Quinton Aaron, best known for his triumphant role in the hit film “The Blind Side” with Sandra Bullock, is excited to share his musical talents with his latest single “Lead with Love.,” and its beautiful meaning.
Tell us more about your latest song, “Lead with Love.”
“Lead with Love” is a song that stands for who I am. I believe in love and leading my life through love. I am a motivational speaker aside from acting and my music career. I always felt like music was one of my passions. If I were to do it, I would want to inspire or influence people to do the same thing that I believe in. I lead my life through love, and I want to inspire people to do the same.
What does it mean to you when you say lead with love? How do you go about that?
As a Christian, I always try to do things with God first in mind everything I do. I am of service to people I love to help create positivity and put good energy into the world inspire, encourage, or uplift, and motivate people whenever I can. That is how I define leading my life with love.
Describe the creative process behind making such a soulful song. Tell us how it came together.
It was one of those moments when I was sitting in my hotel room in Austin, Texas, a couple of years ago when Hurricane Ida hit New Orleans. I was living in New Orleans at the time, but I went out of town to Austin for business and was not aware of the storm. I left my brother at home in Louisiana where the storm had hit. I was in my hotel room unable to return for about a week and on one of those days, the lyrics just started coming to me. I had a friend of mine that I connected to in Nashville, and I sent him the lyrics because he is a songwriter and producer. I asked him to make sense of it and he composed it and that is how “Lead with Love” was made.
How would you describe your music you are making today?
Inspirational, uplifting, and motivating. I want to encourage people to go forth into life with an uplifting spirit that I can conquer whatever I set my mind to and that they can be whoever they want to be. I am a dream chaser, and I would like to encourage people to do the same until it becomes their reality.
The message you were putting out was well-received. Who are you reaching out to when you make inspirational music?
The children of tomorrow, the do-ers of today who need that motivation to stay on course, truly my music is for everyone. I don’t put it in a box or shelter it away from anyone. I want to encourage the world to do better and be better and to lead with love.
What inspired you to become an artist?
My mom got me into music at an early age. She played a lot of the greats: Luther Vandross, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Stevie Wonder, and Michael Jackson. I grew up in a household filled with music because of my mom. She had a beautiful collection of music that she would listen to; it wasn’t hard to become a fan of music. I started singing when I was four. I remember I entered a talent show at seven and I won it by singing “Who’s Loving You” by Michael Jackson.
How has playing in The Blind Side impacted your life?
It has impacted my life in a big way; it was my introduction to the industry. Before that, I was doing background work and small parts here and there. The movie allowed me to get the platform that I have today and have a voice that people wanted to hear from. It came at a time when I needed to bring me and my brother out of a tough situation that we were currently in. I believe God had a bigger purpose for me in the sense that he wanted me to become an inspiration to others. Quickly after the movie, I was given an opportunity to speak to the kids, and they were very attentive to what I had to say. Seeing the impact it had on them and speaking to more kids allowed me to feel therapeutic as well.
Six months prior to filming, I had lost my mom. It was a very hard time. I had to compartmentalize my grief to do the movie. My mom was my best friend, and I didn’t know my dad growing up. It was just her and my brother growing up. Of course, we had other families like grandparents, aunts, and uncles. We were the three musketeers and then she was gone. The winter of ‘08 was the coldest winter in New York. I couldn’t get a job, so we lost all our utilities so no heat or electricity. I had to walk back and forth from my aunt’s house to get food for me and my brother. I couldn’t get a job to save my life that whole winter. A security job had come in late February, it was a weeklong, and on the last day: I got a call from the sheriff’s department that in seventy-two hours the apartment was going to be padlocked and what was left would be the property of the owners. I hung up that call and packed up our things and went to a motel. I then received another call from my agent and the first thought I had was Blindside, and she said how did I know? That was the call that changed everything.
Going through hard times is when your faith is tested the most. How did you persevere?
I think God, having him in my life at moments like that, was very instrumental. Because of my faith I knew that everything was going to be alright. It gave me a perspective of the brighter side of things, so to speak, don’t get me wrong I wanted my mother there, but she wasn’t in pain anymore. She was present with the lord, knowing what she had suffered through I knew I didn’t have to worry about her anymore and I knew that she didn’t want me to worry anymore and to focus on what I had to do for me and my brother. That was my process of compartmentalizing my grief.
How can our readers stay connected with you?
I am all over social media and I have a website: https://thequintonaaronfoundation.yolasite.com.
Deanahi
