D-Love Muzic shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
D-Love, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
Most people know my work as a musician/percussionist & producer. What is not fully understood is that I am also the technical and/or musical director for many of the artists, productions & companies I work with. This also crosses over to the non-profit & outreach work I do in the community. I’ve had the pleasure of wearing many different hats in the music & tech spaces. From technical director or stage manager to musician or artist liaison. I have literally worked in all capacities of stage production.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello, my name is D-Love. I’m a professional musician, artist & business owner born, raised & based in Detroit, MI. My company “D-Love Muzic” is a music & technology company dedicated to fostering artistic expression. We produce and release original music across various genres, showcasing innovative sounds & talented artists. I’ve collaborated & worked with many Grammy award winning artists, major productions, record labels, brands, corporations, universities, TV/radio stations & government programs. In addition to being a musical & technical director, I am committed to education & community impact through nonprofit & outreach work & clinics, which aims to teach musical skills, technical knowledge, & creative development to everyone.
I’ve had many highlights over the last year career wise. Last year I released my fifth studio E.P. ‘DETROIT 2099″ which is a mix of Ambient, Techno & Lo-Fi House music forged together with the sound of Detroit. I made it to reflect what electronic music might sound like in the future, the year 2099 to be exact. Something you can dance or chill too. These are 100% original compositions, produced by me. Metro times named it one of the Detroit acts to add to your playlist.
I had a dream come true performance. I headlined opening night of the Movement Festival 2024 performing with the Techno legend “Carl Craig” & musical virtuoso “Jon Dixon” as a trio on the Roland Inc sponsored stage. It was literally a live master class in “Detroit Techno”. Another highlight has been being the music director for the singer & songwriter “Ideeyah”. Her latest E.P. “Sweet Chariot” produced by Meftah & released on Theo Parrish’s label Sound Signature Records. It has been so much fun performing this music at live shows. The E.P, has been getting great reviews & is being well received by listeners & fans alike.
Also, I’ve been collaborating with multi-sensory artist & producer “Sophiyah.E” & her band/collective “SOL Tribe” which includes musicians such as Haruki Hakoyama on bass, Todd Watts on drums & Ben Green trumpet to name a few. Our sound & vibe are a mixture of Afro-beat, Techno, Jazz, Bossa Nova & many other influences. This past February I was honored to serve as music director for ‘Echo” a collaboration between “Ideeyah & Sophiyah.E” in honor of the PBS Documentary by Henry Louis Gates Jr “Great Migrations” a two-day event & screening held at Michigan Central Station. This was a proud moment for all involved.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
When I was in the second grade, I was asked to learn & recite by memory the “I Have A Dream” speech by Dr. Martin Luther King JR at a school program in front of everyone. My Grandmother who was a play writer & had a history in acting, theater & performance, worked with me on learning & performing the speech. As a super nervous kid, I’d only done anything like this in church. But this was school, everyone is going to see me & possibly tease me for the rest of the school year. To my surprise, I did the speech perfectly & the whole auditorium erupted in cheer! It felt like they applauded forever. At that moment I felt proud & accomplished, all my hard work had paid off.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
One kind thing I would say to my younger self is, be confident in who you authentically & naturally are as a person. Your gifts, talents & moral character will carry you through life. Do not let fear hold you back. Be brave & you will accomplish anything you set your mind to do.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The biggest lie my industry tells itself is that success only looks one way. In the music industry specifically, people think that if you’re not a superstar then you can’t have a career in this field. Nothing is further from the truth. Like many industries, there are many steps before the outcome. Every artist &/or production needs management, lawyers, producers, writers, stagehands, music directors, studio engineers etc. So, the possibilities in any line of work can be plentiful. You must find your niche & what you’re good at. Do not let ego lead your actions. Like everything in life, you must do the work & research to master your goal.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
As it refers to my career, I want people to remember me as an innovator in my field. Be it my percussion style, my work as a producer & artist, my technical skills or pushing the boundaries with my electronic musicianship. Also, being the most professional & dependable person to grace a stage, which I pride myself on.
As a human being, I’d want to be remembered as being a man my family can be proud of. Someone that’s a pillar of the community. A person that people can depend on because of my moral character & personal strength. Someone that did their small part in helping make mankind better in whatever way they could.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dlovemuzic.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/dlovemuzic
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/dlovemuzic
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@dlovemuzic1
Image Credits
Terrell Groggins
instagram.com/myartmyrules
Abby O. Photography
instagram.com/concertsbyabbyo
Brian Rozman Photography
instagram.com/brianrozmanphotography
Vicki BosankoIt
instagram.com/vckbee
Flex Dame
instagram.com/flexdame
Detroit Love Offical
instagram.com/detroit_love_official_
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
