We had the good fortune of connecting with John Rawlins III and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi John, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The thought behind my brand and what I do was really in response to extremely positive feedback and reception of me, my talent, and who I am. People would ask me to perform in certain spaces and to share insights and lessons learned. So that’s where my on my brand and sharing my voice was developed.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Like many singers, I started out singing in the church and still do to this day. However, my church training really cultivated my gift and has afforded me many opportunities in gospel, R&B, Hip-Hop, Jazz. and other genres of music. My musical influences come from the Black church (artists such as Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, and Darryl Coley), R&B (Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Luther Vandross, my days in high school marching band, as well as my time with Chorale le Chateau with Winton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. I think these influences most certainly impact my presentation style and have really help me to hone my talent as a vocalist and performer. My main goal with my art is to impact people, to touch their lives, and to give them hope. I aim to always convey stories and messages through my music that encourage listeners to live life to the fullest and to push through difficult circumstances.

The biggest lesson I have learned over the years is to truly be myself and to be comfortable and confident in the lane I am in. Sometimes, it’s easy to play the game of comparison of your gift to others. But I have learned that there really is room for all and each of us has an audience that is waiting to consume the art we create. We just have to be bold and unapologetic in making it!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I might be a bit bias, but I would first start out by making sure that my best friend was coming to visit on a weekend when Soul Sunday was taking place! It is one of the places that has helped me to find a creative community here in San Diego in the last year and a half, but it also is such a vibe! Great live R&B music is never a bad thing! The artists they select are top notch and I have been blessed with the opportunity to headline a show, as well as sing background vocals for some of my friends when they headline. It is a place where community truly takes shape!

I might also be a bit bias, but I am a big fan of the National Pan-Hellenic Plaza at UC San Diego! It is the first plaza dedicated to the nine historical Black Fraternities and Sororities that are part of the Council in the state of California. These kind of plazas are mostly found on campuses on the East Coast and in the South, but it is incredible to have such a plaza here in San Diego! And of course, as one of the folks who helped to make this happen at UCSD, I would encourage folks to support events sponsored by these organizations! I myself am a Brother of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the first Black intercollegiate fraternity founded in 1906 on the campus of my alma mater, Cornell University.

In terms of good food in San Diego, I would also make sure to take them by spots such as Louisiana Purchase, Huapangos, Rustic Root, and King & Queen Cantina! I love those spots to eat and to hang out with my friends. I also enjoy going hiking at Cowles Mountain Trail with friends. And of course, no trip to San Diego for me is complete without coming to a Sunday morning Worship Service at the Bayview Church! They are uplifting, spirit-filled, full of incredible people, and such a great way to round out a weekend in such a beautiful city!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My shoutout is dedicated to my friends, family, my San Diego community, and two of my close friends who are no longer here but continue to push me in spirit — Marcus Graves Malone & Henry A. Stewart.

Website: https://johnrawlinsiii.com

Instagram: @johnrawlinsiii

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnrawlinsiii/

Twitter: @johnrawlinsiii

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnrawlins3.1010/

Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/JohnRawlinsIIIMusic

Other: https://brc.ucsd.edu

Image Credits
Picture in academic regalia – Erik Jepson/UCSD

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