LOOK: One artist's powerful journey through loss, recovery and the redemptive power of music
In a deeply personal and emotional social media post, the New York-based artist offered fans a timeline of that trauma and the long road back to music, healing and success.
Ten years ago, DJ and music producer &friends lost his little brother - a devastating event that would send his life and career spiralling into silence.
His story, spanning a decade of pain, purpose and resilience, culminates in his first major hit, 'Jackie B', released earlier this year alongside Brent Faiyaz and Joseph (CH).
The post isn't just a career retrospective - it's a vulnerable look at how grief can derail your dreams, but also how it can shape and even resurrect them.
In his post, &friends writes:
August 2015: 'After 6 years of DJing and making music, I lost my little brother. The music stopped. I quit completely.' The loss was too immense. In one moment, music - the thing that had defined him - had become unbearable.
June 2016: To escape his grief, he uprooted his life, moving from San Diego to New York City. He joined a marketing agency simply to survive. 'Music? Dead to me,' he admitted. It was no longer a passion, just a reminder of pain.
December 2018: Unexpectedly, an opportunity arose. A top NYC club invited him to DJ - the date? His brother's birthday. 'I said yes. For him.' That night, something stirred. 'People felt something. I did too.'
2020: The Covid-19 pandemic hit. While building the company and working 80-hour weeks, music became his outlet again. 'Every free second? I poured into music. It was the only thing keeping me sane.'
October 2021: He leapt. He left his marketing job behind. 'Everyone said I lost it … Maybe I did. Maybe I was. But I couldn't live without music anymore.'
2022: He dropped his first record, and then came 'Ode Ireti' featuring El-Jay and Oluwadamvic. The track went viral after Keinemusik played it at Burning Man. 'Something shifted,' he recalls.
2023: His dream took off. He played his first international shows. He was touring - but it wasn't easy. 'Balancing health, art and business? Harder than anyone tells you. I kept going for both of us.'
2024-2025: He debuted a new track at Coachella - 'Jackie B'. The reception was electric. It went viral. Two weeks ago, he released it officially - with Brent Faiyaz and his longtime collaborator Joseph (CH). 'My first big, big hit. I know the little bro is watching.'
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LOOK: One artist's powerful journey through loss, recovery and the redemptive power of music
In a recent social media post, DJ and music producer &friends shared a heartfelt timeline of the trauma of losing his brother and his long journey back to music. In a deeply personal and emotional social media post, the New York-based artist offered fans a timeline of that trauma and the long road back to music, healing and success. Ten years ago, DJ and music producer &friends lost his little brother - a devastating event that would send his life and career spiralling into silence. His story, spanning a decade of pain, purpose and resilience, culminates in his first major hit, 'Jackie B', released earlier this year alongside Brent Faiyaz and Joseph (CH). The post isn't just a career retrospective - it's a vulnerable look at how grief can derail your dreams, but also how it can shape and even resurrect them. In his post, &friends writes: August 2015: 'After 6 years of DJing and making music, I lost my little brother. The music stopped. I quit completely.' The loss was too immense. In one moment, music - the thing that had defined him - had become unbearable. June 2016: To escape his grief, he uprooted his life, moving from San Diego to New York City. He joined a marketing agency simply to survive. 'Music? Dead to me,' he admitted. It was no longer a passion, just a reminder of pain. December 2018: Unexpectedly, an opportunity arose. A top NYC club invited him to DJ - the date? His brother's birthday. 'I said yes. For him.' That night, something stirred. 'People felt something. I did too.' 2020: The Covid-19 pandemic hit. While building the company and working 80-hour weeks, music became his outlet again. 'Every free second? I poured into music. It was the only thing keeping me sane.' October 2021: He leapt. He left his marketing job behind. 'Everyone said I lost it … Maybe I did. Maybe I was. But I couldn't live without music anymore.' 2022: He dropped his first record, and then came 'Ode Ireti' featuring El-Jay and Oluwadamvic. The track went viral after Keinemusik played it at Burning Man. 'Something shifted,' he recalls. 2023: His dream took off. He played his first international shows. He was touring - but it wasn't easy. 'Balancing health, art and business? Harder than anyone tells you. I kept going for both of us.' 2024-2025: He debuted a new track at Coachella - 'Jackie B'. The reception was electric. It went viral. Two weeks ago, he released it officially - with Brent Faiyaz and his longtime collaborator Joseph (CH). 'My first big, big hit. I know the little bro is watching.'
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