Today we’d like to introduce you to True AfterDARK.
Hi True, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey through this industry has been anything but ordinary. I started as a ballet dancer when I was little. That’s where I developed a deep passion for performance and creative expression. That passion evolved into a career spanning both the artistic and business sides of entertainment.
Over the years, I’ve has held executive roles across multiple companies. It’s giving me a well-rounded perspective on the music and entertainment industries.
The pandemic changed everything. It completely reshaped the music industry. That’s when I shifted my focus toward helping underserved independent artists gain access to opportunities in sync licensing and placements. I went on to work as a Sync Representative for Sony Music, as well as an A&R Representative for Warner Records Revolution. I started advocating for emerging voices to be heard and placed in film, television, commercials, and other media platforms.
In August 2025, I officially launched my True AfterDARK officially singer-songwriter career. I quickly began building momentum, surpassing 1 million music streams across major streaming platforms.
Today, I continue to mentor and guide artists through the complexities of music distribution, licensing, and monetization.
I’m also the founder of Spotify AfterDARK, a platform dedicated to independent artist promotion, sync opportunities, and music placement development.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it has definitely not been a smooth road, but in many ways, the challenges have been the most defining part of my journey. Working both the creative and business sides of this industry has required constant adaptation, resilience, and the ability to evolve in an industry that changes rapidly. Like many independent artists and entrepreneurs, one of the biggest challenges I’ve had to build credibility in highly-competitive spaces while also creating opportunities from the ground up rather than waiting for them to appear.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’ve become known for advocating for independent and underserved artists, particularly those who may not traditionally have access to industry networks or opportunities. A large part of my work has focused on bridging the gap between creativity and business strategy by helping artists understand ownership, visibility, and how to create music with both artistic integrity and commercial potential.
My experience working in sync representation and A&R has also given me valuable insight into what supervisors, labels, and media platforms are looking for when discovering and placing music.
What I’m most proud of is being able to create opportunities not only for myself, but for other artists as well. Launching my own artist project while simultaneously mentoring and guiding independent creatives has been incredibly meaningful. Seeing artists gain confidence, secure placements, expand their audience, or simply better understand their value in the industry is something I consider a genuine accomplishment.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I believe risk-taking is an essential part of growth, especially in the entertainment industry where there are very few guaranteed paths to success. At the same time, I’ve learned that meaningful risks are usually grounded in preparation, faith in your vision, and a willingness to keep moving forward even when the outcome is uncertain. Some of the most important opportunities in my career came from stepping outside of what felt comfortable or predictable.
One of the biggest risks I took was transitioning from working primarily behind the scenes in executive and artist development roles into publicly pursuing my own career as a singer-songwriter. Supporting and advocating for artists is very different from stepping into the spotlight yourself. Launching the True AfterDARK project meant being vulnerable creatively, putting my work in front of the public, and building something independently in an extremely competitive industry. There is always uncertainty when you invest your time, energy, finances, and reputation into a creative vision, especially without knowing how quickly it will grow.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/true.afterdark.songs
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/true-mcdonald-ba3285403
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@trueafterdark
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/user/p.2asfp4dfzs3cjyszrnbbdofysi
