Who is that guy from "Camp Rock" and now "Shake It Up!" who's got all those awesome moves? That would be 19-year-old Roshon Fegan, who not only tears up a floor with dancing but also rocks the house with his original music and rapping. Roshon, or "Ya Boy Ro" as he's sometimes known, will be making a big splash this spring with a debut EP. We enjoyed chatting with this talented, down-to-earth sweetheart who's determined to be a role model for anyone struggling to find their individuality.

IML: Congrats on the upcoming EP. Tell us more about it!

Roshon: Well, I've been gathering songs forever, since I was 12, and this EP is something I've been working hard on to really present myself. I came up with this song "I Am," which is the first single. I wrote it out of nowhere and it came very naturally. It was something that could show who I was and hopefully inspire others to do the same. I like to make inspiring and uplifting music, and that's how the whole EP is.

IML: What's your songwriting process like?

Roshon: When I write songs, it's very random. I get influenced by the most random things! Sometimes it just comes to me in my sleep or just hanging out in a restaurant or something. Music just comes to me and I'll start writing from there. The process comes out of nowhere and it makes it fun.

IML: Do rhymes come to you naturally or do you have to look stuff up?

Roshon: Usually my rhymes are just in my head. I start off with a theme and once I start rapping and writing and singing, the chorus and all that, it just starts flowing. Then it's done in about an hour! I write a lot of songs.

IML: "I Am" is about staying true to who you are and hanging on to your individuality. Why do you think it's so hard for young people to do that?

Roshon: I believe it's from peer pressure and what you see in the media. Everything's an influence, so when we see a lot of stuff out there it's natural to want to have that. Not a bad thing, but sometimes we forget that life is about being yourself, which is the coolest of all. I've felt that way all my life, partially because my family has taught me that. I just wanted to influence and build a message and have it grow so people can catch on to it.

IML: Well, it seems to be working for you! Was it ever hard for you? Have you ever felt like you should be something other than what you are?

Roshon: There were times when I did jump back and forth with styles and who I was. Again, everything's an influence. My older brother was an influence. I had friends and they had different styles. It's all about taking pieces of everything around you and pulling it into who you are. It's about being original. It's not committing to one thing, it's taking everything in your life and making it you.

IML: How old were you when you first got interested in music and rap and dancing? Did they happen at once for you?

Roshon: It did all happen at the same time. My dad's an actor, he's done producing and directing too. So I grew up around that and it felt natural to me. Music was just something I would do to pass time when I was bored, which was a lot because my brothers and sisters were older and they'd always be out doing their own thing. My mom used to let me play the pots and pans in the kitchen while she cooked. Time went on and that noise turned into music and my dad bought me a drum set. It just built up to everything working together.

IML: Your idol is Michael Jackson, which makes total sense. What is it about Michael that inspires you so much?

Roshon: Again, I think it's the originality factor. You can tell he was never afraid to be himself and show what he liked to do. Like his white socks. They shouted, that's me, that's what I do! It just caught on as a trend because people respect originality. His musical ability was insane, he was an amazing writer and producer, and of course a dancer, which was one of the biggest influences for me. He just did everything so him and I think that's why everybody loves him.

IML: Sadly enough, it seems that since his death, even more young people have discovered him.

Roshon: Even though he's gone, his music lives on. And out of his music, his style...he created all these trends from him just being himself. That's what I meant when I said I wanted to start a movement of people just being themselves...you can change the whole world!

IML: Besides Michael, who are your favorite dancers and choreographers?

Roshon: There are so many! There are a lot of insane dance crews right now, and since I've been on "Shake It Up" I've gotten to meet a lot of them, like the Jabberwockeez. I really believe that whoever is doing something with a strong passion is very much important to me. I love people like that.

IML: You produce your own music as well. What would be your advice for young people who would like to try it too?

Roshon: In this day and age, you don't really need much to do that. Of course, learning how to play whatever instrument you really love is important. Start with the basics, start with whatever you want to play, fill it and go for it, and then you get a little technical. You can do anything on a computer these days, everything's computerized. Start looking at the various programs people make music with. I have a rolling drum set that I play all the time and it's silent...I can put my headphones on and I practice even though I live in a loft. So there's always ways to play your music.

IML: Is there a cause you're really passionate about?

Roshon: Definitely taking care of these animals out here. The Wildlife Fund is doing a great job at it. I'm a huge animal lover, I love animals to death. I've got tortoises and three dogs and I've had a million animals in the past. I just think that we should do all we can to take care of them. Most of the time they're not able to do it themselves. So it's on us to really protect them and have them living healthy and happy. When they're happy, we're happy. It's all one big circle. It's important for us to look out for the ones who can't protect themselves.

IML: Roshon, we loved learning more about you. Good luck with your music, because it sounds like you really deserve it!

Roshon: Thank you so much!

Here's Roshon's "lyrics video" for "I Am"...words to take to heart!