Kerry Linden Music Group, Co- founded by Mitchell Todd and Optimistic Gangsta is a multi-genre record label that aspires to give artists freedom to push the boundaries of art through music.
What is your name and what city do you rep?
HI, Orend Johnson Jr is my name and I go by Optimistic Gangsta. I’m born and raised in Houston, Texas but Natchez and Natchitoches, Louisiana are home to my heart.
Tell us about your latest releases, what inspired you to create them?
The God Gap is touched by God. Nuff said about that.
What is unique about you and your music?
I’m Quentin Taratino of music. I push the boundaries of art and I don’t copy and paste like the majority of music we hear.
What shaped your music?
God, Earth, Humanity, and myself. I’m spiritually inclined to all creations.
When did you realize you were going to make music professionally?
When I left the diapers for underwear briefs with Elmo designs on it . I used to tap on the front window every day with my finger tips and emulate the sound of drums while making marching band sounds with my mouth.
What type of music do you listen to?
All genres but I mainly listen to classic 70s soul, funk, disco, 90s R&B, and classic rock. I’m an old head in a young body.
What inspires you to write music?
Nothing specifically but my past memories of grandfather playing classic soul and blues in the living room gave me a sense of knowledge of black music and arts and just knowing that my love for music came from him, inspires me to push the boundaries of story creation, sounds , and poetry.
What do you do when you don’t do music (creative or otherwise) and that you are passionate about?
I used to cook a lot, walk my dog , I love you Brey and Simba, spend time with my nephews, write poetry, boxing, play sports with the bros, read over my scripts, but now I’m too busy for all of that.
Happiness to you is…
is a facade and a never ending cycle of chasing. No one is truly happy, we confuse it with satisfaction of our life but our society is too goal driven to be satisfied.
What do you wish you were told when you first started making music that you think would help artists just starting out?
Fame is not real, picture you having 150M followers will move on to the big thing after you’re dead and gone, you’ll be mentioned every 5 years on your birthday or death date. People love the art more than the person, do right by people and stay humble.
Tell us about your upcoming projects…
Can’t do that, just wait for it
Where do we find you music / music projects?
All streaming platforms.
Any last words for the readers?
Follow my IG @thatoptimisticgboy
I’m a professional troll.
