I Swim With Sharks Inc: How Sound Connects to Authenticity and Longevity

I Swim With Sharks Inc. is a music distribution and artist development company built to help independent artists grow with intention rather than imitation. In an industry where access is easy but direction is rare, I Swim With Sharks Inc. operates differently by combining education, development, and strategic distribution placement.

The company works across multiple distribution partnerships — including Roc Nation Distribution, The Orchard, KMG Distribution, and Symphonic Distribution — allowing artists to be placed in systems that align with their sound, audience, and long-term goals.

Each distribution partnership serves a different purpose. Roc Nation Distribution supports artists positioned for cultural relevance and long-term brand impact. The Orchard provides global infrastructure and analytics for artists building international or catalog-driven careers. KMG Distribution offers flexibility and hands-on support for developing artists. Symphonic Distribution serves niche and genre-driven artists whose audiences thrive in focused ecosystems. This multi-lane structure ensures that artists are not forced to conform creatively just to fit a distribution pipeline.

The company was founded by Andre Williams, known as Dre, whose experience in major-label A&R and artist development revealed a recurring problem: artists were being scaled before their sound was solidified. Dre built I Swim With Sharks Inc. to prioritize foundation first — identity, sound, and clarity — before amplification.

That philosophy leads to an essential question in artist development:

How does sound connect to authenticity and longevity?

This question is explored in depth by Jay “POP” Richardson, A&R and creative development lead at I Swim With Sharks Inc. POP works closely with artists to help them establish a sound that reflects who they are — not just what’s currently trending.

POP explains that in today’s era, where producers lease thousands of beats online, artists often jump from sound to sound without building a sonic identity. While access to beats has increased, cohesion has decreased. Artists release records that may sound good individually but don’t feel connected as a body of work. This makes it difficult for audiences to recognize or remember them.

POP encourages artists to think beyond beats and focus on relationships. He often advises artists to find a producer — not necessarily the most popular one, but someone they can grow with — and begin building a sound together. Even if both the artist and producer are early in their careers, growing together creates a shared sonic language and identity.

He references Future and DJ Esco as a powerful example. Their collaboration wasn’t just about individual songs — it was about crafting a sound that audiences could immediately identify. That consistency built trust, recognition, and longevity.

POP emphasizes that building a sound signals belief. It tells fans that the artist stands behind what they’re creating and invites listeners to believe in it too. While evolution is natural and necessary, it must come from a foundation. Without one, there is nothing to evolve — only trends to chase.

At I Swim With Sharks Inc., artists are taught that longevity is built through sonic identity. When sound aligns with authenticity, fans stay longer, careers last longer, and growth becomes sustainable rather than volatile.

Learn more about I Swim With Sharks Inc.

 https://www.iswimwithsharksinc.com
 https://www.iswimwithsharksinc.com