The Flipside: DJ Interviews: Detroit Red

Here's my interview with up & coming rapper Detroit Red on how he got started in his musical journey, included are social media links to his music so feel free to check those out as well. Enjoy

How'd you get started in music?

There have been different stages in my life where I would say I started music. Growing up in a Lutheran school, my first musical interaction was joining the handbell choir. I joined to get to know a girl I was going to school with (obviously), but that was my first real encounter with sheet music, time signatures and so on. All of the different handbells playing collectively gave me an appreciation of what things can sound like when combined.

The next stage of my life was the emergence of rap. While taking a summer trip to visit family in Mississippi, we listened to alot rap on the trip, Eric B. and Rakim to be specific. It was amazing to hear how they used original songs by James Brown and turned them into a totally different genre of music. It felt very poetic and infectious. During that same time, I had heard Kool Moe Dee, Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, MC Lyte, Run D.M.C. and LL Cool J. The greatest impact on me was Rakim, his style was just different. I began writing raps when we got to Mississippi, and practically wrote the whole summer.

The last stage had me fully immersed in music, a culmination of all of the stages in the past.

- When I was about 12 or 13, I was in a talent show with my friends and I had this break in the show where I was scratching... The crowd's response was hypnotizing. My part in the talent show was a break from traditionally what I would have done in playing the saxophone. This was more about being a little more creative than my saxophone background provided and this was music of my peers. What we did had not been done before and to see teachers and students alike engaged in our show was amazing. A few days later, my dad bought me a Tascam Porta-One 4 track. The rest is history.

Who are your inspirations or influences?

My oldest brother left for college and became a prominent DJ. To see him grow in music the way he did inspired me to get better with my rapping skills. He would come home with new vinyl records and would tell me how people were reacting to certain songs. Whenever he was around music or his turntables he would light up. He was one of my greatest inspirations. When he died in a car accident in 93, one of his college friends told me how much he talked about me and that he was proud of me. That pushed me further into doing music.

I have always been inspired by different artists and producers that carved out a unique style in the art of music - Rick James, Prince, Quincy Jones, Sade, Toni Braxton, Rakim, LL Cool J, 2Pac, Redman, Nas, DJ Premier... this list of inspiration goes on and on.

What advice would you offer aspiring performers?

My advice to anyone aspiring to be in music is to understand why you're doing it. Although it can be a career, music is an artform and should come from a place of inspiration. That will keep you grounded and will provide you the opportunity to be around the right people, discover the best fans and be able to enjoy what you love to do. The landscape of music has changed, so how and where you engage your fans is not going to be easy, but not impossible.

How do you set yourself apart from other bands or singers?

I think the only way anyone can set themselves apart from anyone else in music is to be your unique self. I may have influences that come out in certain things I do but I do what comes naturally to me and I don't try to sound like anyone but myself. I also focus on my own path on this musical journey and my path doesn't restrict me where doing things differently is always a possibility. I also found that by tapping into my past experiences and helping others gives me a sense of satisfaction about my own journey and I also learn new things and even new ways to continue to grow in the art of music.

How would you say that music has inspired/made an impression on you?

Music has given me a voice when I didn't have the words. Whether it be poetry, a beat, or a rap, I am never without an ability to express myself. Because of music (and technology), I have been able to work with people from all over the world and that has been the greatest gift I have received from music. How can you not be inspired by that?

Any new gigs or albums in the future?

Currently producing several albums/EP's for release this year:

Cuddle Season - Ntregue & Various Artists

In This Lifetime - Jazmin Sparta

Collaboration with fellow producer Ntrospec, follow up EP to Legacy:Daybreak

Untitled Album - Ntregue

Untitled EP - Jo Mika

Untitled EP - Marianah

Untitled EP in Mandarin - Moon Chew

Untitled EP - Mirodia

Remix album - Final Faze D.J.'s

"1989" - Detroit Red