SYMBA

In the pantheon of urban musicians, few have had the something-something to merit single-name status. And you know who they are. For performers who can stand up to such billing, it's about instant and unique identification. But there's a new uni-monikered phenom to add to the mix. It's Berkeley's finest, Symba.
At 21, the Hip Hop/R&B entertainer who's real name is Demario Raynel Driver is poised to make his long-awaited solo debut single Round Of Applause, a diverse summer anthem . Raised in Berkeley California, voted one of the most liberal cities in the United States sits on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California. Its neighbors to the south are Oakland who gave birth to Bobby Seale's and Huey P. Newton's Black Panther party of the 1960's and Emeryville who birthed PIXAR Animation Studios and Jamba Juice. Demario also adds that "Apple, Google, Facebook, HP, Intel, Cisco, eBay, Adobe, Oracle, Yahoo, Netflix, and EA Sports made it happen from this spark on the West Coast so why not my brand, Symba." With his first effort this Berkeley based hip-hop/songwriter is ready to step on the gas and go. "The music I'm working on is timeless music, I want to make the type of music that people will still listen to in thirty years." When asked about the album's title, Now Or Never, Symba says "It is how I've always lived my life, I rate myself high amongst other artist because I have a heart that never says no and I'm not scared to tap into anything, I mean anything!"
What Symba and his producers have done is create an album that is just about all his right down to the title. With soulful, smooth but powerful vocals, and gritty hip-hop flavor, it's about an individual taking stock of his life at a very particular point, the transition time when Symba began to think about who he would be as a man. He was raised by a single mother but spent a large part of his life with his aunt Teresa. "Growing up without a father then being introduced to a step father who showed me the finer side of life was a drastic change. Then we had this glamorous life stripped from us because of illegal activities." This made Symba appreciate life whether rich or poor for what it truly is, a gift. After meeting his producer Trent Farmer, aka Verb The Exclusive helped change my situation, "he taught me a lot about music and how to become a better artist but more importantly a better person that is what real friends do" says Symba.
"If I weren't doing music I would be an investment banker because I love to take a gamble on people and if I was an animal I would be a lion because they are one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera (family tree which consists of the Tiger-Jay Z, the Lion-2Pac, the Jaguar-Eminem, and the Leopard-Kanye) but can still live and function in a family environment. Lions do whatever they want also being the king of the jungle; they are always being challenged by rival males so they sustain injuries but continue to protect their pride. Plus Symba is also the name I go by and you know the Disney story LOL." That aforementioned artist's are Symba's musical influences with Kanye West being the largest. "He is an artist that does what he wants and knows how to deal with critics."
"As an artist, I really just want to get my music out there," says Symba, whose goal is to solidify longevity in the music business. "If you put something out there that's real, you will have success and people will like it. To be able to make music that people feel, that's real to them and to continue to do that—that's something."
"As an artist, I really just want to get my music out there," says Symba, whose goal is to solidify longevity in the music business. "If you put something out there that's real, you will have success and people will like it. To be able to make music that people feel, that's real to them and to continue to do that—that's something that the industry seems to be lacking right now.
Taken as a whole, the songs on the album are an expression of Symba's artistry, integrity and intent, his intent to keep it on the real and open himself up to the music's vast audience. It's about finding himself, and as a result of that, defining his art.
"Anything that's worth fighting for or working for, it takes time, work and commitment, it takes passion," Symba says. "The easiest part of everything is just passion, desire and drive. Those are things I've always had."
"West Coast will rise again"Symba