Meet Dominic Diggity Dom” Glaude | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dominic “Diggity Dom” Glaude and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dominic “Diggity Dom”, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I grew up with an entrepreneur for a mother and was always fond of the idea of making multiple streams of income while doing things I liked to do. When I got a scholarship to Berklee College of Music I thought I was just going to major in Music Production & Engineering, but then I found out I could do 2 majors under my scholarship. That led me to add the Music Business/Management Major so that I could learn how to make a living off of what I love.

When I was in a marketing class with Andrea “Ani” Johnson, I learned how important branding was and after thinking about my name through past experiences, I decided to start building Diggity Dom Entertainment LLC. Creating my own business allows me to not only profit off of my musical and engineering talents but to also create opportunities and a safe space for artists, especially LGBTQ+ POC, to get proper care and attention to their projects.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I learned how to play the piano with my mom at the age of 3 and then began playing the drums at the age of 4. She was also the first person to show me how to produce music. During those days, we were sequencing on the triton keyboard. My mom had written a family musical that I had the opportunity to act, sing, and dance in before I was 7. After that, she started a kids’ band that I was in with my brother and a few other youths. We were called “So Amazing” and performed inspirational songs at churches, schools, and events on the east coast and in Toronto, ON, Canada. In the band, I was a drummer, percussionist, keyboardist, and background singer. Although I enjoyed playing with my peers, I didn’t like wearing feminine clothing and make-up. Towards the end of middle school, I came out as trans to my immediate family and it was definitely a sticky situation coming from a Christian background, but over the years, things have gotten better with my family.

When I was in 4th grade I was playing drums in the Berklee City Music Program until going to Berklee College of Music with a full tuition scholarship in 2018. I graduated Magna Cum Laude in May 2022 with majors in Music Production & Engineering and Music Business/Management with a minor in Commercial Record Production. When I wrote my first E.P. and began my Youtube channel, I realized that it was important for me to be out to the world about being a queer trans man. Growing up, I was inspired by the few trans folks I saw on youtube but I didn’t know of any artists or actors that were out. This made me realize the importance of putting myself out there to show other trans youth and people of all ages that you can do anything you put your mind to.

By working hard and listening to my mentors and professors, I have been able to build up the foundation of my business. It hasn’t been easy but I always research and ask for help when I need it. Having a strong work ethic has allowed me to tour places like Sweden, Montreal, and various places in the U.S.A. And towards the end of 2022, I was even featured as the percussionist in the Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody movie. I believe something that sets me apart from others is my determination. For the majority of my life, I’ve been told by others that I was doing too much and needed to stick to one thing. But, I knew that songwriting, production, and audio engineering all worked together. If I didn’t know how to do a piece of that, I’d have to pay someone else to make a song. Being skilled in multiple services also makes it easier for the clients. Since I come from a family of educators, I’m also always teaching people about anything they want to know or don’t understand. If I hold any knowledge, best believe I’m sharing it with my homies too. We all have to rise up together.

Over time, I learned that I have to be patient as I continue to make moves. As long as I keep working hard, everything will work itself out. I just have to stay consistent. I also learned the importance of writing things down and building a positive network of people. Who you surround yourself with can be the up or downfall of a successful/healthy life.

All in all, I want the world to know that my main goal is to help people through music and media. Not only do I do that by making music but also by performing it to live audiences. Music is healing and when I’m able to make someone smile or entertain them after a hard day with my singing and dancing, I definitely feel like I’ve made a positive impact. My goal is to create a space for all creatives to thrive and work together on major projects in the music and entertainment industry. With your support, I’ll get there!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
To eat I’d take them to Tiki Masala for Indian food. Their garlic naan, samosas, and chicken saag are incredible. If they are feeling pizza, we could go to Stoked. Even though I’m lactose intolerant, they have a large selection of tasty vegan pizzas and appetizers. There’s also a Dominican spot called D’buly Chimis that’s out of this world. I have a serious sweet tooth though, so for dessert, we could hit up Aunt Annie’s for pretzels or Fomu for vegan ice cream.

To hang out, Lucky Strike is definitely the place to go. They have an arcade, bowling, bar, and food. I also enjoy hikes at the blue hills reservation when the weather is nice or we can catch a free show at Franklin Park. Boston Commons is a great place for a light talk and walk. If they are willing to go a little bit out of the city, go-karting or laser tag is a vibe. Or we can use a VR headset.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to every single teacher and mentor I’ve ever had in my life. From birth, all the way up to the present and future. Without my teachers, I would not be where I am today. My parents were my first teachers and gave me positive morals that helped shape my actions in the world. Every bit of knowledge I’ve learned in and outside of school from professors, peers, and random people on the street, has made me wiser and I’m grateful for those interactions.

Website: https://www.diggitydom.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/domdiggitydom/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diggitydom/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/domdiggitydom

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diggitydom

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdT9n8YQQK-CRslZz3r6GqA

Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/58qdP6rzpyjPVXnBzMsKmB?si=JsY4T200RSyUOVAcpPs2yg

Image Credits
John Huet, Christina Ewards, Jay Pix, and Deanna Nagle