What is your name and what city do you rep?

My name is Ian Vandiver, and I go by Half Deezy musically. At the moment, I live in Las Vegas, Nevada. Sin City baby! We don’t sleep a wink.

Tell us about your latest releases. What inspired you to create them?

I’ve been a big fan of Styles P for a long time. When I was given the opportunity to collaborate with him, I jumped at the chance. I wanted to make sure the project was top-notch, so I brought in two of my closest friends, Cruzado and Rex, who I knew would bring their best work. The four of us got together and came up with “Cold Case”.

What is unique about you and your music?

What makes it unique is the fact I am not afraid to go out my genre. While I am a hip-hop artist, I am down to work in any area. Most won’t venture outside their sound for fear of losing fans or being criticized, but I don’t care, lol. I am down for whatever. As long as we creating gems, I am good. 

What shaped your music? 

“My life experiences” may sound like a cliche, but it’s true. During my time in the military, I witnessed a lot, and before that, I was roaming around the city, getting into trouble, haha! However, I express all of this through my music. As a storyteller, I always try to paint vivid pictures with my songs. I tend to reveal parts of myself in each track, drawing from both my personal experiences and those of others I have encountered over time.

When did you realize you were going to make music professionally? 

When I was 11 years old, I began writing and realized that I wanted to pursue it on a professional level. However, my passion had to take a backseat as I served in the military for ten years. Despite this, I never stopped performing and creating music. Thankfully, my superiors also encouraged my musical pursuits even when I was stationed in different parts of the world.

What type of music do you listen to? 

I enjoy listening to a variety of genres including hip-hop, alternative, rock, hard rock, pop, and R&B. Although I’m not a big fan of country music, there are a few songs that I can groove to.

What inspires you to write music? 

I have always loved music and knew that I wanted to create it, or at least learn how to. However, what inspires me the most are the listeners and fans who reach out to me and share how my music has helped, inspired, or motivated them to pursue their dreams. That is the most rewarding aspect of why I write.

What do you do when you don’t do music (creative or otherwise) and that you are passionate about? 

When I’m not working on music, I’m attending college to obtain my Masters Degree. As a film graduate and certified Jeweler, I also spend my free time working on set doing sound or crafting jewelry pieces and gold grills for individuals whenever the opportunity arises.

Happiness to you is… 

I find happiness in making music and reaching new real fans. It’s been an incredible six months since I started taking my music career seriously. I’ve gone from having 10 music streams a day to 25,000 streams a day on multiple platforms. I’ve worked hard for a long time to make ends meet, but now I’m seeing success without the backing of a major label. So, for me, happiness is in the present.

What do you wish you were told when you first started making music that you think would help artists just starting out? 

Having money, a game plan, and persistence are the key factors to make a significant impact. Money is necessary to invest and take risks; nothing moves without it. Even if you are not sure if your plan will work, you should take the chance and see what happens. And even if it works, it’s still a roller coaster ride, so you must stay consistent. There is a common misconception that once you have a hit song, you don’t need to do anything else, but that’s not true. When your work starts getting attention, take it as a sign that you’re onto something and increase your efforts. Work ethic is crucial during this phase. If you choose to ride the first wave without continuing to be consistent, you will be dead in the water when the wave starts to settle.

Tell us about your upcoming projects…

I am currently focused on promoting “The Grit EP” to achieve record sales. The EP features renowned artists like HAVOC of Mobb Deep, Kool G Rap, Ghostface Killah, and more, and is packed with five songs that will surely impress music lovers. You can even pre-order it on Bandcamp. Apart from this, I have many other projects in the pipeline. I release new music every week and an EP every quarter. In the meantime, I am working on my debut album. I want to build a big enough following to ensure its success when it eventually drops.

Where do we find you music / music projects?  

You can find my music on all streaming platforms. For updates on my projects, visit my Instagram @halfdeezy or www.halfdeezy.com for the latest.

Any last words for the readers?

If you are a fan, thank you for all the continued support! If you are an artist, it’s time to get to work. There’s no time for games, get out there and make it happen!