As I should tell you I am a singer/songwriter from Brooklyn, NY. (that's really important????) I hate writing bio's so accept this as a brief statement that entails what you need to know about me in my own words, at this present time. I love to perform more than anything else and not to say that I don't feel alive off-stage but I clearly am not the same person when I stay away from performing for too long. Something about interacting with musicians and an audience in a creative setting fuels me to push past my daily insecurities without fear.
Most people that come to see me have followed me from when I used to be a 'stand up poet' frequenting open mics, specifically the Tea Party where I was able to grow, be nurtured and find comfort in my skin on stage. I partnered a show with Micah (Blacklight) under Ian Friday's direction and we went on to perform at a few colleges (The New School, SUNY USB, Pratt) and many underground hip-hop events were my stand up poet approach was, and i use this term loosely "embraced". Then the Def Jam thing started and I got rejected over and over again, until one week, being the a$$ I went with a few friends to watch me clown (the slam audition competition thing or whatever) by flailing my arms and dramatically fluctuating my voice and took off laughing on the outside when Bruce George called me on the phone and said I made it to the finals. then I went back and did my own thing and we all went on with our lives. Then I remember thinking I might as well just rap if it's going to be this openly competitive. I took a few workshops with Pierre Bennu, Kwame Brandt-Pierce, Jamyla Bennu and the great Tish Benson and got a great push to expand my arsenal on stage and began acting. (Red Bone Guerillas, No Problema). That was big fun but I began to miss rhythm the way I knew it and I sought help to bring my musical visions to life. I sat with the James sisters once and it was good but it wasn't until later this connection would flourish.
Other than them Sol (the B-Side Frankenstein) was the only dude to respond kindly and give me five minutes of his time. He's the best man! We later formed a group with Sun Singleton called Communicator. She later expanded and Sol and I went on to record a great deal of unreleased material that may still soon see the light of day. who knows? We still love it and it's pretty good so why not.
I was granted the opportunity to be a part of Greg Tate's Burnt Sugar Arkestra albeit a daunting task to find your place in the music amongst anywhere from 15-25 of nyc's greatest talents, as we all improvise under Greg's conduction. Kind of went through a baptism of fire at Summer Stage with them and finally found my position which I was able to play effectively on and through, having the good fortune to sing and rap and do all of that almost monthly at Tonic (it seemed like) and or Zebulon, all the way to venues such as the Kennedy Center and the Sons d'hiver festival in Paris. Not to mention seemingly everything in between. Burnt Sugar not only contains some of the best instrumentalist this city has to offer but also some of the most gifted vocalist I've ever heard. I say that to say eventually, after finding my groove I gained great confidence in my ability and treasure the opportunity to be heard.
Today, I find myself almost as I saw myself in the beginning (whichever one you choose), drawing from many different musical, artistic inspirations to share a part of me where these influences collide. Kwame Brandt-Pierce, Sol and Ganessa James were initially the foundation of my production (and still are) and I held tight to that core for about 5 years. Paul Josephs and Maritiri Garrett have also been instrumental in finding this voice of mines. I've since found others that I feel a strong creative bond with, Dalmar James, Pete Thompson and Alan Camlet.
For the past year, (but not like, everyday, you know, basically when time permits all things considered...) We all have been working on a recording that I'm extremely excited about.
I'm sharing snippets on the page for now. This is "the moment" I've been waiting for and I can't explain just how happy I am about it all coming together.
I can't describe the sound to you, it sounds like music. It feels different to me than it feels to you I'm sure but if I were forced to I'd likely give you a silly goose answer like it's deep r&b or some annoying label like that. It just happens to fall into one of those genre's, as a project that encompasses a few genres. It's me! If you already know me and love me, share me with someone who hasn't the foggiest idea. I have so much music to share, there's enough for everybody! Serving as a one stop shopping artist.
In the Flesh
(live entertainment)
Coming VERY soon!
this message has been approved by Derrin Maxwell for Derrin Maxwell and was written by Derrin Maxwell
for your health!
great job!
awesome!
thanks for the add! I've got some new super duper, funktastic, light and heavy at-the-same-damn-time compositions that'll blow the musical inspiration right to your noggin' on the page. Check 'em out if you're bored!
HEYYO... What dadeal THANKS FOR THE ADD!! OHHH YEAH!!!!
I Have a COMEDY MySpace page, you should check it out and add me damn it!! lol VISIT MY COMEDY NEW PAGE: HTTP://WWW. MYSPACE. COM/IAMSHANG06 ADD IT DAMN IT!LOL
yep. still in the hood. just busy as an mf. different block though. thank god. the peeps on the ol' block were driving me absolutely insane. will hit u up when things finally calm down again. miss u. m
dude should shits sick! i think i might try to come by joes pub to check you out!
i got some cool ideas from your stuff that helped out my music. you should check it out if you have time.
you might like this video i made too. its all about hip hop, its a weekly videoblog so if you like it you can subscribe on youtube.
but enough about my shit, derrin you got some real talent. i think you are going places for real. just keep your head up and stay strong, right now is the hardest part.
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