“Do what you love.” Most of us are trying to make a living at something we tolerate or kinda hate. Who has time for passion projects? Omar Prestwich of Utah County-based music and lifestyle brand Damn Son! says to make time.
A few years ago, Prestwich was in Southern California, selling home-security systems door to door. It was his fifth year on the job—it wasn’t his dream, but it put bread on the table. It still does; he’s talking with City Weekly during a break from selling alarms for Vivint. But Damn Son! will celebrate a successful first year at The Urban Lounge on Thursday.
One night while running, Prestwich decided he wanted to work in music. “I also wanted to start a clothing and lifestyle brand,” he says. “So I started approaching people and getting feedback.” Prestwich soon realized that his dream was within reach, and Damn Son!’s slogan, “Do what you love,” was coined.
“The idea,” Prestwich says, “is that people perform their best when they do what they love.”
Prestwich returned to Provo and partnered with friend and former sales partner Kade Call, who doubles as downtempo/future bass artist RoboCLIP. They started with the record label, compiling a roster of local and national acts in the future bass, downtempo and glitch-hop genres, but working under a philosophy of supporting all kinds of art. They wanted to empower people to do whatever thrilled them—even if others think it’s kinda lame.
“I’m from a rollerblading background,” Prestwich says. “People make fun, but it doesn’t matter. Someone else will think it’s awesome and say, ‘Damn, son!’ ”
Damn Son! exists to promote music, visual art, fashion design, photography, fitness and outdoor sports. “Do what you love,” Prestwich explains, extends through five tiers, the first of which they’ll unveil—along with their clothing line—in January with DamnSonMusic.com’s sister site, DamnSonStyle.com. It’s called “Pay the Price.”
Anything worthwhile requires “an idea, goals and hard work,” Prestwich says. “You gotta follow through, learn from your mistakes and not fear failure. Are you willing to pay the price?”
Prestwich and Call are reaping the rewards of their hard work. Damn Son’s 17 music releases—all free online—have international distribution through Symphonic. You can even find them on Spotify and Pandora.
They have big plans for 2014, but first they’re taking a timeout to party with atmospheric and tribal hip-hop from Rumtum, future/downtempo by Gaszia and an old-school vinyl DJ set by Chu on Wax. There will also be product booths and giveaways by Astro Gaming, J Bones clothing, Five Tribes and Positive SLC. And the price is right: Pay what you want.
“If you wanna pay, cool,” Prestwich says. “If not, that’s OK.” Just come out and discover what you love to do.
DAMN SON! FIRST ANNIVERSARY
w/Rumtum, Audiotreats, Dumbluck, HeathCliff, Gaszia
The Urban Lounge
241 S. 500 East
Thursday, Dec. 19, 8 p.m.
Pay what you want
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