I am huge into Celtic instruments! The Autoharp plus my love styled rap would flow beautifully together!
Drums
Drums are the heartbeat of music! Every great studio needs an awesome drum kit.
Cello
Celllllloooo.... Turn it on it's side and you've got a Bass! -Jack Black. This rich AND beautiful orchestral instrument is one that takes me to another place with one simple strum!
Organs, Rhodes & Electric Pianos
I need these for when I'm feeling funky and I want to get dowwwwwn! Haha.
Violin
These mid range notes had me at hello.
Motif Workstation
I need this baby to do ALL of my dirty work! Haha.
Yamaha Grand Piano
I never feel as creative and empowered as I do like when I am playing a Yamaha Grand Piano. Since the piano is my flagship instrument I need something that allows me to excel. I do not care what anyone says Steinway & Bosendorfer just DO NOT do it for me like a Yamaha. That is why this is an ABSOLUTE most have in my "Dream Studio"!
Do I want everyone to see that I drive the latest Mercedes Benz and live in a palatial mansion? Or do I need you to see me having groupies, maybe three different baby mamas, eight illegitimate children and a side piece that I call "Wifey" but never actually marry her? Haha! Or do you think I crave the spotlight of the stage? Does it look like I want millions of people to idolize me and obsess over me and the things I do? Do I want them to wear the clothes I wear and copy my hairstyle? Does it seem like I want to be on the cover of every tabloid magazine in the grocery stores? Or do you wonder if I long for people to use my slang? How about mimic my overall mischievous attitude where I tell children it is okay to be a thug or disrespectful to everyone and everything including themselves? Or am I just rapping and playing the piano simultaneously not for my enjoyment and your entertainment but to escape the fear of feeling inadequate?
Well I believe what the bible says, "those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." - Matthew 23:12. I am truly humbled by my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am a born again Christian. Ye ye! So no, Y'all. I do not wish for the "Spotlight" for any selfish and insecure reasons. Trust me, I could do without the ALL of the superficial additives. I just want to share my music with the world! I am firm believer in Spiritual Gifts and music is mine. Music is my calling. I believe the weight of a song is heavier than our heavy hearts when we are down. And music's high notes can take you away from it all. That is exactly why I am so passionate about my music. I have the chance to make music that can not only lift up my Lord and Savior but lift up my people........ Which is Y'all!!!!
So how do I know this my calling?
When I was child, I felt this supreme bright light come over me during class in second grade. It was the brightest light I had ever seen. The strangest thing about the light was that it was only shining on me. Keep in mind that at the time I was in a classroom full of people. It was as if the light was ONLY intended for me to see it. I know it sounds crazy but ever since then I have felt like I supposed to do something enormous with my life that would touch a lot of people. I never thought that something would be music. I was supposed to become a NBA basketball player! The only thing I didn't know was if my best childhood friend, Jerell Preyer, or I were going to go number one or number two in the NBA draft! Haha! Of course, that would be after we both averaged at least twenty five points a game for the Division One college of our choice. Crazy right? But God had other plans. Now I am a God fearing man. I have a wife who I am MADLY in love with and her name is Lori Darks!!!! Make sure to check her blog out y'all!! I am an overall family man. And yes, a musician! And I am ONLY here to share my heart with you all! So if my reasons for wanting to "famous" are up for question just remember this; I make music for everyone's hearts because music is in mine!
As some of you may know, my husband is a musician -- a rapper pianist, to be exact! He is very talented. People have been asking me if he's a model because of his photos... I guess his "modeling faces and poses?" lol... Yes, he has been modeling, doing commercials and being extras in movies since he was a kid.
[Sidenote: He even met Denzel Washington and Sandra Bullock! Pretty awesome, right?]
Well, he stopped modeling and doing all that back after high school because he started focusing on his music career. I didn't even know about this till midway through our relationship. He's always been modest about everything he does in life, which I adore! He said it so nonchalantly, I was telling him how much I love Sandra Bullock, she's my favorite actress and he was like "Oh, I met her! I was an extra on her movie Hope Floats!" I'm like what the heck.. how could you not tell me this when we first met? His response "I was just an extra, you couldn't even really see me!" lol.. and I'm like "Have you met anybody else?", he was like "Yeah, well I met Denzel Washington!" and I was like WHATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!! Then, he tells me he came out on a NATIONAL Chevy commercial that was aired during the Superbowl (which I probably watched with my family!!! lol) So, yeah, hahaha, I was pretty taken aback by everything, I'm over here dating this star (in his own right for his huge accomplishments, I would like to think)... but Darryl thinks differently. He rarely talks about it.
Truth is, he doesn't care about all that because he wants to be a musician, that's what he wants to be known for and I respect that completely. He keeps his modeling and acting days at a hush because he loves music, this is what he does and who he is.
You'll be helping me as well because I do his PR (Public Relations) and Marketing for him... so let's do this!
Let's start this Darryl Darks street team! Spread the word, tell a friend, post it on on your Facebook, tweet about it, Instagram about it! Do it all! Let's go!
As you may know John Mayer is one my favorite artists. His honest lyrics and clarion melodies have played as number one hit singles on the soundtrack of my life. That is exactly why this 2007 Grammy performance featuring John Mayer, Corinne Bailey Rae and John Legend is the highlight of this weeks Musical Mondays.
It's Musical Monday once again. This Monday, my song is "White Flag" by Chris Tomlin. I listen to a lot of Christian music. The lyrics are impactful and truthful and Christian musicians can jam!!!
White Flag is a very impactful song on how we, as humans, realize we can't do it alone. We acknowledge we need Jesus undying love in our lives. So, we raise our white flags, we give up on trying to control our lives, we give up on living our life in sin, we give up everything so Jesus can do what He does, lead us.
I'm not a Christian rapper, but I am inspired by Christian music, because I am a Christian. Listen to this song, it will impact your life, definitely! Be blessed!
So, this is a new segment I am going to start every Monday, called Musical Monday. Being a musician, I have a lot of musical inspirations. I am a rapper. I am not your typical rapper though. I'm not hip hop all day like others are. I love to study music. All types of music... from hip hop to Christian to alternative, I just love music, period.
Lately, I've been really listening to a lot of Ryan Tedder music and I have to say he is a musical genius. He is very underrated but he has made some great music. With Ryan Tedder as a big influence in my music, it is only fitting to incorporate more strings in my music. Like I said before, I am going to learn how to play the violin and also the cello. So, be ready for this musical journey!
