But while music was always my passion, I doubted my ability to make something of myself through it, so I gravitated towards sports as I believed I had a better chance of going somewhere with it. I ended up swimming competitively and got recruited to swim at the collegiate level for Southwestern University which brought me to the Austin, TX area. In the middle of my senior year a few of my friends discovered I made music and pushed me to release it which was uncomfortable but cool. After graduation, I got a job in Austin and continued to release music on the side; but it wasn’t until 2019 that I started to visualize things that we’re always dreams, as a potential reality. That forced me to start taking my creative ventures and aspirations seriously.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Nah… haha but I believe great things don’t come easy.
I feel that every chapter of my journey has presented new and different challenges, so it has been a pretty constant ride of ups and downs. In the beginning, I struggled with being both vulnerable and confident. I consider myself a pretty private person and admittedly pretty self-conscious, so it was uncomfortable to be presenting some of the most vulnerable aspects of my life into the public. It was also a challenging process to find confidence in myself as an artist, and often felt elements of imposter syndrome. From a logistical standpoint, I didn’t even know where to start, lol. I wasn’t producing at the time and didn’t know any producers, I had no idea what studio to go to or what to even do once I got there. Not to mention I didn’t have a lot of money, so the thought of pursuing this journey was daunting.
Near the end of completing my first project, I quickly began working on my second project. I found that I struggle with finding complacency and always feeling like I have more to prove, both to myself and the public. I got connected to a producer/ artist, Ollie Bomaye, and was tasked with conceptualizing and building a project completely from scratch in a collaborative setting (no more youtube beats). This also inspired me to start producing/ executive producing myself, which presented a lot of learning curves ranging from technology to directing to composition.
Today, I find myself being challenged with finding balance, staying consistent, and learning new ways to innovate my creative process. But the late great Nipsey Hussle said it best, it’s a marathon.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
This is an interesting question because I often feel like I’m living two different lives, and depending on who you ask, I’m known for different things.
9-5 I am a Senior Marketing Recruiter for a Software Company. In my entrepreneurial ventures, I help lead an Austin-based creative platform/collective called Hubbledvision. Lastly, as a creative I am a rapper/singer/producer/songwriter. While all are different, I think they are all rooted in connecting and empowering people and aspiring to make a positive impact.
In regard to my specialty, I would say written and verbal communication are my strong suits, which is ironic because it was once my biggest weakness. But I believe communication is one of the most powerful tools in the universe, and I’ve definitely put in the most amount of hours into refining my verbal/ written communication skills and always work to apply it towards all of my practices.
It’s difficult to say what I’m most proud of as I’ve learned a lot through all aspects of my work. However, I would say I’m most proud of our platform/ collective. Hubbledvision has connected me with so many different amazing and talented people, all with like-minded goals. Inspiration and opportunity never runs dry within this community, and it has personally given me purpose and conviction.
Any big plans?
I look forward to reaching a position that allows me to provide opportunities to others, as well as giving back to my community. I also plan to access financial freedom for me and my family, creating generational wealth for those who come after me. Lastly, I look forward to waking up and doing what makes me happy every day.
Contact Info:
- Email: moniyemgmt@gmail.com
- Website: hubbledvision.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonofyoni/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/MONIYE_
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDMzW_if3MkOtApPH370eIw
Image Credits:
Wellcaptured
