THE SMOOTH JAZZ RIDE
Smooth Conversations -- Douyé
Artist Interviews
Artist Interviews
Dec. 17, 2009
Songstresses. There are many. Some decent, some mediocre, and some who just defy classification; they just make you feel good. Douyé is such an artist. As I wrote here earlie
r when we featured this Nigerian princess as our Artist of the Week, she and her music have such a sultriness and a sense of belonging here. Speaking with her further proved that. Enjoy our conversation with this personable and charmingly gifted young lady.
TSJR: Welcome, Douyé. First, let me congratulate you on such fine work on your debut CD, Journey.
DOUYÉ: Thank you very much.
TSJR: You grew up influenced by such jazz and R&B legends as Peggy Lee, Ray Charles, Billie Holliday, Stevie Wonder, and Sade. Having obviously been strongly influenced, enough to decide to launch your own musical career, please tell us how this journey of yours began.
DOUYÉ: Well, it started in Nigeria. I grew up in a home where my parents were big-time jazz fans, and they played Sarah Vaughan, Peggy Lee, and all of the greats. I just took interest in it and decided to do this. In Nigeria, usually girls don’t tell their parents that they want to do jazz or do music. They usually expect you to be a teacher or a dancer (laughs). But my dad was very open and supportive of my doing what I wanted to do. He would say, “If you’re going to do it, just do it right, and don’t do anything that would shame the family.” So, I took that blessing and ran with it. (laughs).
TSJR: Is your family musical?
DOUYÉ: No, they were just very much into listening and enjoying soul and jazz. They listened to James Brown and the like every Sunday (laughs). I lived with that music and became a product of it.
TSJR: How did you come to meet and work with pop songwriter and producer Terry Shaddick?
DOUYÉ: Well, I met Terry through an instructor of mine. I went to school at the Musicians Institute here in Los Angeles. The instructor took an interest in me and my work, and she asked me what it was I wanted to do with my music because there are just so many musicians out there that it’s crazy. I told her that I really wanted to be a songstress and a renowned songwriter. She then told me that she had a very good friend who was a renowned songwriter who’d written Olivia Newton-John’s “Physical.” I said, “He wrote that??” (laughs). She said “Yes, and because of the way you sing and do things, I would be pleased to introduce you.” I thought she was kidding! (laughs) So, she calls Terry and tells him about me. Later, he called me, and we arranged to meet at his home, and the rest is history. He just loved me! (laughs)
He’s a very tough, disciplined guy, and I like that. I see him as my mentor. He’s taught me so many things about the business, even in songwriting. I remember when we first had a session together, he asked me to write a song. When I finished it and showed it to him, he said “This is rubbish, Douyé!” I was crushed. (laughs) I said “I spent so much time working on that piece,” and he said, “Well, you’ve got to ‘up’ the level.” So, we started working really hard together. He’s really helped me to see things in a different perspective and to shape me as a songwriter and to build my style and repertoire. I’m really very fortunate to have him on my side.
TSJR: Studying voice in college, was becoming a smooth jazz and R&B singer the main reason for that?
DOUYÉ: That was part of it, but I just wanted to be a great songstress, period. Since there’s so much competition out there, you want to stand out. I don’t have that Mariah Carey range, but I wanted to be able to do something that will capture people’s attention. I wanted people to be able to say “Who is she?”
TSJR: So, I take it that you’d never performed in a professional group or as a professional soloist before now?
DOUYÉ: No, it’s always just been me.
TSJR: Being one of the newest arrivals on the smooth jazz scene and seeing what has transpired over the past couple of years, with talk of smooth jazz being on its way out and so forth, do you feel any pressure as a young new jazz vocalist to keep the genre alive?
DOUYÉ: Well, I’ve also heard all of the talk about smooth jazz taking a fall, and my thought is that it gives the artists more reason to broaden their horizons. You really don’t want to limit yourself, although smooth jazz is such a beautiful genre. Personally, I think it will be with us for a long time. As for pressure, I think that, if you just do what you do well, you’ll always be fine. If you do good music, the crowd will come around. Just keep your sound rich. You know, the radio stations can shut down certain genres and so on, but the fans are far more powerful and will always be the deciding voice, and I think the stations will always have to listen to their wishes and demands, and that will always convince them to get on board to play that music again. Just the baby boomers alone will keep it alive. (laughs) They just want a smooth ride, nothing wild. That mood and desire will never go away.
TSJR: Your vocals are quite exquisite, and I’m sure you’ve been told that your style closely resembles that of your country mate, Sade. Do you know each other?
DOUYÉ: No, actually we’ve never met. I’d love to meet her. Maybe someone will tell her “There’s a girl out there that sounds like you,” and she’ll want to meet me. (laughs)
People often talk about our similar styles. You know, when people say that I sound like her, I’m pleased about that. A lot of people would say, “Well, you shouldn’t be too cool with that,” but I don’t see why not. She’s been around and in demand for so long that she must be doing something right, and I’m pleased that people can hear some resemblance.
TSJR: But there are also distinct and pleasant differences.
DOUYÉ: Yes, and I’m glad about that, too. (laughs) Some say, “You sound a lot more soulful.” It gives us each our own identity. (laughs)
TSJR: What is in the future for Douyé? Are you planning to launch a tour to promote Journey? If so, where will it take you?
DOUYÉ: Well, aside from doing some things like festivals out here, I’m spending a lot of time in the studio. I’m getting ready to record and release another album next year. This one will be more issues-based and life-based. You know, I believe that, in order to create a quality recording and to maintain a good standard of excellence, you have to spend time in the studio and with writing and so forth.
TSJR: Are you writing all of the songs?
DOUYÉ: Yes, I write all of my material, thanks to Terry.
TSJR: When can we expect it?
DOUYÉ: No later than October 2010.
TSJR: Where can fans find out more about you and your activities?
DOUYÉ: Well, there’s www.douyetheartist.com and MySpace (www.myspace.com/douyetheartist). Of course, when all else fails, just Google “Douyé.”
TSJR: Thanks, Douyé. All the best to you and the success of Journey and your next project.
DOUYÉ: Thank you so much for all of your support!
Here is one songstress for whom awaiting her next release will be quite worth it. I personally feel that it is inevitable that her rich sound will find its mark among the vast majority of smooth jazzers.
Songstresses. There are many. Some decent, some mediocre, and some who just defy classification; they just make you feel good. Douyé is such an artist. As I wrote here earlie
r when we featured this Nigerian princess as our Artist of the Week, she and her music have such a sultriness and a sense of belonging here. Speaking with her further proved that. Enjoy our conversation with this personable and charmingly gifted young lady.TSJR: Welcome, Douyé. First, let me congratulate you on such fine work on your debut CD, Journey.
DOUYÉ: Thank you very much.
TSJR: You grew up influenced by such jazz and R&B legends as Peggy Lee, Ray Charles, Billie Holliday, Stevie Wonder, and Sade. Having obviously been strongly influenced, enough to decide to launch your own musical career, please tell us how this journey of yours began.
DOUYÉ: Well, it started in Nigeria. I grew up in a home where my parents were big-time jazz fans, and they played Sarah Vaughan, Peggy Lee, and all of the greats. I just took interest in it and decided to do this. In Nigeria, usually girls don’t tell their parents that they want to do jazz or do music. They usually expect you to be a teacher or a dancer (laughs). But my dad was very open and supportive of my doing what I wanted to do. He would say, “If you’re going to do it, just do it right, and don’t do anything that would shame the family.” So, I took that blessing and ran with it. (laughs).
TSJR: Is your family musical?
DOUYÉ: No, they were just very much into listening and enjoying soul and jazz. They listened to James Brown and the like every Sunday (laughs). I lived with that music and became a product of it.
TSJR: How did you come to meet and work with pop songwriter and producer Terry Shaddick?
DOUYÉ: Well, I met Terry through an instructor of mine. I went to school at the Musicians Institute here in Los Angeles. The instructor took an interest in me and my work, and she asked me what it was I wanted to do with my music because there are just so many musicians out there that it’s crazy. I told her that I really wanted to be a songstress and a renowned songwriter. She then told me that she had a very good friend who was a renowned songwriter who’d written Olivia Newton-John’s “Physical.” I said, “He wrote that??” (laughs). She said “Yes, and because of the way you sing and do things, I would be pleased to introduce you.” I thought she was kidding! (laughs) So, she calls Terry and tells him about me. Later, he called me, and we arranged to meet at his home, and the rest is history. He just loved me! (laughs)
He’s a very tough, disciplined guy, and I like that. I see him as my mentor. He’s taught me so many things about the business, even in songwriting. I remember when we first had a session together, he asked me to write a song. When I finished it and showed it to him, he said “This is rubbish, Douyé!” I was crushed. (laughs) I said “I spent so much time working on that piece,” and he said, “Well, you’ve got to ‘up’ the level.” So, we started working really hard together. He’s really helped me to see things in a different perspective and to shape me as a songwriter and to build my style and repertoire. I’m really very fortunate to have him on my side.
TSJR: Studying voice in college, was becoming a smooth jazz and R&B singer the main reason for that?
DOUYÉ: That was part of it, but I just wanted to be a great songstress, period. Since there’s so much competition out there, you want to stand out. I don’t have that Mariah Carey range, but I wanted to be able to do something that will capture people’s attention. I wanted people to be able to say “Who is she?”
TSJR: So, I take it that you’d never performed in a professional group or as a professional soloist before now?
DOUYÉ: No, it’s always just been me.
TSJR: Being one of the newest arrivals on the smooth jazz scene and seeing what has transpired over the past couple of years, with talk of smooth jazz being on its way out and so forth, do you feel any pressure as a young new jazz vocalist to keep the genre alive?
DOUYÉ: Well, I’ve also heard all of the talk about smooth jazz taking a fall, and my thought is that it gives the artists more reason to broaden their horizons. You really don’t want to limit yourself, although smooth jazz is such a beautiful genre. Personally, I think it will be with us for a long time. As for pressure, I think that, if you just do what you do well, you’ll always be fine. If you do good music, the crowd will come around. Just keep your sound rich. You know, the radio stations can shut down certain genres and so on, but the fans are far more powerful and will always be the deciding voice, and I think the stations will always have to listen to their wishes and demands, and that will always convince them to get on board to play that music again. Just the baby boomers alone will keep it alive. (laughs) They just want a smooth ride, nothing wild. That mood and desire will never go away.
TSJR: Your vocals are quite exquisite, and I’m sure you’ve been told that your style closely resembles that of your country mate, Sade. Do you know each other?
DOUYÉ: No, actually we’ve never met. I’d love to meet her. Maybe someone will tell her “There’s a girl out there that sounds like you,” and she’ll want to meet me. (laughs)
People often talk about our similar styles. You know, when people say that I sound like her, I’m pleased about that. A lot of people would say, “Well, you shouldn’t be too cool with that,” but I don’t see why not. She’s been around and in demand for so long that she must be doing something right, and I’m pleased that people can hear some resemblance.
TSJR: But there are also distinct and pleasant differences.
DOUYÉ: Yes, and I’m glad about that, too. (laughs) Some say, “You sound a lot more soulful.” It gives us each our own identity. (laughs)
TSJR: What is in the future for Douyé? Are you planning to launch a tour to promote Journey? If so, where will it take you?
DOUYÉ: Well, aside from doing some things like festivals out here, I’m spending a lot of time in the studio. I’m getting ready to record and release another album next year. This one will be more issues-based and life-based. You know, I believe that, in order to create a quality recording and to maintain a good standard of excellence, you have to spend time in the studio and with writing and so forth.
TSJR: Are you writing all of the songs?
DOUYÉ: Yes, I write all of my material, thanks to Terry.
TSJR: When can we expect it?
DOUYÉ: No later than October 2010.
TSJR: Where can fans find out more about you and your activities?
DOUYÉ: Well, there’s www.douyetheartist.com and MySpace (www.myspace.com/douyetheartist). Of course, when all else fails, just Google “Douyé.”
TSJR: Thanks, Douyé. All the best to you and the success of Journey and your next project.
DOUYÉ: Thank you so much for all of your support!
Here is one songstress for whom awaiting her next release will be quite worth it. I personally feel that it is inevitable that her rich sound will find its mark among the vast majority of smooth jazzers.
