So my name is Kenyatta Jones, but everyone calls me "Rashad". Im from a small town thats way too small to be seen on a map called Mt Pleasant TN. I grew up with livestock till the age of 13 till my father moved our family to Butte, MT. I went to high school in Butte, MT for 2 years then I finished up My high school years at Hillwood Comp high school in Nashville. Shortly after high school, I started building import race engines and took a hobby to a next level that also took my wallet to a lower level. So then I realized that I had a niche for electronics. This later led me to move to Chicago for a education in auto electrical and diagnostics. I attended UTI Chicago in Glendale Heights were I achieved skills as a auto technician with special training on Toyota and Hybrid vehicles. After graduation I was later to become a certified Lexus/Toyota technician. I performed maintenance and diagnostics on Lexus and Toyota Hybrids for 3 years. But I also had an epiphany that this really wasn't my chosen profession, but more of a "family tradition". I actually had a better time playing music for my fellow race buddies after long hours of working in a shop. So it was this that led me to a discovery that led me to music production and audio engineering. While in Nashville I enrolled at SAE Institute and met a dozen of musicians that had more financial problems than the recession itself but they were still happy with what they did. I also met audio engineers that worked around the clock for free just to do work with critically acclaimed artists. But in the essence of it all, they still had a sun shining in them on a cloudy day. I felt the same affection for music as they did. So their I studied live sound, audio, acoustics, music business and also a new way of creating music. Everyone there had a special instrument that they played and took music theory to new heights. Me on the other hand hand no music theory experience and couldn't even play a cow bell on hand if asked to. So I figured that I would create my own music with no experience in music theory. So the question stands? How is a person going to create or play music with no instrument? Hmmm? So it was then that I discovered sound sculpting and design. I was fascinated with wave forms that could be created using simple sine waves and oscillators. Upon graduating from SAE Nashville, I DJ'ed for free at college parties and social events, and also spun in BeBe Nashville and other various locations in the city. I also started recording local hip hop artists and gospel artists in a studio environment that fascinated me more than a kid in a candy store. I used a 48 channel Neve recording console and a Pro Tools control 24 to engineer and record artists. Seeing that I was progressing in the recording field, I started incorporating my sound design into music production. I started making electronic beats in a basement home studio and sold them for a box of pop tarts and happy meal. Then one day I saw an internship at Fig Media and I was very intrigued with the opportunity with of working with other creative professional artists. So I sent them a resume here I am today. Considering that I was surrounded by the flood waters in Nashville, everything worked out perfectly!

Five Goals for my experience at Fig:

1. Professional Disc Jockey - This will enhance my music production skills, give me a ear for mixing different frequencies and keys, and also create a buzz for an audience. Influences include William Renkosik, David Guetta, & Jody Den Broeder.

2. Electronic Musician - This will strengthen my sequencing skills, give me experience as an audio engineer, prepare me for sound design/sculpting, and mature my ear sensitivity. Influences include Joel Zimmerman, Charlie Erickson, & Tijs Verwest.

3. Foley Artist - I feel that this will be the peak of my career, This will give me a chance to put my sound design experience to the test. Nonetheless enhancing my skills in sound design. Influences include Jack Foley, Erik Aadahl, Benjamin Burtt, and marblehead.net.

4. Educator (Audiologist) - As much as I love sound, I have always had a niche for educating. I believe that the enlightenment of others makes for a healthy environment, stronger civilization, and most of all technological progression. Influences include Dallan Beck & Alan Shacklock.

5. Retiree - The time to exhale. This goal is more so of a feeling of fulfillment, to the degree of being accomplished. I want to truly believe that my obligation to my family, my society, and to myself is fully content and satisfied.