We were fortunate enough to catch up with DEE (from DEE & D’Z) following the must-hear release ‘E.N.E.R.GY’. Read the full interview below!

Hi DEE, how did you first get into music?

My first endeavour with singing was in a church choir when I was just six years old. We always sang with a group every Sunday and had rehearsals. When I was 10, I stopped in the choir due to school. After that, it took me a few years to get back into music, though I was dancing ballet on a professional level my whole teenage years. I took my first private singing class when I was 18 to get into a musical theatre school. There I studied opera singing and later on changed to musical theatre.

Who influenced your brilliant latest release, ‘E.N.E.R.GY’?

I think there were so many influences; I can’t even start to name them. It is a collection of all the different styles of music I have been listening to and singing throughout my career, which are opera, musical theatre, and a lot of jazz.

I just love listening to music that grabs you and tells you an emotional story.

‘E.N.E.R.GY’ is a great alt-pop single; what draws you to the genre?

The good thing about Pop music is that a lot of people are drawn to it. Most pop songs have an easy-listening hook and a melody that hangs on to you. It literally makes the song popular. But with Alt-Pop, you also serve the artistic side of music.

I call it “Music for Musicians”. They listen more to interesting chord changes and abstract harmonies and overall are reacting very passionately if something unusual happens in the music (I myself listen to music like this as well 😌) And as we want to connect through our music, it feels important to give a broad base to transport our message to as many different people as possible.

What motivates you to make music?

Message and connection, that’s it. We want to share positive looks and emotional outbursts with the listeners and connect through recognition. If someone can identify with what we are telling in our music, I am a happy person!

What is your biggest mistake in the music industry so far?

Luckily, until now, there wasn’t one. I think for me, the worst thing to DO in the business was singing cover songs in a Dinnershow with tape music. The music then gets so static that it loses its soul.

What are your other passions aside from music?

Dancing and coaching artists. I love to help people who are just starting as performers find their own authentic persona. And food!! I love to cook all different kinds of cuisines and, of course, also eat them. 😄

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

Making it easier for musicians to survive just on their skills. I think musicians are often underpaid because they love what they do so much that they don’t care. But in the end, have to pay their bills as well.

What sets you apart from other artists?

I think it’s the unique pairing of D’Z and Dee. Two people who seem to come from another world but, in the end, inspire each other to grow above and beyond.

Also, we are musically constantly searching for the unusual solution for any given “problem”, which makes our music more interesting than a lot of other songs, I think.

What is the best music advice you have ever been given?

Stay true to yourself. Sing with YOUR voice, and don’t aim to sound like someone else.

What new music are you listening to at the moment?

Sounds unconventional, but I found a Jazzy Music album for Ballet classes from Jim Durrow. Which connects classical piano music with jazz (I love this combo!)

What musical plans do you have for the next two years?

Ah, we already have three songs ready to record. So this coming year, we will jump into the studio again with a lot of amazing musicians. After that, they will be released one by one. You are in for a treat as these are three completely different songs, also very different from the first two.

A ballad with a whole gospel-y choir, a really funky dance song you barely can’t sit still while you are listening, and a more orchestral-oriented uptempo ballad. All songs will stay in style with our vision of music: send a universal, positive message that helps people see life in a slightly different way, travelling on a sparkling, innovative musical plane that helps you to take off.

And we are currently exploring the possibility of forming a band to perform our music live as well. For now, just in the Netherlands, but we shall see…

FVMusicBlog May 2023

https://www.dee-dzmusic.com
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