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Etienne Conner, known as 85Royaltee, is a musician from Florida who has been in the industry since he was 15 years old. He began his career as an engineer and was originally not a huge fan of the spotlight. That all changed when he realized people won’t let you touch their music without hearing what you can do. He started to freestyle, mix, and master his own music. He ended up gaining a fanbase, and didn’t expect to connect with people the way he has throughout his career. 

85Royaltee fully realized his potential when he had his first performance and forgot the lyrics to his verse. The crowd became was upset that the song was ending prematurely. It was a song that 85Royaltee composed, and he couldn’t ignore his call to music any longer.

“At that moment, I realized that I needed to take this seriously and go hard. Succeeding [in the music industry] isn’t easy – it takes practice and you have to grind and perfect this craft,” he explained. 

85Royaltee has kept his word, consistently dropping new music, promoting his work and performing in and out of the U.S. He even lived in Japan for about a year, where he performed and reached a new audience. “I love performing and seeing people who don’t speak my language, vibing to my music; that was the best feeling I’ve had so far.”

With all of this experience under his belt, 85Royaltee has improved both musically and financially. 

I’m proud of how far I’ve come. A lot of people say they want to do it, but don’t follow through. I’ve managed to follow through for so long and it’s paying off. I’ve even tapped into the business side of the music industry, which will help me grow even more. 

85Royaltee on his experience in the music industry

Of course, the music industry comes with its challenges. 85Royaltee wants to focus on reaching the masses and expanding his audience while staying true to himself. “A lot of people will tell you to change your sound, your cadence, or your fashion. I’ve continued to be me and it’s gotten me where I am today.” He encourages young artists to do the same and to stick to their unique styles.  

While 85Royaltee creates different styles of music, he enjoys writing and performing emotional, more personal, songs the most. “Writing is therapeutic to me. I write about things that I’ve been through personally. This allows people to connect with me as an artist. I can make party music but I make love songs, too. There’s that pain I express too. I would rather have a fan connect and relate with me more than anything else.” 

85Royaltee is not letting Covid slow him down, and has released two dope singles, “3am” and “Tryna Touch A Mili.” Living by his motto, “don’t stress over what you can’t change,” he has successfully adapted to the music industry and is headed to the top of the charts at an international level. 

Check out 85Royaltee’s music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and follow him on Instagram @85royaltee!

#GETSOM via @miya