Daily Inspiration: Meet Preston Sherwood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Preston Sherwood. 

Preston, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started writing poetry when I was 8 years old, having grown up in an imperfect family to say the least was why, ever since I was little my voice was silenced by my mother, my father, teachers, kids, etc. Nobody listened, nobody heard my story or where I was coming from. In other words, I was a white noise casted to the background of the channel, Poetry allowed me to escape that, it enabled me to speak freely even if no one heard and it was just in my journal. By the time I was 12 music became my new escape. I would lock myself in my room and watch hours of YouTube music videos, it didn’t matter the genre whatever I enjoyed at that moment I would throw on. It could be alternative, hip hop, soul, R & B, etc. But I didn’t start converting my poetry into writing my own music until I was 15 and met one of my friends, I consider my brother Chris or “uncommon” as he goes by. Chris was the first of my friends to get me to freestyle and show me his music. So, if I’m giving credit to anyone for this journey besides god it’s him. Pretty soon after that my grandma passed away; I hated the school I was attending I didn’t ever do my homework because I couldn’t see the “means to an end” everyone was telling me about. When I got home, I didn’t want to think of school and the bad time I had that day I just wanted to make music. The following year I transferred school districts and started fresh, I really thought this could be a new beginning for me. However, upon transferring two things came about the good and the bad. The good thing was I felt like I belonged, nobody cared I had value world clothes on and not the newest designer, it didn’t matter I didn’t have Jordans on my feet I met people who liked me for me. Then comes the bad, along with new friends meant parties, I quickly found myself partaking in things I told myself as a kid id never do. I started to become addicted to substances that were not good for me and my depression only got worse. However, my stint at the new school didn’t last long, the school administration suspected me of “dealing” and other crimes which I was never found guilty of. However, my father thought it was best to diss enroll me before I was expelled. The following year I transferred back to my old district and attended their alternative school in which I met my other brother Donovan or “Welsh” as he goes by for music. At this point in my life, I had pretty much given up on school and all I cared about was hanging with friends, drugs, and music I had released 3 songs so far and made little to no wave in my career. Life was almost on autopilot as some would say, wake up, get ready, go to school, get out, hang with friends, take drugs, make music and repeat, but pretty soon after everything came to a stop. I had found out that one of my family members had been attacked, I knew who did it, and being who I am I couldn’t let them just get away with it. My brother Welsh was invited to a party at the attacker’s house having known him prior to these events. So we went, I was charged as a juvenile with a first-degree home invasion. I wasn’t arrested until 2 days after the fact in school where they had also just searched and found an ounce of marijuana and a scale in my backpack, so add on a possession charge as well. I was sentenced to a juvenile program titled BTS (Boys treatment secure). Which is the longest program for a juvenile at children’s village I spent a year and a half 1 birthday 2 thanksgiving and two Christmas behind bars, now I know that isn’t much at all and I’m lucky to have gotten that instead of what would’ve been had I been an adult. However, the time I spent in juvie wasn’t all for loss, I had found what I needed more than anything in life since it began and what everyone wanted more of time. Time to think, time to breath, time to not worry. I had a bed, I had food, and I had peace. I was able to not worry about outside issues because the only thing I could worry about was me. I restored my faith in god, started my ideas for my company v8 industrial records, and started really thinking what do I want in this life? Where do I want to be? what do I want to do? Everything lead me back to this. I want to be heard and be remembered, I want to make a difference in this world, I wanted to help others and I wanted to do it through music. when I was released, I was 17 years old about to turn 18 I had gotten my GED due to the lack of education standards in juvie I felt I had surpassed what they were teaching already, And I started working as a cook at local bars and restaurants. All While still working on my music. While working as a cook one day I met a local who promoted events in the area and he got me onto a festival my first show ever. I was nervous as hell, I had stage fright since a kid, but I did it and I never looked back. Shortly after the performance, I had the rush to do it again, so me and Welsh signed up for a music contest at a local open mic we entered as a duo and although we didn’t win the money the show director liked us a lot and invited us back to headline an event. This quickly became a habit sign up for local shows to perform try to gain an audience, However, as I continued attending these underground events, I couldn’t help but notice how poorly they were done. constantly had crappy flyers and promotion, the venues were in run-down strip malls and destroyed buildings, seating were soda pop crates. It was embarrassing as an artist to be performing at them. this got me thinking what if ran shows? my father always taught me if you’re gonna do something do it right or don’t “half-ass it” was his famous phrase. So, I knew if I could find a way to do it, it’d be the staple of underground shows in Michigan. As I was planning and creating for a show I also was working on my newest album “Wedding Crashers” and my auto engineer had told me about a show his buddy “Sevv” was running called “the Stage” and invited me and Welsh to perform. In which we did and the minute I had walked through the doors of this venue I was shocked. The lay out the design the standard of shows that I would be competing with went from a mere meh to a holy crap! This was where I met Sevv or Michael one of my business partners and great friend. I would return to this show once more to perform and talk with Sevv about shooting music videos for me for my upcoming album Wedding Crashers. Shortly after this I had learned that he had gotten a new place to operate out of in Detroit and my 20th birthday was coming about so I gave him a call-in hope to possibly run a show. He agreed, we agreed on pricing and “industrial sounds” was created to go with the theme of my company at the time v8 Industrial records. The show was a hit and was one of the best nights of my life, quickly after this Sevv and me stated to discuss what v8 was and how I see it growing, we also started to discuss what he had been working on before leaving his past venue. Pretty soon we realized that our ideas were very similar yet also different in their own ways, however, if we were both to continue separate, we would ultimately become competitors in the future. We both agreed that wasn’t what we wanted and we could get further working together then not. So Sevv invited me to meet our other partner lance and as we started talking, we all agreed this was what we wanted to do and so became the grid. 

The Grid is an Artist network & digital platform which provides Artists with tools, resources, and opportunities to further their music careers. We provide high-quality videos and other forms of content as well as events, studio time, playlist positioning, and more. Our most recent feature and one we are excited to announce is called GridLink. GridLink is the all-in-one hub for artists and musicians, not only does it offer a sleek professional design and easy access to all of your socials and streaming links for fans to find, it allows you to embed your music and music videos directly on the page. Making it easier for fans to find it and more likely to interact. GridLink also enables you to add custom pictures as well as a bio or description about you the artist. We believe GridLink is the future for all artists. Convincing someone to click a link is hard enough but trying to get them to click one that leads to another and then another to eventually find your music, Forget about it. GridLink solves that with everything one click away and easy access for your fans to your music. However, this is only the surface of The Grid there is so much more than what meets the eye when you first sign up, Frequently I meet new artists who come to our events and say they “didn’t expect this” or “this is amazing”, I can’t help but smile as they tell me how much they love what we’re doing. They mention how the energy feels when they come to the grid versus other paces. This is what drives us This is why we’re here to change the industry for the better to help make dreams reality. If you’re a local artist or musician and you’re looking to further your music career or journey, go to www.thegridmusic.com to sign up or come visit us at our Headquarters on 8-mile rd. for our open mic “The Pit” Registration information can be found on the website. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Life has never been easy for anyone. my story is mine but I’m sure many others have similar from being locked up at youth and dealing with an abusive mother and emotionally distant family to depression and finding the urge to keep going in a world where we created our own entrapment of life, there were times when I didn’t know where my next meal would come from or if I’d wake up tomorrow there was times I didn’t know if wanted to be in this world anymore. People on a daily deal with this but everyone is to afraid to speak up because ‘It’s the way of life” Go to school get a degree get a job and die working to just get by. I hate that I refuse to buy into it and it took me a long time to realize it doesn’t have to be that way. 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an Artists, Entrepreneur, and Businessman 

I specialize in songwriting. marketing, promotion, and investments 

I’m known personally for my work ethic and determination towards my life and goals 

publicly for my music and my company the grid 

I am most proud of my faith and how far I have come. 

I believe I was destined to change the world with my voice. 

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
I think the biggest lesson from the pandemic was realizing how bad we had lost connection with each other no shows, no events, no time together we had all became distant and bitter, but now that things are starting to return were realizing how much stronger those connections are becoming and the unity it creating in our community 

Contact Info:

• Website: thegridmusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegriddetroit/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZCSig-OgsI
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/sherw00d
• Other: https://www.thegridmusic.com/sherwood

Image Credits
the grid