Today we’d like to introduce you to Var Don.
Hi Var, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been creating music for a long time, and honestly, my story has been more of a journey than a straight line. I started out simply because I loved hip-hop and wanted to make records. Over the years that grew into songwriting, recording, performing, and really learning the business side of being an independent artist.
There have definitely been different chapters along the way. Life happens, priorities change, and there were times when music had to take a back seat, but I never completely walked away from it. Every time I came back, I came back with a little more experience and a better understanding of who I am as an artist.
Where I am now feels different because I’m much more intentional. I’m not chasing whatever is popular or trying to sound like somebody else. I’m focused on making good music, being consistent, building my catalog and putting the work behind it. I’ve also expanded into acting and other creative opportunities, so I look at everything I’m doing now as part of a bigger picture.
I’m still building, and I think that’s probably the biggest part of my story. I’ve been doing this long enough to understand that there’s always another level to reach. I’m just continuing to work, evolve and see how far I can take it.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not. There have been plenty of ups and downs along the way. One of the biggest challenges has probably been balancing music with real life. When you’re an independent artist, there isn’t always a team handling everything for you. You’re creating the music, figuring out how to release it, promoting it, funding it and still dealing with everything else life brings.
I’ve also had periods where I wasn’t as consistent as I needed to be. Sometimes that was because life got in the way, and other times it was me getting in my own way. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become much better at recognizing the difference.
Another struggle has been learning not to measure my journey against somebody else’s. This industry can make you feel like you’re behind because you see everyone’s wins without seeing everything that happened before them. I had to learn to focus on what I’m building and keep moving at my own pace.
But I wouldn’t change much about the road because all of it gave me perspective. I understand the business better, I understand myself better, and most importantly, I know I’m still doing this because I genuinely love creating. The struggles didn’t make me want to stop — they made me approach it differently.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At the core, I’m a hip-hop artist, songwriter and creative. Music is probably what people know me for the most, but I’ve also been expanding my work into acting and other areas creatively.
Musically, I don’t really put myself in one box. I grew up on hip-hop, but my music can pull from R&B, reggae, Southern music and whatever else fits the record. I’ve always cared more about making a good song than trying to fit into a particular sound or what happens to be trending at the moment.
What I’m most proud of is that I’m still creating and still getting better. At this stage, I’m probably more motivated than I’ve ever been. I’m writing, recording and building a catalog while challenging myself to be more consistent with actually releasing the work instead of just creating it and sitting on it.
I think what sets me apart is perspective. I’ve lived enough life to actually have something to talk about, but I still have the hunger to keep improving. I can make a serious record, something introspective, something for the club or something completely outside of what people expect from me, and it can still feel like Var Don.
More than anything, I want the work to speak for itself. I’m not trying to convince people that I’m different. I’d rather keep creating, keep growing and let them hear and see the difference for themselves.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Something people who mainly know me through music might not know is that I also act. I actually use my real name, LeVar Dawkins, for acting, so the two worlds have somewhat separate identities. I enjoy it because it challenges me creatively in a completely different way. With music, I’m telling my own stories and expressing myself. With acting, I have to step outside of myself and figure out how to tell someone else’s story. I’m still building that side of my career, but it’s something I take seriously and definitely want people to see more of.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vartheentertainer?igsh=azN1dDBrMHI0Z2hw
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19Qz5a5YpK/
- Twitter: https://x.com/VardNtertainer
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@vardon718?si=59ASy7zvZSzKwMeo
