Among Nashville’s new leading artists giving the Music City its urban appeal, 24-year-old singer/songwriter Darnell Levine has taken the urban genre and destroyed it. A strong blend of melody-driven jazz, rhythm & blues, and vocal stunts combined with dynamic live performances, has quickly given Levine a reputation as one of the next musical gifts Nashville has to offer.
“Honestly I just do on stage what others do in their mirrors right before they get into the shower. I just feel like I have nothing to lose so I do it on stage,” says Levine of his energetic live performances.
With a fresh sound void of the today’s recycled trends Levine takes pride in writing and producing a majority of the album over a two-year period while finishing college.
“Some call it soul, some call it jazz, some call it inspirational, but it’s just good music. I just write songs that I’d want to hear at least once a day.” says Levine, who wants his audience to enjoy the music, not just listen to it.
Opening for artists such as multiple Grammy award-winner John Legend and blues legend Bobby Blue Bland, Levine is featured locally as one of Nashville’s most promising new faces of urban music. Levine gained his word-of-mouth following with the success of his first EP, Vocal Sessions, which earned him praise from Dove Award trumpeter Rod McGaha to jazz vocalist Kevin Whalum to legendary a capella group Take 6.
“[Darnell is] an artist with a refreshing sound, who’s not afraid to take creative chances,” - Cedric Dent, Grammy Award-winning member of Take 6
A Louisville, KY native, he’s playlisted among today’s singer/songwriters Jamie Cullum, PJ Morton, Jill Scott and even jazz icon Al Jarraeu. “It‘s easy to hear my influences in my style of singing and writing, but most folks who have heard me say it’s hard to really compare me to them. I have my own style, it’s not a recycled sound.” says Levine.
That music is fully captured on his debut album We Gon’ Use What We Got, with 15 tracks that fulfill the demand for something fresh. Songs like “Nothin’ Like Friends” and “Kiss Yourself For Me” showcase Levine’s quest to balance sensitivity and humor without error, bringing music back to its main venue: the soul.
|
|
Contact Artist
Add to Profile
Add to station