Today we’d like to introduce you to Dezi Cartier
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m Dezi and am originally from the Windy City of Chicago, Illinois but have been raised by Florida. I was raised by my two moms and then my dad as well so from the start I had a pretty unconventional life. Although what is normal as a kid, right? From an early age I always wanted to be something that involved performing and that was majority of all that I knew. I went to an arts elementary and middle school so they introduce you to things like dance, art, theatre, music and so on. There was always something I was in a as a kid at that age. I then went to another arts high school called Harrison School for The Arts where I studied film and then had some music theory classes. By this time I had started pursuing acting and modeling which I loved. It was strange because it caused so much stress in my at home life but I think I saw it as if I make it at this it would be an escape from my crazy life at home. These were the really formative moments of what set my life on a trajectory in the entertainment and music industry.
From there I went onto get into Belmont University in Nashville, TN which at the time I felt like I had won the lottery. It was out of state and in such a music filled city – I was really lit. There’s so much pressure put on college by school and I’d say most parents. I do not think it’s with ill intent of course but by the time I had graduated from high school I was pretty over being in the classroom. I also graduated with a 4 point something GPA but everyone at my school had really crazy GPA’s so I was still at the tail end of my graduating class. So I did not expect to get into any college really. To my surprise though I went on and claimed
To my surprise and not so surprise I quickly found that college was not for me. I even tried out another school to be sure. I got into UCF and maybe had watched The Wolf of Wall Street too many times so I decided to become a pre-finance major. Quickly again I realized this was not what I was meant for even more so. After my first or 2nd week as well my roommate tried to steal my car which then was somewhat of my final straw before deciding I was going to follow my heart and gut feeling telling me that school was not going to take me to where I wanted to be in life. This led me to further explore and pursue my career in modeling and acting. I think that was the best choice I could have made at that age. I think another really important lesson I learned at that time was that I would have been taking out huge loans to fund that schooling. At that age it was hard to understand in reality however I had really dodged a bullet by not committing my time there. On an even more important note my time pursuing acting and modeling led me to make a lot of really great and in meaningful connections in the industry and art world. Something I would have never traded.
I think that had I stayed in college at Belmont or UCF, I may have felt like I had the knowledge to do whatever it was I needed to but I would have missed a really critical part of life. The hard work and gritty part of life you can only experience hands on. Sure I had worked hard as a kid in auditioning and memorizing sides or any other job I had since I was 15. But I started working and learned the things that school would have never taught me. Serving, valeting, retail, selling cars, and all the other jobs I had instead of learning in school taught me what it was like to deal with people. I did not have my education to fall back on or a school to put only resume only what Dezi could offer. I taught myself and read books when I wanted to learn something and that was so important yet sounds so simple. I could learn anything I wanted. If I sucked at selling cars I would read and find out why and how better to communicate and understand people.
As many artists while you are pursuing your passion you need money to survive, pay rent, and it is never enough. I think while the struggle is a struggle those years also taught me so much and the motivation you get from that time in your life is unparalleled. Being in a survival mentality while also keeping your dreams alive deserves more credit than anyone talks about. It is not glamorous the behind the scenes sometimes but never let that stop you from being glamorous.
Thought out my life though and even those early years I always maintained my love for what was important to me. I never gave up on those things and used what I didn’t have as motivation. At the same time I also appreciated what I did have and never saw too little by that. The truth is that I was loved my life even in the times where I had no idea what was going to happen next. I had been lucky enough to be apart of so many great projects though the vessels of modeling and acting. On that same token met so many great creatives and professionals. Even though I had no official agency backing me I had shot with everyone that was in that community and was friends with those that were doing the projects that I always wanted to be a part of. My love for fashion and creativity within that realm helped open doors that just taking commercial gigs with a maybe bigger payday could not have. The relationships and passion have always meant more to me than a paycheck.
Around the time covid began I was a server at a restaurant called Today’s at Waterford Lakes – a shopping center near UCF. Covid shut down the place for good and I as many others during this time was without a job. It was a crazy time of course but it led to began working at a company called AKT which is an entertainment and music merchandizing company. My really good friend Erin had worked there for a while and she helped me get a job there. I interviewed for a customer service agent role and got the job. When I started there I worked answering any customer inquiry for many band’s online shops and handling those type of administrative duties. The service and especially restaurant industry prepares you for almost any type of job. When I started in this role I quickly became the top on my team and had customers writing in to the owner of the company about me. Everyone that I spoke to also thought I was a girl because of my name which was quite funny. I worked really hard in that role and started from the ground up at AKT. I’m really grateful for my time in the service industry because it gave me work ethic that set me apart. I worked so hard that eventually our team of 4 people was down to just me and what was the workload of those 4 was just me and my good friend and former boss Andrew. I then was promoted to a role of an Administrative at AKT. I handled a lot of different things from helping build e-commerce products to requesting checks while at the same time helping train the other people in customer service. I was always hungry for more though and was always sure no matter what I was doing in life to make that clear.
I quickly rose to the sales and account management division within the company. It was one of those things to where through my time in modeling or acting and friend circle that I knew quite a bit of their clients. It was one of those things where both AKT and the client would be like, “Wait you know Dezi?” Ahaha. I give a lot of appreciation and gratitude for AKT for while I did not go to college I feel like I graduated from the college of business and the merchandizing industry. Which is a world not many hear about but is crucial to almost any artist, entertainer, social media personality and so on. When I started I worked with the company’s top sales agent and we made a great team. I learned a lot from him and took that with onto my own clients some being DJ Premier, Armored MMA, Caskey, The D’Amelio’s DamGood MGMT, Bryce Vine and more. The part that really helped me excel was being Dezi though. I even before my time in the music and merchandizing industry had a lot of friends in the music world and knew how to connect in a way that isn’t stuffy or about business. I started to see that my love for fashion and music was my greatest strength. Being one of the youngest ones too I could reach client’s and understand things that maybe someone with more years experience could not relate to. Once I started to show who Dezi was and the way Dezi thinks about fashion I started doing my best work. I’ve worked with bands from Pierce The Veil to artists like Stephen Sanchez and I will never take any time or project for granted. Whenever I work with someone I give them who I am and with merchandizing it is really cool because I get to combine my love for fashion and music in one. Which naturally those 2 bounce off each other so organically. My specialty in the entertainment and music industry is taking that part of me and what I love into any project. My goal is always nexxt when it comes to anything I work on.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No and no haha. Even from my childhood like I said I had a pretty unorthodox life which in hindsight has help contribute to the things that have went well. But as a kid life was not easy and from there on too. I didn’t get to enjoy much of my childhood. I’ve been working since I was 11 or 12 years old in acting and modeling and then I’ve had a regular job too since I was 15. You know me and my mom really bumped heads a lot and she pushed me way beyond what any of what a normal parent probably would. At the same time she was sick lot of my childhood with 2 different cancers and her current one being terminal. I remember in high school driving to the cancer clinic after school one day after being asked to bring her something and her telling me that she had multiple myeloma which is a cancer of the blood. So that really confuses you at that age and then on top of having a not so normal relationship you do with your parents.
A lot of what I’ve been through whether as a kid or to this point has helped me really learn how to handle my emotions but also not let my environment rock me as well. I do not think no matter stage in life we are those challenges ever stop the just take different shape and form. I moved out really early from home and of course had to begin the journey of figuring out how to survive on your own plus pursue your dreams. It was hard for me to not let others bring me down or slow me down mentally and I had a lot that could have had I let it. Even with a small family I had great friends who have become family as well.
It is really important to me to appreciate the bumps in the road and those formative challenging years where everything was saturated with uncertainty. In those moments of life my dreams and art were my hope or escape. I would hold onto those things when I was unsure of the next move or when things are hard. You never want to let that flame go out no matter the weather because it will guide you to light. You grow through what you go through.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m an artist at heart. Being a member of the entertainment and music industry I work on custom fashion apparel projects, tour lines, e-commerce, vinyl projects, and also solving problems. What makes me most proud in any project I do is what I can do to make it my own. I think the best things are when you put yourself into and that is also what makes us special. I’ve always loved the fashion industry and music so I project that into whatever it is I am working on. One of my ideologies is that screen printing can be so much more than just graphics on a shirt. I’m really good at the details in life and think they can easily be under appreciated. I am aware of the business metrics of a project but I do not forget the end of the line which is the customer. I am excited about making something that goes beyond a band tee but is a piece someone will hold onto forever. I think that is what really sets me forward is that persistent appreciation and love for fashion. Paying attention to details is so important on the business side of what I do but as well as the creative curation.
After working with Gang Starr and DJ Premier I also have gotten into vinyl projects which are really special to me. The vinyl process from beginning to end is an art. There are so many moving parts from conception to delivery and I’ve gotten to carve out that space over the years at AKT. My first was working with DJ Premier and it was a true honor and pleasure to help bring a project of his to life. As well as that relationship starting with prior work for Gang Starr.
My true focus with anything collaborative in my own personal projects or through the merchandizing world is to work with those that there is genuine connection to and heart. I approach anything with nexxt and what Dezi would do. My goal is if I am a member of this industry to bring change it and add to it. I want to continue to work with top names in the industry and give my touch to their experience but also bring to life something they have never had before.
What makes you happy?
Art, really makes me happy. I think because in no matter the shape or form it has helped me escape and also return home. It’s given me a lot and makes life a lot more interesting. I think the people I’ve met through I could not imagine my life without. Cheers to the next to. It is such a cool space and can for me has helped me escape whenever I need to. It fills in the in-between and when there are no words there is art.
People make me happy too and I think they can also be a work of art. I’m really grateful for everyone I’ve met on this journey so far and for the faces I’ve yet to meet yet. There are so many times when both of those things have showed me the way when I was not sure of what is next. Those two things for me are always the answer. I respect art and humanity with my whole heart. You can’t have art without humanity and you aren’t human without art. When I think of the times I’ve been happiest it isn’t about anything monetary it is about shared experience and things you cannot replace like music. Mediums like that are so powerful and have helped me so much. Acting for me has always helped me experience somebody else’s shoes when mine were hurting. The same can go for any medium.
On the flip side of that art brings people together in ways that are at times unspoken. You can admire a song from another country and not know a single word but yet know what it’s about. You can also have two people look at the same painting or piece and it tells them 2 completely different things. To me that’s the coolest thing out there. I love creating and everything that comes of that process. From conception to material. I’ve always done what makes me happy and not what makes me money even when I have tried the other way around. Passion in the end always triumphs. Art celebrates imperfection and I am far from perfect.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/dezicartier
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeziCartier/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dezibennett/
- Twitter: https://x.com/dezicartier?s=11
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@dezicartier
- Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/34bgo58z97qeE3wpEwUs0H
- Other: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/dezi-cartier/1573025369
Image Credits
Herb Maximo
Kendall Telep
Kyle Loftus
Justin Connor
Ethan Giraldo
Ehsan Zarrin
