MANSFIELD — The local musicians of Mansfield are a tight knit community always looking to grow individually while also passing their knowledge on to one another.
Vaughn Robinson, known as ‘Vaundoom’ in the local music scene, has been making music since his sophomore year of high school, having rap battles with his fellow track mates during practices. Eventually one of his friends gifted him music making software and the rest was history.
His recently released album “Black Gods and Shooting Stars” explores several concepts and ideas related to the African-American experience, with musical influences from Japanese anime mixed into his beats.
Robinson has been working on the album since late last year and it’s been the fastest he’s ever produced. Using recent issues surrounding the Black community, Robinson felt inspired to write an uplifting album centered around his race and perspective growing up as a Black man in America.
“I compared the plight of African-Americans as being gods that were thrown underwater. So they were born not being able to breathe,” Robinson said. “And they’ve been struggling because when you’re underwater you really can’t move as freely as you want to.”
Robinson drew comparisons to slavery, the Jim Crow era and George Floyd in his work, using the “I can’t breathe” slogan as a basis.
“It’s like a bird, trying to tell the fish how to swim when the bird can only see the surface but not its depths,” he said.
Along with writing and producing his own music, Robinson also helps other local artists by sharing his craft. After mixing and mastering for 10 years, he feels like he knows the ins and outs of producing music enough to advise other aspiring artists.
Since starting up his own studio in his house, Robinson’s seen many artists come in for guidance, which has resulted in a few using his production methods as the blueprint for their own creative process.
“I help as much as I can because I feel like it doesn’t make sense to be able to have the knowledge that you have and just keep it to yourself,” Robinson said. “You’re not contributing to people, or a community or yourself. I think I was put on this earth to create and to just (give back). So that’s what I do.”
Don Cartel, also known as ‘Yung Don,’ has prospered well after learning from Robinson. As a rapper himself, Cartel turned to Robinson when he first started out in the music scene, learning how to mix and constantly asking for advice. Today he’s built his own studio, produces his own music and has gained a strong base of supporters, however he remains humble and grateful toward his mentor.
“I thank him every time I see him,” Cartel said. “I look at him like a mentor with this. We don’t really talk that much but… he is one of the reasons why I am where I am today.”
Music will always be a part of Robinson’s life, whether it’s producing or helping others.
“It’s sort of like you’re bringing out a superpower that they didn’t know they had,” Robinson said. “And now that they know they have it, they feel like they have a bigger purpose… and they can actually impact their own lives or other people’s lives. The fact that I can do that is really freaking awesome.”
Robinson’s new album “Black Gods and Shooting Stars” is now available on all streaming services and can be purchased online.
