This is an interview to introduce you to yet another emerging soulful talent,this time from California.He had his first album released in 2007 called Strawberry Lemonade which I can highly recommend.He continues his journey in 2009 on a new project "Smooth Soul Cafe". I first came across Darnell back in 2007 and was keen to catch up with him and share with you guys where he is at today ! Enjoy !
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Darnell Kendricks The Strawberry Lemonade Man !
Hey Darnell
Hey Colin, Strawberry Lemonade man huh?? J I have been called that a time or two since the release of my first cd.
Where were born ? I was born in Sacramento California
How Old Are You ! I am still in my 3o's :)
What musical influences stuck with you as you were growing up ?
definitely Twinkie Clark of the Clark Sisters, she had a major impact on how I listened to music and what great, rehearsed vocals were and she was always so soulfully effective and the emotionshe gives still inspires me. I love Marvin Gaye. Twinkie and Marvin are my 2 biggestinspirations. I also loved Switch,DeBarge,and The Manhattan Tranfers to name a few.
Are you in a musical family ?
My mother sings , I have a brother that plays the piano and another brother that plays the saxophone and I had an uncle that played the sax as well, I have a couple of very talented nephews that play keyboards, bass, and guitar, so I guess you can say that I come from a musical family although I was the first to pursue a career in music professionally.
Which Radio Stations did you listen to back in the day ?
I grew up In Sacramento, I always had such an insatiable appetite for soul, Sacramento did nothave a platform for Soul music therefore I don't remember listening to a lot of radio.However I do recall catching a couple of the College Radio stations, one in particular that playeda lot of soulful type r&b. when I was a little older and moved to Oakland,California I listened to the Jazz station there.
How tuff is it to get your music heard in today’s internet society ?
The internet has changed the game, the internet has made it easier not tougher at all. I believe it’s a great thing to be able to send MP3 files and direct listeners to MySpace etc.
Do you think that the changes in the record industry have been a good or bad thing
for the upcoming artist !
I believe that ultimately the changes with the record industry will be a good thing, it’s like the record industry is attempting to adjust, trying to find a way to continue to make big money through the old archaic music business system. With the internet and artist and producers etc having the ability to create Great music without including A Corporate Record Industry Machine it creates golden oppurtutunites for independent artist to be heard and appreciated and make a great living and I believe it makes for a more pure and organic music, a pure sound that’s not laced with a corporate agenda. If artist are courageous enough to take the chance to be true to themselves. I see the record industry in turmoil now, but when the dust settles I believe that the music over all will be better for it!
Do you write your own songs ?
Yes, I write a lot of my songs. I wrote or co/wrote 7 of the 10 tracks on my first project (Strawberry Lemonade) and The New Project (Smooth Soul Café) I wrote or co/wrote the majority of the songs however I Love working with and callobrating with other writers and singers, I did that a lot with the Smooth Soul project and solicited vocal arrangements production and production from those that I admired and respected here in Detroit. Detroit has some incredibly talented musicans! I mean they are incredible.
On the Strawberry Lemonade album Willing,Yours Truly and Jones In My Bones all received house remixes who did these and how did they come about ?
“”Willing”” was remixed by Ian Friday, DJ Genesis, and DJ Minx on West End Records out of New York. “”Your Truly””was remixed by Terrance Parker and released on Superb Records of The UK. “”Jones in My Bones”” was recently signed to Mixed Signals Records out of Toronto Canada , remixed by DJ Genetix and I am currently in negotiations with Shelter Records regarding another soulful house mix.
It’s really interesting how the mixes came about, I was not very familiar with the whole house/dance music scene but a mutual friend introduced me to Monica (DJ Genesis) she loved the song “”Willing”” and requested to do a house mix ,we provided her the vocals and that put me in the house music arena, that’s when I started getting calls and requesting for other songs. It’s been fun, its interesting to hear my vocals placed with the House Music Style.
Strawberry Lemonade album came out in Japan how was it received and how did that come about ?
Strawberry Lemonade was released in 2007 with BMFN Records out of Japan, we actually included a couple of bonus tracks on that project including “”good love-the Darrin Simpson Remix”” which will be included on the Smooth Soul Café project as a bonus track. The album was well received in Japan, MySpace and FaceBook have allowed me to be in contact with some of my friends there that supported the project and I have been getting Japan inquires as to when the new project will be released etcc so I’m really excited to get the new project to Japan as well. The record company had heard my music from an internet site out of the UK and contacted me about the release.
Have you been over to the UK before ? If so what are your thoughts on the UK ?You had a radio show back in 2007 tell us about that and do you think you may again go back to radio at some point ?
I have never been to the UK , I cannot wait to get there. My father was in the service, my mother and father were stationed in the UK before I was born and I have an older brother and sister that were actually born there. My grandmother had friends there, so growing up she had all of these calendars from the UK, I mean every year her friend from the UK sent her a calendar that she had hung up downstairs so growing up there were these images and stories of the UK that always endeared me to the UK. My uncleSonny played the saxophone in the 60’s and traveled to the UK and played there many times with various bands. So my thoughts of the UK have always been warm and felt like home.
Yes I had a radio show called The Soul Café back in 2007 Aja and Marky Mark had JazzSyndicateRadio , I did a radio drop for Aja, he liked my “”Radio Voice”” and offered me a slot with their radio station.
I had a 2 hour slot and played a lot of my favorite tunes, songs that inspired me over the years and new artist that I appreciated as well. It was a Great experiencing and I would certainly do it again if the opportunity presented itself, it felt strangely natural that experience was very rewarding.
What is the name of the new project you are working on ? Is it the same guys who worked with you on Strawberry lemonade ?Tell us about the development of this project and when you hope it will be complete for release.
The name of the new project is Smooth Soul Café. The main producer I’m working with is Darrin Simpson who was the producer of The Strawberry Lemonade project, an incredibly talented musician who also happens to be one of my closest friends. The brother is simply amazing, I marvel at musicianship and the way he is able to capture exactly what I feel and take that to another level. There is a brother by the name of Daniel Young who produced the song “”Strawberry Lemonade”” on the last project who has produced a song titled “”After Dinner”” (A Taste For You) on the new project and another talented drummer vocalist from here in Detroit Jeff Canaday who I call JCandy who co wrote a song on this project and has done a lot of vocal production as well. I’m really excited about this project I was able to hand select the songs, the musicians, the cowritters, the vocal production etc as a well prepare the collection of songs that I felt best described Smooth Soul.
Smooth Soul Café is very much a collaborative effort and a lot of love went into this project from beginning to end. There are so many songs that I love on this project and I believe that it will be a blessing an inspiration to those that appreciate good organic soul music. There is much that I can say about this project and how it all developed in short, it was a lot of love and passion that birthed Smooth Soul Café and my prayer is that the same love and passion is felt for years to come.
The project will be released by the end of October, no later than the beginning of November. Just a few more minor details and it will be fresh out of the oven for all to hear.
Which ten records have influenced your life most?
The ten records that have influenced my life the most, whoa Colin, you really making a brother think here : ) but let’s see, I will try and narrow it down.
Marvin Gaye- I Want You (The Deluxe Edition)
Marvin Gaye-Bedroom Ballads
The Best of Switch
The Best of DeBarge
The Best of The Emotions
Twinkie Clark – Power
The Clark Sisters- Sincerely
Basia-Sweetest Illusion
Michael Franks-DragonFly Summer and Sleeping Gypsy
Donald Fagan - Nightfly
What are your current 10 favorite tracks?
Current 10 favorite tracks, I find myself listening to older classic soul type music however, there are a few recent artist that I really appreciate;
Chrisette Michelle – I’m Ok
Joe-why just be friends
Joe-Can’t get over you (from the Maze tribute album)
Raphael Saadiq-Never Give You Up
Clark Sister- Thank You (From the Maze Tribute Album)
Sheri Jones Moffet- Grace of God
I am a big Eric Roberson fan, he is a singer’s singer! (anything he sings I appreciate)
Mint Condition-Nothing Left To Say
I am a fan of Lalah Hathaway
What are your thoughts on President Obama now that he is over the first 100 days in office?
President Obama is an awesome human being, I think he has done some courageous things to date.
I believe that a lot of Americans who were not neccarily into politics, like myself, are now a lot more astute and engaged as it relates to political things. It’s still surreal to know that we actually have an african american president, never in my lifetime would I have believed that it could happen. It’s extremely inspiring and empowering to see the world changing for the better. That’s a blessing. There is much work to do, however the landscape of world politics will forever be changed and we have new images to include in our thought process because of President Obama.
Is it possible you could get over to the UK and Europe to promote the new project?
Yes, It is very Possible for me to come to The UK to promote the New Project, I believe it’s possible, necessary and fitting for me to do so. It is still so incredible that the UK has such a sincere love and appreciation for Soul music, it’s really a big deal for artist in the US to have the validation and support from our Over Seas soul music aficionado’s. I have met so many friends through The Strawberry Lemonade Project, through the house mixes, and even with the single from the new cd
“”Lets Run Away””, so the plan is to get to the UK to promote this project at the top of 2010.
Looking forward what are your hopes for the future Darnell?
I hope to continue to build upon this music career that I have been blessed with , I want to continue to write and fill the air with smooth soul music.
I am so enjoying this journey, I wouldn’t trade anything for this pathway.
The new project is titled Smooth Soul Café because I enjoy cooking as well, I often have friends who hire me to prepare meals 3 or 4 course meals for special occasion and I feature dishes that I have created, the cd was titled Smooth Soul Café to embrace those two loves (music and good food).
I am also working on a Smooth Soul Café/Recipie book with some of my specialities, that I plan on completing and releasing in 2010.
Good Food and Good Music are so intertwined, if prepared well and with great ingredients and love they both have the ability to bring good feelings ,sensuality,and satisfy the soul.
Im looking forward to continuing this soulful journey of life and become a better human being and being able to express lovingly through my music, that’s Smooth Soul.
Thanks Darnell for spending some time to go through this interview.I am really looking forward to the release of your new album.Hopefully this will help you attain the recognition you deserve and are able to move on again to keep bringing us some of your unique “Smooth Soul” sound.We can go forward and rename you the “Smooth Soul Café” man J
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