Soul Provider
by Cartel

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After listening to the new Reel Peoples album one voice really stood out to me. After a thorough investigation it left me wondering who the hell is this Darien guy, and where did he pop out from. So to get the answers I needed to go to the source so I hit him up on MySpace. His manager promptly got back to me, His manager Miles is one cool cat. We talked about the current state of the music business and how Darien's transition between the soul and the dance music realm had been going. Miles shared some thoughts on the benefits of technology and how it's helped immensely connect some recent projects. The question still remained, who is Darien and what's he all about?

•  How did it all start with you?

I started as a dancer. I was a choreographer for a few hip-hop acts and then I joined as a background dancer for an R&B band. An opportunity came up for me to do background vocals during some of the slower parts of the set. The keyboard player said, “You think you could do a couple of ‘ooh's' on one of the songs?” I had dreams of being a singer when I was much younger, but my voice changed and took any hope of sounding like a young MJ from me, but here I was, some years later, and I had to say, “I can try.”

•  Who was instrumental in making it happen for you?

I had a friend who gave me a Take 6 album. I remember listening to that album over and over again and examining the harmonies and the textures of the different voices. I started to sing along to it and it renewed the love I had for singing when I was younger. That's when I began to re-learn my instrument.

•  When did you know that you wanted to do this all the time?

I knew the moment I stood in front of the mic to sing my first “oooh”. The lights hit you different as a singer than they do as a dancer. For me, the connection to the audience was so much stronger because I actually had to make eye contact with them as opposed to remembering routines and connecting with the other dancers. It felt right.

•  How did you and your manager meet?

This is a good story. We were working at the same place on a crazy 3a-11a shift. At the time, we were in singing groups with very similar situations, and we would both be wiped out from burning the candle on both ends. Somehow, we always found time to discuss music - play each other material etc… Both of our groups parted ways, and I decided to take a crack at doing a solo EP. I didn't even really plan on letting anyone hear it, but when he heard it, he asked if he could try and make something happen with it. Fast forward to today and he IS making something happen.

•  Do you have a vocal coach?

At present, I don't. However, I think it is very important to take care of your instrument. So now that the album is done and there is more time, I plan to get one to keep me in shape for live shows.

•  Do you have a muse? The ladies want to know.

Cliché as it may sound. I have really been tied to this music. If anything, a lot of what I write has been from past experience, or romanticizing about experiences I hope will come in the future

•  When you were approached to sing with The Reel people what happened, how did you feel?

I definitely felt very honored. Reel People has quite a following, and their music is very textured and has various influences. I love that. I was also a little nervous, not knowing exactly what to expect. My album is a little more straightforward soul. I knew they were approaching me to “do me” on their tracks. I just wasn't sure what the marriage would be like. I think it turned out great, and I anticipate more work with them in the future.

•  Any particular favorites from one's you have performed or recorded?

I really dig Upside on the “Seven Ways To Wonder” album by Reel People on Papa Records.

•  Why?

Well, it feels like a roller skating kind of jam. Feels good. Also, it has 4 sections. Music today is often just A B (verse, hook). You are lucky if you get a C section or bridge, so a D section……

•  Do you play any instruments?

Out of necessity I have become an engineer. I record and arrange all my vocals in my home studio. I also sketch out many ideas. Usually, I will play some chords and do drum and bass programming, some of which made the album as is, but most times, the many gifted musicians that I work with re-lay the parts with the fluidity and intricacies that are needed.

•  The Realm, the singer for them has the same kind 0f vocals you do. Does that group mean anything to you; do you see them as competition?

I think that guy better watch his back. J He's even running around using my name! In all seriousness, The Realm is a project between myself, Oli Lazarus and Toni Economides. During the Reel People process, Oli approached me with the idea of a side project. Things were going really well with the RP recordings and we had some extra time so he hit me with the track now known as One Step .

•  What's the most bizarre thing that has happened to you on tour or in performance that you can share?

Well this actually happened during one of the live studio sessions for the record. We were videotaping the session and the bass player was playing around. He was joking behind the keyboard player's back with a lighter, acting like he was going to burn his sweater. Well, I don't know what that sweater was made of, but for an instant it caught on fire in a big way. It was just a flash, and the keyboard player never even knew, but we have it on tape… and it was kind of funny. (No Musicians Were Harmed During the Making of This Album J )

•  What else can we look forward to this year from you?

My album is done. The Album is called If These Walls Could Talk . And literally, If These Walls Could Talk, the walls of my mind, or the studio that I have been shedding in – this is what they would say.

•  What would be your Top 6 or 10 influential tracks that you listen to draw inspiration?

I am not sure that there are a particular set of songs that I draw inspiration from, but there are definitely artists. Some for their songwriting like Stevie Wonder, John Mayer; others for the vibe like, A Tribe Called Quest, The Roots; some for their vocal styling like Frank McComb, Kim Burrell, Michael Jackson, Donny Hathaway. Too many to really list and of course, they overlap. It really just depends on the mood I am in.

•  If you weren't doing music you would be a…?

A very unhappy camper. LOL Actually, I went to college for visual media. I love telling stories, whether with words, pictures or video. I love editing and I plan to do some again when time permits. I pulled away to focus, but I still storyboard out ideas for my videos and have done some of the artwork for my album and websites.

•  Darien is………(finish the statement):

Glad to be here. I am about to release my thoughts to the world, and I am happy with the outcome of the project. I feel this whole process has been a birthing one, complete with delivery pains, but with that a whole new life is about to begin.

•  I asked your manager Miles Anthony about effects downloading has had on the industry and technology, he said you guys recently had a conversation about all that stuff. Are there any thoughts you like to share about that?

In addition to ease of use, I think rampant downloading began as a response to subpar music. People felt ripped off buying a CD with 1 or 2 good songs. So, when the opportunity came to dissect the CD and trim the fat, they did it. The true album where you have a theme and a series of works that are connected and need to be presented together with artwork etc… doesn't seem to be a priority for the major labels. For the independent musician, who doesn't have access to major channels of distribution, it is a godsend. Now, we have a worldwide voice. Of course, with that comes the evil of illegal downloading. I still contend that if you give the people good music they will purchase it. Think about it! If you have 12-14 tracks and even if 10 are good, at $.99 cents, that's 4 free tracks! Quite a bargain!

PT 2