Berkley the Artist - SPECIAL D.I.D.A. ARTIST SPOTLIGHT!!!

What if a single dream could alter the course of your life forever? Join us on "Daz It Daz All" as we welcome Berklee the Artist, a multi-talented force in music, acting, and education. We take a journey from his roots in a supportive New Orleans family to his multifaceted career that spans being a professor, a vocalist, a songwriter, an actor, an author, and a creative director. Berklee shares intimate stories behind his stage name, dreams that have influenced his path, and his unique approach to teaching that transforms his videos into mini-masterclasses.


Host KC Carnage (@iamkccarnage), and Berkley the Artist (@berkleytheartist) 

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

He was like playing this song. And the song was playing in the speakers and it was loud and it was beautiful, it was like an amazing song. And I was like, oh my God, I love this song so much, this song is so good. And there was a friend of mine who was sitting next to me and she was like, remember, that's Berklee. Remember, I gave you his CD. And I was like, oh my God, I love him. He is my favorite artist in the world. I love him.

Speaker 3: 0:27

I kept saying I love him and this is in the dream. This was in the dream, okay.

Speaker 1: 0:31

So then I awoke from the dream and I jumped out of my bed because I went to look for the CD. That's it, that's all. That's it, that's all.

Speaker 3: 0:42

Tell me how you feel. That's it, that's all. That's it, that's all. Black excellence at its finest. How that skin glows, she's a true diamond, with the world right out back. She's still smiling. Never left that crown till she stays thriving. That's it, that's all. That's it, that's all. Keep it real. That's it, that's all. That's it, that's all. Keep it real. That's it, that's all. That's it, that's all. Is that really it, though? What up, what up, what up? Welcome to. That's it, that's All. Y'all know who I am, kacey Carnage. I'm your host, and today we're doing another Artist Spotlight, one of my favorite segments of this show. And today we have a really, really, really good friend, super talented Berklee the Artist this show. And today we have a really, really, really good friend, super talented berkeley the artist what's happening.

Speaker 1: 1:26

Thank you for having me tonight absolutely, absolutely.

Speaker 3: 1:30

So let's get into it y'all. If y'all don't know, um berkeley, um, I met him probably soon as I got here back in 2024. I was doing some show at um.

Speaker 1: 1:41

I even forgot the place in korea town 2014 yeah, 2014, yeah, yeah 2014.

Speaker 3: 1:47

It's been a minute and it was just like we clicked automatically and we've been really good on friends since. Um, just to give you a little snippet about him before he goes into it about him he is a professor of music, he's a vocalist, he's a songwriter, an actor, author, a creative director, um, and you know he tours around the country, around the world. He's international, but I'll let him tell you about himself. So let the world know who you are, brinkley.

Speaker 1: 2:14

Well, first of all, I'm happy to be here with you. It's really good to see you. As you know, I just moved back to LA, so it's really nice to connect with people that I haven't seen in many years. Um, but I mean, everything you said is, it is what it is. At the end of the day, I'm a fine artist, you know. Um, I appreciate art and culture and I believe in being scholarly about it as well as being skillful in it.

Speaker 3: 2:41

Oh yes, super scholarly Cause you are Okay, so skillful in it. Oh yes, super scholarly because you are okay. So, guys, if you guys get a chance to, he's gonna he's gonna definitely tell you where to find him at the end of this um episode. But if you get a chance to look at his videos, he takes the approach of like, like, literally he's teaching you, it's like literally, a 30 second master class on how to sing whatever song you're singing. Get into it, um, but let's just jump right into it. Um, berkeley, what kind of artist are you? Like you, you decided to say berkeley the artist. Now, is that your given name?

Speaker 1: 3:11

my given name is frank alex davis, the fourth, which I love. My name, um, I am the fourth. My dad is a singer and was an actor as well, and I came from a family of art and education from New Orleans, or, if I were to say it like I'm from home, we say I'm from New Orleans, baby, I love the baby.

Speaker 1: 3:38

So I came from a home that was really indoctrinated in being really excellent about whatever it is you're going to do, and I was very blessed because my parents supported me as an artist. And as I grow and meet different people and have all kinds of friends, I realized that everybody's family doesn't I don't want to say support, but my family not only supported but encouraged.

Speaker 3: 4:09

Well, it's funny that you say that, because I think I made a post the other day because I watch a lot of documentaries.

Speaker 1: 4:15

Me too, I love documentaries.

Speaker 3: 4:16

And I was watching. I had just watched Tyler Perry's Maxine's Son, and then I watched Celine Dion's. Oh, I haven't watched that one.

Speaker 3: 4:23

Like Celine Dion's, and I don't even think it was a documentary, I think it was like one of those unauthorized movies and her family was behind her and I literally made a post. I said it, it's, it's, it's a double-edged sword to see that there are families that will get behind you and it really makes a difference, like when mom is manager, dad is making calls, brother and sister is talking about it really does so that I am that's, that's a blessing, for sure, it is a blessing.

Speaker 1: 4:52

I'm very, very fortunate in that respect because, again, like my dad was a was an artist and my grandmother, his mother, was an artist. So it and on my mom's side, my mother basically my mother was like the first a and my mom's side, my mother basically my mother was like the first A&R person I had. My mother would always watch Star Search with me and we wouldn't really watch Showtime at the Apollo as much, but we would definitely watch Star Search and to this day, my mom and I, we always watch the award shows together. So I'm in LA, she's in New Orleans, and I'm like Ma, who you think gonna win shows together. So I'm in LA, she's in New Orleans, and I'm like Ma, who you think gonna win, you know, and she's like, well, they're not gonna get it because X, y and Z, she just had that six cents to know the business, even though she wasn't in the business, she just always knew, like when I would watch Ed McMahon in Star Search, it'd be a kid who would be my age and he would go on stage and he would perform and my mom would say he, he didn't pick the right song. And I'm like, yes, he did, that's a good song. She's like no, he's not gonna get the best score tonight. She just understood. So I was very fortunate.

Speaker 1: 5:55

My mom would say, wear this when you go to sing or stand like this, or maybe you should learn this song. Or she would enforce me practicing. Or are you coming in and wrapping your throat up on your voice at night? Are you getting enough rest? I mean, my mom still does that to me. I'm still like very grown. I'm like girl. I have lived around the world.

Speaker 3: 6:14

I am pretty positive I've been wrapping my voice.

Speaker 1: 6:17

I am wrapping up, you know, and then I go back inside and go get the scarf, because I didn't bring it well, where did you get um berkeley from?

Speaker 3: 6:24

Well, where did you get Berkeley from?

Speaker 1: 6:25

Where did you get that from? I'm glad you asked. I'm glad you asked. I had this dream. I had this dream and I was in a studio, similar to a studio like this, and I was behind the council and there was someone in a chair, a person, but I don't know who it was, I feel like it was a being of some sort and he was like playing this song and the song was playing in the speakers and it was loud and it was beautiful, it was like an amazing song and I was like, oh my God, I love this song so much, this song is so good. And there was a friend of mine who was sitting next to me and she was like, remember, that's Berklee. Remember, I gave you his CD. And I was like, oh my God, I love him. He is my favorite artist in the world. I love him.

Speaker 3: 7:16

I kept saying I love him and this is in the dream. This was in the dream.

Speaker 1: 7:21

So then I awoke from the dream and I jumped out of my bed because I went to look for the CD, because I saw it in the dream. I'm like, oh yeah, I remember that and I remember I had like an old case of CDs. I'm like it must be in there. So I went to the closet, I looked through and I couldn't find it. I looked on my phone, like my iPhone, I'm scrolling through like Berklee, berklee, berklee, and I couldn't find it. And then it occurred to me that that artist did not exist. And then it occurred to me that that song did not exist. So I quickly pulled out my phone and started recording the song, because the song had come to me in a dream and I realized that Berklee the artist was something that was gifted to me and so I took it on as my performance name and persona.

Speaker 3: 8:10

That is amazing.

Speaker 1: 8:11

Yeah, that's what happened.

Speaker 3: 8:12

That's amazing. It is crazy. Do you consider yourself spiritual?

Speaker 1: 8:16

Oh, very much so.

Speaker 3: 8:17

Okay, so do you consider yourself religious or do you consider yourself a blend of both? I like religion a lot.

Speaker 1: 8:21

I don't have a problem with religion. I'm glad you asked that. I hear a lot of folks give their opinion which is very fair about they don't believe in religion. I love religion. I think every religion is very beautiful. Religion allows people to have a practice, a ritual, and I think that that is a beautiful thing. Now, just like the Internet, or just like guns, what you do with it determines if it's good or bad. It of itself is not good or bad.

Speaker 3: 8:53

No, totally understand I am religious.

Speaker 1: 8:56

I have a lot of religious practices. I grew up as like a really devout Christian. My dad was a pastor. My mother was the first lady. I grew up like church, church church, church, church. Yeah, I definitely grew up in that world, Um, and and I honor it and I respect it. Although I have grown way beyond it in different ways, it is a my root and because of that I feel like I have a lot of order in my life, because I was kind of bred in that.

Speaker 3: 9:27

No, I agree, Like I don't consider myself either, but a mixture of both, because it's like you, I grew up. I wasn't a PK, but I grew up. I was in church Thursday through Sunday.

Speaker 1: 9:40

Oh, definitely.

Speaker 3: 9:41

I want to say every week until I was about a sophomore in high school from the time I was four. Whether it was the choir liturgical dance bells, whatever it was. I was there and I had a conversation with my friend one day about what I think that gave me, and I think it gave me a sense of discipline, absolutely.

Speaker 1: 10:00

It gave me a sense of faith.

Speaker 3: 10:02

It gave me a sense of purpose.

Speaker 1: 10:03

It gave me a lot of integrity, absolutely discipline.

Speaker 3: 10:11

It gave me a sense of faith, it gave me a sense of purpose. It gave me a lot of integrity. Now, like you said, some people take religion and do bad things with it. That's why the reason why I also say I'm spiritual, because I do believe in a spirit and I do believe in science. Right, I do believe in the fact that there's a lot that we cannot explain. And just because we can't explain it, that doesn't mean that it's not there, does it mean that it's not pushing us?

Speaker 3: 10:26

Like that dream came to you from where we don't know, but that doesn't mean that it wasn't true. That was a message sent from wherever, whomever people want to say it came from. It came to you. And I felt the same way about when I moved here to LA. Like I was getting all these deja vus, moved um here to la, like I was getting all these deja vus, like I was. I was standing on a corner and I'm like I was here before and even this move, even this show that I have right now, like I knew I would have this platform at some point in my life because I manifested it.

Speaker 3: 10:56

You know what I mean. I was like I. One of my biggest things was you know, we're both. You know, we met in a musical realm yeah but my background is a journalist realm. That's what I went to school for and I wanted to communicate. That's one of my. I love communicating with people.

Speaker 1: 11:12

And I love having my friends.

Speaker 3: 11:14

I mean, you know me, I like people, so I feel you on that. That's a beautiful story. So, when you okay, so let's do something fun.

Speaker 1: 11:24

What was the?

Speaker 3: 11:25

first song you ever wrote.

Speaker 1: 11:27

My first song that I ever wrote was how old were you? I was maybe like eight, eight or nine was a remake of a hymn.

Speaker 3: 11:39

What was the hymn?

Speaker 1: 11:40

The hymn is Blessed. Assurance.

Speaker 3: 11:42

Oh, okay, okay.

Speaker 1: 11:43

But I made my own version of it, which actually I thought about this recently and I was like dang, that was kind of dope. I need to like revisit that. That was my first thing I ever did and it's really funny, ironically, that you would bring that up, because I do draw the conclusion that I took what I learned. It was a hymn, that was pretty straightforward and I just did it my way and I'm still very much the same way, like taking the same concepts of religion, faith, god, Christ, and I just kind of apply it to my life in my interpretation and of my function and how it works. So, from a kid, I never wanted to do things the way that everybody else was doing it, Not because I wanted to rebel against it, I just felt like my way was better for me and hopefully people would enjoy it.

Speaker 3: 12:46

You no, that's, yeah, that's. I think that's important, so okay, so, as growing up into a kid and you're growing into your adulthood and you're finding your artistry, what was some of the upsides and some of the challenges that you think that you face in your development?

Speaker 1: 13:01

that's a really great, great question. I always knew that I would be what I am. There has never been a doubt. There were times when I was younger that I didn't know how to get here and that was very frustrating. Or there were times where I felt as if I was closed in or suppressed or backed into a corner. But I always knew I was going to fight my way out or outsmart my way out to get to where I belong. So some of the upsides for me was that because I could sing and not only sing I really understood music because even as a kid like I was a choir director at my church, and I'm not talking about just waving my hands I was like sopranos saying joy, altos, joy, tenders, joy. And then I started learning dissonance very early, like joy, joy, joy and people. I remember my friends being so angry with me as a kid like why do you always have to harmonize? Why do you have to do that?

Speaker 3: 14:05

Because I can, but no, I know how no, but really I it wasn't that.

Speaker 1: 14:09

I never felt that way. I felt like, because this is the way I hear it, I never felt like, oh, because I can, I just hear it differently. And so the upside was that I always found artistic value. And now that I'm an adult and I've kind of like pushed myself to learn more about the world, I think I have always found divine and spiritual concepts in very mundane things, even as a kid. Of course, the other side of that coin is that it kind of makes you feel pushed out of mainstream things. So people were like you're weird or you know, you think you're better than everybody. I mean, I face that a lot.

Speaker 3: 14:58

Well, do you think it's because, okay, let's dig into that why?

Speaker 3: 15:03

do you feel like you were being pushed out? Do you think it was because you had a more technical stance on music and people were like you know, because most people, most people, have some type of ear, right, they listen to the radio, they can listen back, right, they can sing it back. But when it comes down to like breaking down music, do you think it was a thing where maybe they felt like, well, I can't really do that, and because he can, I don't know how to relate, or what do you?

Speaker 1: 15:31

I think, of course, I think there are a plethora of reasons that very well could be one. I also feel as if I'm just very courageous and I think that in any story throughout the history of mankind that you look back in literature, you see the same themes over and over. When a person is courageous, it kind of makes other people either exalt them or crucify them, because what it does is it pushes other people to be great too. And I didn't know that, I had no idea that's what I was doing. I was just living my life. I was just living my life. I was just living my life. But I also feel like it triggers something in people to remind people are you living your life?

Speaker 1: 16:20

And even though it wasn't easy, I was bullied a lot. I was bullied a lot. I cannot reiterate the amount of bullying and violence physical violence, mental, sexual violence that I embraced, not embraced, endured as a young child. I experienced all of those things, but my spirit just would not break. It just would not break and I'm like that to this day, and some people even use the term like oh, you can be really defensive and that used to be a. It used to bother me because I didn't want people to think that, but what I understand about myself is that I'm going to get what I came for.

Speaker 3: 17:11

And people are also going to see people that are supposed to see. You will see you.

Speaker 2: 17:15

Like.

Speaker 3: 17:16

I had to learn that a while too, because I had a thing about where it's kind of like when you're moving you're shaking, like I was. I think you're always doing something. It's something you always do Every time I see you. You got some new project. I was like I got things to do.

Speaker 1: 17:26

I have things to do.

Speaker 3: 17:27

yo, I got things to do and sometimes that makes you lonely, sometimes that puts you on an island by yourself, but guess what I said this today yo Let me tell you something.

Speaker 1: 17:41

Don't get me wrong. There are times when I feel lonely, but I never feel alone.

Speaker 3: 17:46

Okay, I never, feel alone.

Speaker 1: 17:48

Number one God lives in me. And God is not only living in me. God is present in me. And because God is present in me, even when I get to a low point, I can feel the power of God shifting it to bring me up right. So when I am alone, I know how to call on God in various ways to pull me out of that. But secondly, I have siblings. I grew up with my. My siblings are my best friends. Child, let me tell you something I don't need friends. I love my friends, but I have a brother and a sister. I tell people that all the time Cause I'm like you ain't got to be my friend. I got a brother and a sister, y'all grew up pretty tight.

Speaker 1: 18:35

What that's my people Like I know who I am because I have a brother and a sister I have. My brother is like a chief in the military. He's my younger brother. I'm the oldest, but he almost acts like he's older, I think, and he gives me great perspective. And then my sister and I people used to think we were twins. My sister is also an artist as well, so every idea that I know she's always had a beautiful spirit. Yeah, I love it.

Speaker 3: 19:11

Yeah, she's amazing.

Speaker 1: 19:12

Everything that comes to my mind that's artistic I bounce off of my brother and my sister first Relationships, brother and sister, first Business, spirituality. So I feel like God gave me everything I needed. If I'm blessed with friends which I have a lot of friends then I am grateful for them. But guess what? Almost all of my friends. They're very close to their siblings too.

Speaker 3: 19:39

Right, it's like a similar thing right.

Speaker 1: 19:42

So I feel like, even though I've gone through a lot of things, I don't cling to that. One of my colleagues and a new friend of of mine her name is marissa bateman and she's like everybody wants to be in the trauma olympics. Everybody wants to compete in the trauma.

Speaker 3: 19:57

We talk about trauma bonds all the time.

Speaker 1: 19:58

It's like I don't want your bond, I don't want that I respect where everybody is in their life, but I am focused on my victories and I am focused on healing well and reconciliation. I am not focused on just healing and leaving everybody out. How can I reconcile the situation, if it is possible?

Speaker 3: 20:20

No, totally understandable. It's like one of those things where there's some people out in the world where they want to have an issue, like, okay, you can tell me your grievances, let's find a solution. You know what I mean.

Speaker 1: 20:33

Do you want a solution?

Speaker 3: 20:34

That's the question Do you want a solution? And sometimes people don't. They don't.

Speaker 1: 20:39

And I've asked you know, I have a really good friend, I have so many friends, but my friend Mackenzie. Sometimes, when we're talking, I'm like she's like well, this is going on. I'm like hold on, hold on, hold on. Do you want me to be a listening ear or do you want me to bring a perspective?

Speaker 3: 20:53

And that's great to ask.

Speaker 1: 20:55

I mean all the time she's like I want perspective. But I have friends like that, where we ask, and I even tell my friends, like when they are telling me things, I'm like look, tell me if I'm wrong, tell me if I could have done this better. I think that, going into this new era this is my new era right now I don't need to isolate, to heal. I don't need that. I will heal and I want to reconcile. If there is reconciliation, I want it to be so, not just. I'm tired of everybody. Everybody make me mad, everybody triggers me.

Speaker 3: 21:40

You know what Do, what you need to do, and then also too another point of that is like okay, we reconcile, and then it's always those few that like to come back. Well, you used to. I'd be like look, she don't live here, no more. I don't even know who you're talking about. People can change, and that's the thing people can change, and not only can they, they should. It's called evolution.

Speaker 3: 21:58

It's called evolving you're not going to be the same person you were when you're 14. You're not going to be the same person you were when you were 20 and at 35, I'm somebody else. At 40, you're going to be somebody else. At 50, I'm gonna be somebody else. She don't live here, no more. I don't want to hear what you heard or what I used to do.

Speaker 1: 22:11

I don't want, I don't want to hear that, because meet me where I'm at but you know, it's really interesting that you bring that up as well, because I'm also dealing with that part. When I say dealing, I mean dealing meaning allowing. Excuse me, when people say well you used to, people say well you used to, instead of me responding like I've changed, this is me, I ask, like, what is it about that old person or that old persona that you need present right now? What is it that you're calling forth? Because you're bringing this up? Because, why, what do you need from it?

Speaker 3: 22:51

What do you need? Well, that's nice of you to ask those questions no, no, I'm fair right I'm not always nice.

Speaker 1: 22:59

You know what I'm saying. I'm polite, but I'm. I'm. I'm fair because I really want to know like I'm not asking just for like rhetorical banter. I'm what is it? Because if you keep bringing that up, it's like what do you need from me? What do you need? And often what I find is when you start asking those kinds of questions, a person really gets to answer it and you really get to hear and there might be something I can tweak for you. I might be able to bring back a little ratchet. Well, I also, but I also too. That is, and there might be something I can tweak for you. I might be able to bring back a little ratchet every now. And then.

Speaker 3: 23:32

But I also too. That is a fair point to bring up. But also, too, it's just, I think, that it all is perspective of where you are in life. Some people feel like they want to dive deep, and then there's some people that are just like I'm past that you know what I mean. Some people just like I have those instances.

Speaker 1: 23:51

It also depends on the relationship of this person. We talking about right the intention. Right the intention, yeah for sure.

Speaker 3: 23:54

So like, of course, I'm going to give certain allowances to certain people, but, like you know how many people that, especially in this world of entertainment, right, how many people come through and in and out of your life, that there's people, it's like this revolving door of people. There's some people that stick, there's some people that's there for a moment, some people's there for a lifetime, right. So I think it's all perspective of when and where, and everybody deserves grace, because god gives grace, right. But at the same time, when it comes down to protecting your peace, especially your artistry, right, because it's like, it's like even going like those same people. Well, do you allow people to critique your music when you're sharing?

Speaker 1: 24:32

you know, I'm in a different space in my life honestly right I'm in a different space.

Speaker 1: 24:39

I don't need to set rules to live for other people, especially right like you can't ask me this, it's a free world. Man like you can do what you want. You could do what you want. You could do what you want and I could do what I want. And if I have the energy to share and you want to critique and I have the energy, then let's volley. But if I don't, then talk all you will, and then I'm like it was great to meet you and I don't need to set those kind of rules.

Speaker 1: 25:12

I'm just in a different space personally, and I'm not in any way telling people you should be like me. I'm very cautious about that. It's just my experience. In a year, on the day, I might be in a different space, but where I am right now, you could ask me whatever you want to ask me. If I have it within me to share or to volley or to communicate back and forth, then I will, and if I don't, I'm just like cool, you know I won't say that, but yes, I will. So I grew up in New Orleans and there's a very famous artist from New Orleans, pj Morton. We all grew up in the same era, the same time. I've been knowing him since he first came out and I was always very inspired by his writing and his courage to just do what he wanted to do. So this is a couple of years ago. I was trying to make a shift in my music career and I was very nervous about the shift you know, okay and what?

Speaker 3: 26:14

what was the shift? If you don't the?

Speaker 1: 26:15

shift was. I was in a group and this is the first time I've ever talked about this publicly I was, uh, the lead singer of this group. Um, that, um, I really did believe in this group and we did some really great work. We did some really great work, but I'll take full responsibility. At some point I knew it was time for me to go. I knew I was no longer supposed to be there. Um, all the signs were there, but I, I wouldn't let go. You know, um, because of guilt, shame, insecurity, wanting to please others, fear of my own greatness, I just didn't leave when I should have. I probably would have had a less chaotic exit had I left when I knew to leave.

Speaker 1: 27:07

But I wanted to make everybody happy and I didn't want to make a hard decision, so I got to take the responsibility for that, never mind how they were in the situation. I should have left and I could have left, and I didn't. And so I went to speak to him to get some advice on some music I want to do. I want to do my own music again. And he said the best advice to do. I want to do my own music again. And he said the best advice to me, and I to this day hold it dearly and I share it to a lot of artists that I develop and mentor and work with, collaborate with. He's like do you have something to say? And I was like wait, I was asking.

Speaker 3: 27:50

That's not even what I asked you, Right?

Speaker 1: 27:52

He says do you have something to say. And I was like and I didn't really answer. And he says when you have something to say, when you truly have something to say, no one or nothing will stop it. You will sing, write and go wherever you need to go when you have something to say, but if you don't have anything to say, stay where you are until you do have something to say. And that moment changed the trajectory of my life, not just my music career but just my whole life. Because you know, like I was performing all the time, traveling around the world, performing, performing, performing and for like the last year and a half, almost two years nothing, Because I don't have anything to say.

Speaker 1: 28:40

I've been teaching, but I've been living. I've been enjoying my life, rethinking my life, and it's been very successful. But I have anything to say and I feel like singing because I had nothing to say. Well, you don't have to sing anymore for money. Your whole world is very different.

Speaker 3: 28:56

Okay, let me just speak on that part.

Speaker 1: 28:59

Come on.

Speaker 3: 29:01

Let me speak on that part, because I had that same thing when I got out here moving, moving shows, book, book, book.

Speaker 2: 29:06

Right, you have to.

Speaker 3: 29:07

Whatever, and it came to a point where I felt like I would get on stage and I'd be dead. Yeah, I'm the note sounding pretty.

Speaker 1: 29:17

Yeah.

Speaker 3: 29:18

Yeah, I look good, because I always look good, but empty. But it didn't feel right. It didn't feel like what I had to say wasn't the form of music. And when I sat down and really felt and don't get me wrong, like music is one of my first loves and not saying that it's shelved or it's going anywhere it was like what I had to say wasn't in the form of music, it was in a form of communication. And I sat down and I manifested and I wrote out these scripts and now you're here with me yeah you know what I mean.

Speaker 3: 29:47

So I that that is true and it's, and I'm glad that you told me that story, because that's exactly what I was feeling about a year and a half ago and this thusly berkeley the artist, my artistry, is not just one facet, and I think we as human beings we're not, were not one dimensional.

Speaker 1: 30:09

We can get stuck in a role for too long. I will never do that again in my life, even when it comes to friends, relationships, when I know it's time to move on. You can move on before it becomes chaotic. I think if you stay in something too long, it becomes chaotic, and then you look back and you're like, oh, that didn't go well. No, god was trying to tell you something. Shug Avery style. Right Speak, though.

Speaker 2: 30:41

Right.

Speaker 1: 30:42

You have to decide. Do you trust that you are more than a singer? Do you trust that you are more than a dancer or a teacher or a pastor or a mother or a husband, a wife, a boy? You are more than just one thing. You can be many things. And if you just hold onto that title, and that is your identity marker, then you cannot live a full life.

Speaker 3: 31:13

And it becomes anxiety driven, because what? Happens is, you've placed yourself in one value. So if that value isn't moving the way it should, or if it looks, you doubt everything. It's like my life is over. I don't know what to do and whole time you don't went to school.

Speaker 2: 31:29

Yes, you don't Degrees.

Speaker 3: 31:32

Degrees and all this is like whatever, and that's literally what it was. I looked at my degree one day. I was like wait a minute, like I know what I'm doing, and also to what I've also felt about being a multi-dimensional Artist. Right is that those tools that you stack up through the years of your life always come in handy they're always relevant.

Speaker 1: 31:54

They always are relevant, but this is when you're living in your fullness. Your purpose, your purpose is, in my opinion, of course, and in my experience, is just your fullness. It's not like some big idea like I am sin on the earth to blah, blah, blah. It's not like some big idea like I am sin on the earth to blah, blah, blah. It's just be whole. Like you know, especially growing up in church, like I'm always debunking a lot of things that you know keep people in bondage, I think, from a very Christian perspective, be holy means be whole, be complete. You know what I'm saying? It's not you not smoking your cigarettes, though smoking cigarettes is probably very bad for your health, which means that you are not being whole, which now you could be unholy because you are not whole, right. So it's like focus on being whole and then everything else really just becomes easy. Yeah.

Speaker 3: 32:52

You know, yeah, Okay, well, as an artist. And you said, you grew up in a church and your mom and dad were definitely there, and your brothers and sisters were there to push you and support you. Who were your inspirations? Like who did you? Take a little bit from here and take a little bit from here and kind of shaped, maybe your sound or your look or just your artistry in general.

Speaker 1: 33:16

Definitely at the root of vocal, when I think about vocal texture and vocal choices, it's Whitney Houston.

Speaker 3: 33:23

Like I didn't know the answer.

Speaker 1: 33:24

Yeah, like everything for me is in her phrasing and the choices. There's an interview I study Whitney Houston so much. There's an interview that she gave and she said to the interviewer my mother taught me how to sing a song. Now, if you listen to that without analyzing it, you just hear Sissy taught her how to sing, but that's not what she said.

Speaker 1: 33:49

What she said was my mother taught me how to sing a song, and so, as a vocal coach and a vocal teacher, I'm constantly teaching my clients how to sing a song, because you could be a badass singer, but you don't know how to sing a song. You don't know how to make the song live, come alive, live when you're not singing it anymore. Have you ever heard somebody sing that, even when they're finished, the song is still singing? That's a goal, but it's how you construct it. So for me, whitney Houston was a major, major thing. Also, I grew up in the house my dad, um, and my mom. They were a very classy people, so I listened to a lot of nat king cole a lot of set of ella fitzgerald, sarah vaughn, johnny mathis.

Speaker 1: 34:43

I was listening to that while everybody else was listening to tupac shout out to my sister.

Speaker 2: 34:48

My sister was like listening to everythingupac Shout out to my sister.

Speaker 1: 34:50

My sister was like listening to everything, but I wasn't listening to like urban music and this other music, but my sister was listening to everything. But I was also moved by. Like Alanis Morissette, I was moved by her. I was moved by, no Doubt. I was moved by TLC. I was moved by her. I was moved by no Doubt, I was moved by TLC. I was moved by Prince. Like when I say moved, meaning I wanted to think like them you know what I'm saying Like I didn't necessarily want to sound like them.

Speaker 3: 35:24

I wanted to get in their mind Because, like you said, you broke it down for vocal. Because, like you said, you broke it down for vocal. And then you talk in the next group of people. You're talking about the art behind of what they did, and it didn't necessarily sound anything that you may sound like, but it was that power and a lot of artists. That's a lot to find and figure it out, and sometimes it takes a while to figure it out. I was a kid though.

Speaker 1: 35:48

But I love music, I'm a musicologist, I think about how music affects society and on those that, that level and, of course, now there's so many people, but ultimately, ultimately, who I absolutely adore right now in every aspect, from music to business, to innovation, to cultural impact. Beyonce it's Beyonce it's Beyonce. I mean come on Beyonce.

Speaker 3: 36:19

Come on, I'm looking at you. It's like you know you already know what I'm talking about.

Speaker 1: 36:24

I will fight somebody behind Beyonce, okay.

Speaker 3: 36:26

I was like say something there will be no slander. There will be no Beyonce slander period and it's not it's not even on a.

Speaker 1: 36:32

It's not even on. I'm a clone, or it's not on there, I'm very I. I have analyzed her and iris and she works. I respect her man, I respect her. I respect her so much like because what she has accomplished, we're the same age. I saw it.

Speaker 3: 36:52

I think that that makes the difference I saw her from where she started to now and grew up with her undeniable and grew up with her. She's undeniable like I remember listening to, I remember watching 106 and park yeah and watching all these shows and just the first Soul Train. It's the craziest thing, Like she was a child that grew up in this industry and works.

Speaker 1: 37:16

And works and hasn't stopped.

Speaker 3: 37:17

And has not stopped and probably won't stop.

Speaker 1: 37:19

And didn't fall apart. You know it didn't fall apart. And, true, I don't know her life, right, and that's not my business to know her life, and that's not my business to know her life, but what she has chosen to give us in the world, I am grateful.

Speaker 3: 37:32

I am grateful that I was on this planet during this era and just the and just how she just evolves every time she drops something different on us every time, like I already knew. I already knew there's nobody else who could have told me now, like, as far as now is concerned, come on now.

Speaker 1: 37:52

She checks so many marks. She is a legend and she is a cultural icon. Absolutely, she has shifted the culture. There's so many people, obviously, but all of these people have influenced me in some way or another, and you know, I'm classically trained as well so well, let's jump into that, because I know you're also a vocal teacher.

Speaker 3: 38:17

Um, like I said, if you guys get a chance to watch some of his videos, they're literally 30 to minute master classes. So when I know you went to school, you got your ba and I have a ba in vocal music okay, and classical voice.

Speaker 1: 38:29

Did you know that you wanted to be? You got your ba and I have a ba in vocal music okay, and classical voice.

Speaker 3: 38:30

Did you know that you wanted to be a professor?

Speaker 1: 38:33

I've always education. I come from a at my my family is music education and in church. So like it wasn't far, my father was the um what do you call it? The president of a seminary at some point.

Speaker 1: 38:49

You know what I'm saying. I love school. I love teaching in colleges. I've taught at one, two, one, two, three. I've taught at four colleges. The last college before I moved here was Jay-Z's Rock Nation School of Music at Long Island University in Brooklyn. So that was where I was before I moved here to take this job here. But I love school. I love to learn. I never disliked school. I always loved to learn something I didn't know and then be around opposing thoughts. I love to hear people debate and argue and philosophize.

Speaker 3: 39:31

Like.

Speaker 1: 39:31

I love that. So, studying classical music and being from New Orleans where, like jazz and gospel and soul and beginning of hip hop, all has like a great presence, I just understand music and I love music. It doesn't matter what it is. You want an aria, got it. You want a jazz song Got it. You want some bars Got it. You want a jazz song Got it. You want some bars Got it. I'm a fine artist. I just love good art.

Speaker 3: 39:56

Do you Okay? So if I was a student and you had to give me a quick lesson what are like three pillars you would tell me about training my voice without even hearing me sing.

Speaker 1: 40:13

The first thing I always talk about is breathing properly Because, as my voice teacher, dr Valerie Francis, taught me, the sound or the note rides the breath. So a lot of people are like ah, where you can go? Ah, you hear the difference in the tonality. The quality changes immensely because I'm actually allowing the breath to carry the note right. So that would be the first thing. The second thing I would talk about is vowel placement. You know, using Italian-inspired vowels, so every word, for instance, like the Italian A, is ah ah.

Speaker 1: 40:51

So if you're singing the word love, don't sing love, but love.

Speaker 1: 40:58

There's just so much more space there. Right, it makes the tone more beautiful, melodious, as my grandmother would say. And then the last thing I would say is what is your objective of this, of singing by the end of this song? What are you trying to achieve through the message, like with the song is, uh, I don't know, somewhere over the rainbow, for instance, when you sing that song. What are you trying to achieve by saying all this? What are you trying to achieve I think about that before I go into a song Not what I want the audience to get, what is it that I have to get? Because, see, if I know what I have to get out of this when I sing it, you will get it. So those will be three of the basic things that will change the way your performances. It will enhance them greatly.

Speaker 1: 41:51

Okay well, thank you for that. Y'all got that.

Speaker 3: 41:52

You got that for free you got that for free, okay? Well, let's jump into the song we're gonna feature today never, never, land. Before we, um, play the song for you guys. Um, what was inspiration behind writing it?

Speaker 1: 42:06

you know, I think I wrote this song, I not. I think I wrote this song, I not a thing. I wrote this song during like the COVID time, um, and I just really wanted to do something a little outside of what I normally do. I wanted to do something super fun, I want to rap a little bit, I want to use everything that I could do, cause I think that sometimes people are like well, you're not a rapper, I'm not a rapper, but I can rap. I'm not a dancer, but I can dance. I'm black.

Speaker 1: 42:37

You know what I'm saying I just have rhythm, just show me what it is. So I wanted to play with different things. I play piano on this song and in the beginning of the song it's my heartbeat, because I remember I had to go to the hospital to get some, uh, some some physical work and it's like check my heartbeat. And I asked the doctor could I record my heartbeat? I was like, can I, can I please record my heartbeat?

Speaker 3: 43:08

I'm sure they looked at you like okay, and I told them I said I'm going to use it in the song.

Speaker 1: 43:13

I'm going to use it in the song. So I took that and used it in the song, and this song was about dreaming, dreaming away into a place of whatever you want. Dream it until you wake up in it. So that's what this song is about okay, guys.

Speaker 3: 43:32

Well, here we go. Never, never land by berkeley the artist.

Speaker 2: 43:52

I think I need time. Yeah, something's messing with my mind. So tell me your situation. Welcome to the beaches. Yes, one, two, she never, she never, she never, she never, she never, she never, she never, she never, she. She ain't my property, she don't belong to me. She never comes for free. She, she makes good company and ties my hands when she's free, when she's making love to me, and away we go away, we go away, we go to never, never never got me on break like a pyramid.

Speaker 1: 45:18

Touch me. Touch me if you're feeling it splash, splash, splash, splash like the river Nile back, beat keysh up a little. Wild eyes blaze like a look out of flight, red lips, hair looks you fine.

Speaker 2: 45:28

Inhale, exhale right knee what's wrong?

Speaker 1: 45:30

Don't touch my hair.

Speaker 2: 45:31

She, baby, she ain't a mystery. She makes me repay something For her femininity. She, yeah, she sees the king in me, she loves my royalty. But she's the epitome. And the way we go, the way we go, the way we go To never, never end the way we go, the way we go, the way we go, way we go, way we go, afraid, it's never for me. I'm talking to you, I'm talking to you. Yeah, you with the hoops and the afro puffs. Yeah, you with the yuki and the afro puffs. Yeah, you with the yuki and the store-bought school Afro puffs, afro puffs. I know you wanna see me from the star-wrapped sky Afro puffs, afro puffs. I know you wanna see me from the star-wrapped sky. Choo choo say choo choo. Hey, choo choo, I know you are Choo choo. Bubbles and pants, choo choo. I know you are Almost in Paris. Academy. Pass, she's luxury, take it from me. 24 count.

Speaker 1: 46:58

She wraps in the palace.

Speaker 2: 47:00

Away, we go Away, we go Away, we go, never, never Away, we go Away, we go Away, we go. My friend, it's never, never. I pray this never ends. I pray this never ends.

Speaker 3: 47:20

I pray this never ends. I pray this never ends. I pray this never ends for me. Wow, that was amazing. Well, there you guys go Never, never Lands by Berklee the Artist. Now, before we wrap this up, I'd like to play a little game.

Speaker 2: 47:41

All right.

Speaker 3: 47:42

It's called Roll With it or Bounce, and basically it's a dating game. I'm going to ask you a question and you're going to let me know if you would roll with it or you would bounce All right, I'm with it. They like to party a lot.

Speaker 1: 47:56

I could roll with it.

Speaker 3: 47:57

You could roll with it. I guess you got to do either or. But I'm made, You're made. I need you to curb your enthusiasm sometimes. For real, for real. Okay, they're a hustler, but don't have a job. Oh no, you bouncing Out of here. Out of here Jobs in 2024.

Speaker 1: 48:17

I don't even deal with hustle mentality Right Out of here.

Speaker 3: 48:20

Out of here. Okay, they cheat on you by watching TV shows or movies without you.

Speaker 1: 48:26

That's so. I'm not petty at all Please watch your shows, because I'm not going to be here.

Speaker 3: 48:34

They talk about the shows that y'all started watching together.

Speaker 1: 48:36

I ain't petty like that, so you roll with it, we roll with it. Okay, just don't tell me the ending.

Speaker 3: 48:41

They dislike some of your friends.

Speaker 1: 48:49

It depends. It depends on their reasoning. It depends on their reasoning, it depends on their reasoning.

Speaker 3: 48:54

So you're like in the middle, you don't know, you can't.

Speaker 1: 48:56

Yeah, I mean you don't have to like my friends to like me. Right, respect them, you know. Like them, that's different.

Speaker 3: 49:04

They're brutally honest.

Speaker 1: 49:07

I have a problem with that whole idea of brutally honest. So you balancing, I don't know, because honest means what I don't know. Honest means it's honest, it's the truth.

Speaker 3: 49:21

But I think brutally honest means like you know, like I guess maybe it's the approach.

Speaker 1: 49:27

But that's not honest.

Speaker 3: 49:28

Right.

Speaker 1: 49:29

Yeah, I always had a problem with that word, that term.

Speaker 3: 49:33

They get jealous easily.

Speaker 1: 49:34

Oh, you got to go.

Speaker 3: 49:36

Bye, sucker. I'm out of here Because you know why you got to go. I'm going to tell you why you got to go. You can't want me because you see that I'm a 10 and then try to make me a 5 once you get me Now see it is.

Speaker 1: 49:45

I see that you wear really inward it is.

Speaker 3: 49:49

Because what you're not going to do is kind of dim my light, okay, Because I'm going to shine and I shine bright.

Speaker 1: 49:54

Let her shine like a diamond, let me shine All right.

Speaker 3: 49:56

Well, I just want to say thank you very much. That's the end of our game. Thank you for having me, Berkeley. You're welcome and I'm so glad that you.

Speaker 1: 50:05

I am everywhere. Berkeleytheartist at gmailcom. You could even call me 404-583-8323. You could reach me on Instagram and you will be seeing me very soon in some other mediums. I can't really say right now, but you will be seeing me very soon, thankfully to this wonderful position I have with Simon Fuller at the Academy of Pop. So be on the lookout. Some new stuff is happening and I perform around town pretty often.

Speaker 3: 50:38

Okay, well, there you have it, guys. Thank y'all so much for tuning in. If you have any questions, for that's it, that's All, or Berklee the Artist, don't be afraid to hesitate to talk to us. He done. Gave y'all his phone number. So there's no way that if you have any questions or anything you want to reach out, reach out for lessons, shows, anything you need to reach out for him. He's there and we will also have his information posted under our YouTube. All the things so like subscribe, share and that's it, that's all that's it.

Speaker 3: 51:13

That's all is written by me, kacey Carnage, and produced by myself and Rick Barrio-Dill. Associate producer Brie Corey. Assistant producer Larissa Donahoe. Audio and video engineering and studio facilities provided by Slap Studios LA with distribution through our collective for social progress and cultural by Slap Studios LA, with distribution through our collective for social progress and cultural expression, slap the Network. If you have any ideas for a show you want to hear or see, please email us at info at slapthepowercom and, as always, go to dazitdassallcom and sign up there to make sure you will never miss a thing. See you next show.