CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Jeremy Williams, a sophomore studying Business at Austin Peay State University, also happens to be an aspiring hip hop artist with visions of helping others to live their dreams.
Williams has performed at local schools including Rossview High School and Clarksville High School.
He was also the opening act for Juicy J at the 2014 APSU Homecoming Concert. “It was really hard, in a good way,” Williams said. He went on to explain that the challenge came from not knowing what the audience expected from him. “That was a learning experience for sure.”
Along with his music, Williams is involved with DreamYoung, a movement “focused on inspiring and motivating people to follow their dreams now and not later.” The group takes “DreamYoung boards” to Williams’ performances to connect with the crowd, having them sign the boards with their names and life-long dreams. The DreamYoung team includes Richard Palmer, Travis Jones. Local high school senior Nigel Nyberg, is part of the group tasked with creating DreamYoung music videos, including an upcoming series of Q&A sessions with local business leaders about how they have accomplished their individual dreams.
Talking about the inspiration behind his creative outlets, Williams said that he knew he wanted to follow his dreams since high school. He remembers talking to friends who planned not to pursue their passions in favor of more financially secure careers. “It always made me mad that they would say that because I feel like there’s a way to make your passion your career,” he said.
Williams hopes that DreamYoung will eventually become several projects including a record company, a group involved in community service, and a series of camps intended to help young people make plans to turn their dreams into reality. He wants to eventually raise enough money to bring in professional actors, musicians and other artists as mentors.
As for the future of his music career, Williams is “trying to be one of the first people out of Clarksville to be something worldwide. If you can’t even get your own city to like you or follow you, I don’t see what the point is. I want to be the guy that takes on the challenge of standing up for where I’m from.”
Williams also stressed that he prefers to lead through his actions rather than “preaching” in his lyrics. “For me, if I don’t pursue my music, then I can’t tell people to DreamYoung,” he said.
Williams recently released a mixtape titled “Obsession” that is free for streaming and download on the DreamYoung website. His future plans include beginning a southern tour in July of this year and a releasing a second album in 2016.