Exposed Vocals Interviews Destanie Barz

Destanie Barz grew up on the outskirts of Chicago in Calumet City, IL. This city, despite its suburban location is in a state of inner city mindstate, like most suburbs of Chicago such as Harvey and Calumet Park. One of eight children, Destanie grew in sports and scholastic activities as well as competed in Talent shows around the city. At an early age, She showed interest in word usage and rhymes, showed by her exploration of Slam Poetry because of its level of energy and acceptance of emotional display. By 2005, her High School Poetry Slam Team beat the Chicago competition for three years running and were on their way to New York to Compete for national recognition. Although Chicago did not win the competition, Destanie was awarded time on the famous Apollo stage with the famous Mos Def in the crowd. This was the Performance that changed her view and made her want to be a professional performer for the rest of her life. The jam packed theatre, the welcoming and eager ear as well as the open heart of the crowd set her mission in Stone!

In 2007, Destanie graduated from Thornton Fractional North High School, despite doubts of family members and some friends and despite the life changing news that she was to birth a child and have her dreams put aside for her own child’s future. After birthing a son, however, the yearn to be able to provide for her son by doing what she loved took over. She left to Attend Southern Illinois University-Carbondale where she went to be the first woman in the African American “Miss Eboness” Pageant to ever use a poetry/hip hop base as her talent. She was named Ms. Nefertiti (first runner up) and at the end of the year left the school of Mass Communication to further her race for her dream. She had another son, and began to record YouTube videos in search of a fan base.

In 2011, Destanie dropped a city limit mixtape that ultimately grew her crown and raised her to the top place on the reverbnation charts of Mason City, Iowa. She also grabbed a top ten spot on both the Chicago and twin cities reverbnation Charts. Since then, Destanie has worked on music production avenues, and becoming an independent artist on her own. She has been featured as a guest on 89.5 The Wave hosted by DJ Whobeta in the St. Louis area. She has opened for Wiz Khalifa’s artist, Chevy Woods, Dorrough, and even “Dezzie Bombed” the platinum single “Ain’t I”‘s artist, Yung LA, winning her crowd control in St. Louis, MO and gaining fans both in the US and overseas.

Currently, Destanie is working on her first country wide attempt at dropping a mixtape, “The Resume”. While she has moved her sound to Omaha, NE she plans to reach hundreds of thousands of fans and tour with this project. This highly anticipated mixtape with its rough sound and hood testimonials will give insight to being a female threat to a male dominated musical society, as well as show that you cannot judge a book by its cover no matter how small a stature or how feminine an appearances…

Influences: Lauryn Hill, Missy Elliot mos def, tupac, biggie, Lil Kim, The Temptations, Nas, Kanye West, Jay Z, Wiz Khalifa, Busta Rhymes, Twista, RKelly

So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?

 

I’m one of 8 children of a single mother who grew up in a two bedroom apartment, and an unfortunate parent of two boys who I can literally say saved my life. I’m from Calumet City, IL… almost a suburb that was not really a suburb. I had my children young (18/20) but I moved them out of Chicagoland the first chance I got! Now I have lived in 5 small cities in the last decade. Still doing better than I would at home. I graduated for T.F. North High School and was a spoken word artist for most of my high school stint. I transformed my writing abilities to songwriting and still do both.  

 

How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?

 

Destanie Barz comes from the belief in fate and my talent. I was made to do what I do, on whatever scale I do it on. People hear songs and say, “You have Barz”.. then they hear a freestyle and realize that I really do music!

 

What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?

 

I think it was inevitable. Music is therapy. Who am I to tell someone that if they are starving like I am, they don’t deserve to relate to my music or to have it on hand at my expense? I’ve been there. I know it balances out. I have given away free music in circumstantial situations; again, I’ve been there. There is always someone willing to even the score by paying more than your asking price.

 

Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?

 

Get to know your area and brand yourself to attract loyalty. Test your fanbase… When someone says they believe in you, make them prove it! I am still new to booking shows, but making connections with honest and supportive people and reflecting those characteristics can go a long way.

 

Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?

If ever I make mistakes during performances, I step it up a notch. I have a half second rebound time and then I slam dunk it to redeem myself.

 

Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?

 

I have not toured, but I plan to in the near future. When I opened for Chevy Woods in St. Louis, I actually met him in our hotel parking lot before the show. It was amazing, and he was inviting and humble. That just proves the phrase, “Stay Ready”.

 

Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?

 

Everyday life helps me to write songs. Pain more than pleasure and failure more than triumph. I guess you really do learn more from your mistakes since you don’t have to learn what you excel in… I listen to the music of life… emotion… passion… lust… humor, ego, DRAMA!… temptation. I spend half hour to an hour on a song… usually split into two sessions, and I work on more than one song in a session.

 

Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?

 

I am getting my website done currently. At the moment, I find Soundcloud, Reverbnation, and Spotify to be effective when you are an independent artist. However, now that I am releasing music… Tidal, iTunes and platforms like Pandora and iHeartRadio are sites that I am exploring. I am gaining weight on some blogs and hopefully magazines and radio will follow.

 

What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?

 

I have “Be Your Man” by Josh Turner, the whole Alina Baraz & Galimatias album, and Mike Postner “I Took A Pill in Ibiza”. I don’t find anything I listen to embarrassing but other people’s reactions are definitely a revelation of them being uncomfortable!

 

If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?

 

I would put half of it up, and decline the year off! I would hire professionals to teach me how to manage and grow that big break! No DAYS OFF and move my family out of Chicagoland. I would also set aside money for all 8 of my siblings’ next generation because its something that we never had! I wouldn’t know how to spend the rest but there will be investments involved.

 

Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?

 

At the moment, I work with an Apogee interface, Protools 12 and a couple of Rokit Speakers… brought together by the Genesis II microphone. No upgrage except sound reduction equipment.

 

How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?

 

Person to person interaction is the best way to promote yourself, I feel. Traveling and having positive vibes toward people and being humble pays off. Other than that, making sure you don’t have dead weight (i.e. people who don’t support you on any social media platform or in any way) is always a good point to press. Staying relevant and doing things that wow my crowd works the best for me.

 

If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?

 

I would work with the GOAT Tupac, because he KNOWS! Lol

I would work with Nicki Minaj and K Michelle because I love their crafts (and I could accidentally bump into their butts on purpose) Snoop, Wiz, Kid Ink, Dej Loaf, 50 Cent and Jhene Aiko because I love all of their music.

 

So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?

 

Next, I will be dropping a series of videos and working on my next mixtape. Its tough to say exactly what and when because the details are still being formed, but be excited and if you’re hating, be very afraid!

 

If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?

 

If I wasn’t making music, I fear that I would be in the managing business, managing artists. A lot of artists don’t realize the business behind being an artist and there are lots of snakes trying to take advantage of it. I would find a talent I truly believe in and push them like I have always wanted to be pushed!

Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?

 

The first album I bought was Monica “Miss Thang”. I felt broke because we didn’t get allowance and I had to save up for days to make it happen, but I felt accomplished. I was thinking about vibing to music that I really connected with!

 

How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?

It is tough to be a parent full time, a student full time, work full time and still trying to do music takes its toll on you mentally. But, when I look around.. I can say that my head is above water and that music links it all together for me. It is great having sanity literally just a pair of headphones, a pen and a notepad away from you at all times.

 

What should fans look forward to in 2016?

Fans should look forward to the release of videos from my project : The Resume and sneak peaks for the year of 2017. I’ll be growing my fanbase for the rest of the year and then…..