Student Spotlight: Demarion M. Discovering New Possibilities Through Music
Program: Stomping Grounds Literary Arts Initiative at Illinois Youth Center, ChicagoAchievement: Completed Across Western, an original five-song album, during a six-week audio production program.
A Lifelong Connection to Music
For Demarion M., music has always been a part of who he is. When asked how long he had been making music, he explained that he had been doing it “since I came out the womb,” before he even knew what music was.
At the Illinois Youth Center in Chicago, Demarion brought that passion into Stomping Grounds Literary Arts Initiative’s audio production program. Over six weeks, he completed Across Western, a five-song album that reflects his musical interests, his personal experiences, and his vision for what he wants to share with listeners.
When discussing his finished project, Demarion was excited about what he had created. He described the songs as “knockers” and “real hit makers.” But beyond his enthusiasm for the music itself, his experience in the program gave him an opportunity to discover new abilities, make intentional artistic decisions, and think about how his music might reach people beyond the studio.
Discovering a New Voice
Although Demarion already had experience rapping, one of his most significant discoveries during the program was his ability to sing.
He explained that he had not really explored singing before participating in Stomping Grounds. With encouragement to raise his voice and experiment with his vocals, he began to discover a new dimension of his musical ability.
Reflecting on that experience, Demarion shared:
“When I actually started raising my voice, I started getting the hang of it... I feel like I unlocked something.”
That discovery opened up new possibilities for his music. Instead of limiting himself to what he already knew, Demarion experimented with melody and different ways of delivering a song. His tracks “You Bad,” “Late Night,” and “I Need You,” featuring his best friend Baby Que, reflect his interest in creating music that moves beyond a single style.
For Demarion, the experience was a reminder that artistic growth does not always mean learning something entirely new. Sometimes it means discovering a skill that was already there but had not yet been explored.
Making Music on His Own Terms
Demarion also used the program to think intentionally about the kind of artist he wants to become. While Chicago has a strong drill music scene, he wanted to explore a different direction with some of his songs.
Discussing “You Bad,” he explained that he wanted to make music for women rather than simply follow the sound he sees many other artists pursuing. His approach reflects a willingness to explore different audiences and develop a sound that feels right to him.
His musical influences include NBA YoungBoy, G Herbo, Polo G, Lil Durk, and Lil Jo. He also described wanting a melodic atmosphere inspired by Juice WRLD when selecting sounds for his music.
These influences inform his creative process, but Demarion is also learning to make his own decisions about how those inspirations come together. Rather than simply reproducing a familiar sound, he is exploring how to combine different influences with his own ideas.
Turning Creative Choices Into Skills
One of Demarion’s most deliberate decisions was to create radio-edited music from the beginning. Instead of writing songs with profanity and editing them afterward, he chose to write without cursing in the first place.
As he explained:
“It don't be hard not cussing in songs... It's so easy to not cuss.”
He also questioned why he would spend time creating songs that required additional editing when he could make radio-edited music from the start.
This decision gave Demarion an opportunity to think about the entire production process, from writing lyrics to preparing a finished recording. It also encouraged him to find ways to communicate through his delivery, melodies, and emotions without relying on profanity.
During their conversation, Stomping Grounds Executive Director Elgin Bokari Smith pointed out that working without cursing had pushed Demarion to bring more emotion into his songs.
The experience demonstrates how a creative boundary can become an opportunity for artistic growth. By making that choice early in the process, Demarion developed a practical approach to producing music that can be shared with a wider range of audiences and settings.
Taking Pride in Original Production
When asked what he was most proud of about his album, Demarion emphasized the originality of his beats.
“Can't nobody claim my beats. Can't nobody go on YouTube, search my beats up, none of that. These are my beats.”
His pride reflects the importance of creating something he considers his own. For Demarion, the album was not simply a collection of recorded vocals. It was an opportunity to develop a project with original production and a sound he could identify with.
Learning to create and record original music can also introduce young artists to the many skills involved in music production. Songwriting, vocal performance, beat selection, recording, and completing a project all contribute to turning an idea into a finished body of work.
By completing five songs in six weeks, Demarion demonstrated his ability to carry a project from an idea to a finished album while making creative decisions along the way.
A Welcoming Space to Create
When reflecting on the class, Demarion said that he did not find the process particularly difficult. He credited his existing experience with music, as well as the atmosphere of the program.
He described Stomping Grounds as a place where he felt welcome and comfortable.
That sense of comfort matters in a creative environment. When young artists have room to experiment, ask questions, and try approaches they have not explored before, they can build on their existing skills while discovering new ones.
For Demarion, the program provided an opportunity to continue developing a passion he already had while trying something new. The experience was not about starting over as an artist. It was about expanding his abilities, refining his choices, and completing a project that represented his work.
Across Western: Looking Back and Looking Forward
The title Across Western has a personal connection to Demarion’s upbringing. He wanted the album to reflect where he came from and to speak to younger people who may share similar experiences.
Explaining his intention, he said he wanted listeners to see where he came from and understand that if he could accomplish something, they could, too.
That message gives the project meaning beyond the five songs themselves. Demarion sees music as a way to share something about his life while encouraging other young people to recognize their own possibilities.
His vision is rooted in representation: allowing people to hear from someone whose experiences may feel familiar to them and showing what can happen when a person continues developing their interests and abilities.
The Power of Peer Encouragement
Demarion’s creative journey also included support from his friend and fellow artist Marquis, known as Baby Que, who appears on “I Need You.”
During the interview, Marquis offered Demarion words of encouragement, telling him:
“Keep going, man. You a star, you ain't got nothing to worry about. You better than most of these artists out here... You got it, bro.”
That moment reflected the value of peer support within a creative community. Artists can encourage one another, celebrate each other’s accomplishments, and help one another imagine what comes next.
By the end of the program, Demarion had completed his five-song album and received a certificate recognizing his accomplishment. He also gave Stomping Grounds permission to share his music publicly, creating an opportunity for others to hear the work he developed during the program.
Looking ahead, Demarion made his intentions clear: listeners should expect to hear more from him.
Looking Ahead
Demarion’s experience with Stomping Grounds is a story of creative exploration, intentional choices, and following through on an idea. He entered the program with a longstanding interest in music and left having completed Across Western, discovered a new ability to sing, experimented with different sounds, and developed a clearer sense of how he wants to approach his work.
His story also reflects what Stomping Grounds strives to make possible: a welcoming space where young people can build on their interests, explore their creativity, develop practical skills, and share original work with others.
Completing an album in six weeks is a meaningful accomplishment. Just as important, Demarion used that time to explore new possibilities while staying connected to his own artistic vision.
As he looks toward what comes next, his message is simple: this is only the beginning.
Congratulations to Demarion on completing Across Western! We look forward to hearing what he creates next.
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