Whenever I receive an email regarding someone wanting us to write about an artist, it is both amazing and stressful. I love it because this means people are paying attentions, are network is growing, and we have the opportunity to help spread the word about more local talent. On the other hand, what if I click play and the song is terrible? How do you respond to that? Maybe I respectfully decline and say we are just so busy at the moment, we are unable to fit it in.
Luckily this was NOT the case when I listened to the track by Nigel Damani. His song, entitled ‘Bad Motives,’ which features rapper Block 125, is truly fantastic! It gets back to the basics of what R&B used to be. No poppy gimmicks here. It is easy to tell that there is passion in Nigel’s music. When I shared the track with the other writers here at HLX, they loved it as well. Most even adding the track to their personal playlists. ‘Bad Motives’ is the first single from his upcoming mixtape entitled Past Due: The Introduction. The project will be available on May 31st, 2015.
After hearing his music, I thought it would be a great idea to reach out to Nigel Damani, ask a few questions, and get to know more about the man behind the music. Our interview with him, as well as his new single (which you can also download), can be found below.
The Interview
Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself, where they are from, and the types of things they like to do?
A: I’m From Richmond, Virginia and I like to sing, play sports, and just kick in with my family and friends, and beautiful women lol
Q: When and how did you start getting in singing or music in general?
A: Well I always knew I could sing since I was very young, but I didn’t start taking it seriously till about middle school early high school.
Q: Do you play any instruments, if so which one(s)?
A: I don’t play any instruments at the moment.
Q: Is your family musical?
A: My family isn’t really musical. I mean my mom and my grumma can sing but thats about it lol.
Q: Which famous musicians do you admire? Why?
A: Famous musicians that I admire would definitely have to be Michael Jackson off top. Jodeci, R. Kelly, Tyrese just to name a few. A lot of their songs just inspired me to wanna sing and take this music thing seriously.
Q: What are your fondest musical memories?
A: One of my fondest musical memories is back when I was like 17/18. Me ans my homeboys had went on a spring break trip to the beach and we had a lil hotel right on the ocean front. We was tryna get girls up to the room but they wasn’t really tryna give us no play at first lol. So I started singing to them lol and it was like instantly girls was coming to the room with us left and right lol it was crazy.
Q: Did any old records & tapes influence you? Which ones?
A: I remember being very young and I found my dads CD and tape collection. He had everything literally lol. I remember finding his 2 Pac Greatest Hits cassette tape and I used to listen to that all the time cause he had singers on a lot of his songs. ”I Ain’t Mad Atcha” was one I remember listening to a lot. I used to always sing that song.
Q: Do you get nervous before a performance or a competition?
A: I don’t really get nervous before performances. I usually just pray that I do my best and I already know I can sing live so I’m pretty confident lol.
Q: How do you handle mistakes during a performance?
A: As far as handling mistakes during performances, the show must go on so we gotta improv an keep it going lol.
Q: What advice would you give to beginners who are nervous?
A: Advice I would give to beginners who are nervous would be to think of yourself as being your favorite artist. Would they be nervous? Did being nervous get them to where they are today? And how bad do you want it? lol. And I would tell them that most times you only get nervous the first couple seconds on stage but if you can make it past that you’ll be good.
Q: How often and for how long do you practice?
A: I sing all day for the most part whether it’s around the house or in the studio. I don’t really have a set practice schedule or anything like that.
Q: How do you balance your music with other obligations – School, job, social life?
A: I’m not in school at the moment so its pretty easy to balance music with my everyday life. I’m always in the studio and if I’m not recording I’m with my producer giving new ideas and creating new tracks together.
Q: What has been your biggest accomplishment?
A: My biggest accomplishment so far is probably me making my move from Virginia to Atlanta.
Q: On the other side of things, what do you feel has been your biggest setback?
A: My biggest setback to me i think it would be not having a solid team early on in my career. I would always meet people saying they could do this and that for me but you know a lot of people just be talking and bull-shittin’. I’m just now finally getting my team together and I love them all. I know they mean well and these days thats hard to find. But at the same time everything happens for a reason so I’m not mad about anything or holding any grudges towards people in my past. I know God got me so I’m good.
Q: What obstacles have you faced thus far with your music?
A: Obstacles I’ve faced so far with doing music is money lol. This shit is expensive lol.
Q: We know your project is being set to be released on May 31st, can you give us an idea of what is next for you? Any Surprises?
A: Whats next for me is the next single after ‘Bad Motives’ coming out. If y’all like ‘Bad Motives’ y’all really gonna like the next single. And no I don’t wanna release the name yet its a surprise. I got a few surprises up my sleeve y’all just gotta wait and see. Sit back and enjoy the ride lol
The Music
