Today we’d like to introduce you to Ahmad “Mahdie” Pollard.
Hi, Ahmad “Mahdie.” We’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, let’s briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I’ve always loved music because my family is musical. My Dad was a DJ and a dancer and sang in the choir; my mother loves to sing, and my Uncle played saxophone in the Jazz band. I’ve also got plenty of extended family who played various instruments, so I’ve been around music since a young age, and it’s in my DNA.
My parents always made my brother and I sing at family gatherings. I didn’t think I was all that great and never considered playing music until my mother bought me my first keyboard when I was around 10. I never took lessons but would fiddle with it, not taking anything seriously. What I was doing must have sounded good because my mother would tell everyone I could play piano, much to my surprise.
I’m glad she did because one day, she happened to tell the choir director at a church that we’d just started going to, and they asked me to join the choir after hearing this. I thought they’d change their minds after hearing me play and realizing I was no good, but to my surprise, they let me stay. Over time, I began mimicking what the other piano player was doing and sounding somewhat musical, but I still didn’t take music seriously.
Everything truly changed for me once my grandparents bought me my first guitar for Christmas. It took over my entire day. It was the greatest gift I had ever gotten and would have never thought to ask for. I couldn’t put it down. I went everywhere with it and played it all day, even though I couldn’t play it properly. I was 13 then, so I would fret the strings with my thumb to compensate for having small fingers. It’s ridiculous now that I think about it. From that moment on, I have been a musician. I would spend all day practicing songs and trying to imitate what I heard on the radio or YouTube. Naturally, as I got older, I got into hip-hop, and I figured that if I had been successful with instruments, I could be successful at producing. That started my journey, eventually leading me to become a producer, audio engineer, and artist who’s enjoyed working with and sharing stages with some outstanding artists, producers, and musicians. Some are relatively well-known, and some definitely should be.
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s been either smooth or difficult. I’ve made many sacrifices to get to where I am and will continue to do so. The path I’ve chosen can be lonely at times because you have to protect your energy and your vision. It’s hard to stay creative and in the right mindset if you aren’t around like-minded individuals. In my case, I struggle with finding that creative support, so I often find myself alone to stay focused on my craft.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m mostly known for my guitar playing and my producing. People gravitate to my guitar playing and ask me to help them with live performances or for session work when they feel their records need something soulful or with a lot of feeling. I’m also known for starting a series on social media called “I Can Sample Anything,” where I try to sample songs most people wouldn’t think to test or don’t think should be sampled. I added a comedic twist to it to keep it entertaining. I am most proud of playing guitar for a Jack Harlow and Bryon Tiller record. One of my mentors allowed me to add something to the record, and I jumped on it as quickly as possible. I wish I had an iPhone when he sent it over to me. I couldn’t make out the details of the record because Apple and Android phones use different audio codecs when sending files via text message. But everything turned out okay in the end, so that’s all that matters.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is ensuring I make the most of every opportunity I’ve been afforded. My parents and grandparents worked hard and endured a lot of suffering to get me to where I am now, and it would be insulting for me not to take full advantage of where I am today. I also would love to repay them somehow, whether that’s being successful or enabling others to be successful. I will make them proud as long as I can do my part. I also love empowering others to realize their dreams and passions. There’s nothing more satisfying to me than seeing someone else enjoying life and walking in their purpose.
Pricing:
- Check out my new single Midnight Ring streaming on all platforms.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/mahdieali
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alitheprodigy_
Image Credits
Joseph Mirabal, Khori Lamar, Loverboyvisuals, Ahmad Pollard
