Donald Sheffey
Interview 24 January
2007
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Name: Donald Sheffey
City: New York
Style: R&B Adult Contemporary - Dance Soul
Tell me about yourself, where you from, background, family
Do you still live there, if not where are you based: yes
What are you working on now: My new CD
Do you have a CD out or when can we expect it: Yes. The new CD
should be
done this summer
How's it going down - what tracks can we look out for/do you like:
I like
real lyrics with a story & music you can either dance to or
chill to
Did you write the songs: yes
If so tell me about the writing process: Personal experience or
how I am
feeling
And production?: Weezie Productions
What instruments do you play: no
Tell me about your style, what you do and what do you add to the
rest of the
stuff out there: My style and bottom line is to clean the
adolescent
behavior of the American music industry and bring class and
professionalism
back to the art form.
Whats your show like, what gigs are you doing: My shows are
cool, personal,
and audience driven.
Do you use the same people live as on your recorded material:yes
Do you write your songs, if so what do you draw from: yes
Tell me about the team of people around you: Professionals
eager to do REAL
music again. (something the industry doesn't want anything to do
with:)
Whats it like getting yourself heard, and getting stuff down as an
Independent: PURE F'N HELL. Thanks Clear Channel
Who are your influences, currently and from back in the day: Motown
before
it turned into trash, Luther Vandross before he died, John Legend
and
Jennifer Hudson who are at the top of the list as far as class,
talent, and
singing.
Who else have you worked with: Patti LaBelle, En Vogue, Freddie
Jackson,
Nile Rodgers, Ashford & Simpson, just to name a few
What else have you done, how have you got where you are now: Doing
every
open mic and showcase that will listen to me and the internet.
Record
companies don't want to hear talented people today. 80% looks, 20%
talent.
Technology will take care of the rest.
Has music always been in you from an early age: YES-YES-YES
Are you in it full time: YES
What other independent artists are you feeling: I can't focus on
other
independent artists sad to say. I have enough to focus just
getting myself
out there.
What's the scene like where you are: Everyone here is trying to
make it
doing something here. It's the climate of the industry that's bad.
What is your following like locally: OK, but every time an
African American
man takes the stage today, most expect a hip-hop/rap performance.
Male
singers are loosing there class here and around the world.
"Men don't sing they rap and act ignorant or lustful"
='s today's industry
climate.
What do you know about other markets, UK, Europe, Japan etc: The
US market
sucks. International markets are great because they still look at
music and
performance as entertainment and an art form. Profanity isn't the
driving
force to success.
How do you see Soul Music right now. Dying every second of the
day if we
don't start focusing on "talent"
SOUL MUSIC COMES FROM THE "SOUL". Today if you turn on
the radio (or I
should say Clear Channel) there isn't any soul, or gut conviction
in todays
music. It's an industry wrapped up in grunts, gang-bangers, thug
mentality,
and women who need to take it all off to distract the fact that if
it
weren't for technology they wouldn't be doing what they're doing
What are your ambitions: to show the world what
"quality" and "class" is
again. I need the help of Oprah Winfrey for this. She does great
work and I
would love to bring the music and theater programs back to the
middle and
high schools so we can stop this wicked trend that's going on.
Whats happening next: I will continue to trying to claw my way
to the top
Is there something adventurous you might like to do but haven't
yet with
your music: I would love to do a dance tune with Michael
Jackson and do a
ballad with Stevie Wonder.
What do you enjoy most about what you do: the satisfaction of
giving my
audience a good time and new ideas without the same format most
are accustom
to.
What other things do you like to do: Swim, jog, write,
performance,
recording, and martini's
A few random one word things:
Favourite artist: Luther Vandross (for new music: John Legend)
Film: Willy Wonla
Actor/Actress: Will Smith
Food: McDonald's french-fries
Drink: Milk (not the singers friend, but I like it anyway:)
Country: never been out of the country, but If American music
doesn't
straighten itself out...you'll be seeing me soon:)
Sport/Team: Steelers
Anything else you'd like to say: Don't wait so long to get back
to me
ha-ha:)
Good luck and thanks for your time
Mike
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