With his single, “Young Bands,” out now, we took some time to hear more from DaVinciBands. Read below to learn more about DaVinciBands, the story behind his new single, and what’s to come.
Hi DaVinciBands! Let’s start with how did you get your artist name?
So, my nickname originally was just Bands, like money, I love money, and it was always my motivator. So, I knew Bands had to be in it. And, I always felt like I went against the grain, against the norm. Most people look at themselves as rappers. I look at myself as an artist in the same way Leonardo DaVinci wasn’t just a painter – he was an artist.
What city are you from and where are you based now?
I’m from Florida. I claim all of Florida because I lived all around, but the main two places you hear me claim are Miami, which is where I was born, and Lakeland, where I grew up. I’m currently based in Charlotte, but I try to think of myself as based around the south; Charlotte, NC, Atlanta, GA, Alabama, and Florida.
At what point in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music? How did you get started?
I started pursuing music in 2020. I’ve always used music as an outlet, but it wasn’t until I was in the studio with K. Lane, one of my brothers. He convinced me to start rapping and paid for my first two hours in the stu, and I’ll forever be grateful. He helped me find my true love and passion, and I’m indebted to bro forever.
Has your upbringing played a role in shaping who you are and defining your sound today? If so, how?
My upbringing definitely plays a huge part in my music. As I stated, music is a form of expression for me, my way of therapy. I like to talk about my successes, failures, and everything in between. I’ve also always strived to be different, so my sound is very unfamiliar and unique. Also, being brought up in two different places, my dialect and sound is unlike anything heard from a Florida artist.
How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar with you?
So, trying to describe my sound has probably been the toughest task for me as I’ve been tryna find words myself to describe my sound. I’d say it’s an unheard variant of Florida/Trap Blues. You can hear in how I sound that I’m from Florida, but my sound itself isn’t a ‘Florida Sound,’ if that makes sense.
Do you have any hobbies outside of music? What do you do to stay creative?
My hobbies outside of music mainly consist of playing basketball and video games. Outside of that, the only thing I do is write or make music.
Who are some of your main musical influences?
My main influences are Young Thug, Rod Wave, and Kodak Black. I feel like those three are big examples of artists who found a lane and made their own musical path. They have their own sound that isn’t directly like someone else’s.
Who would be a dream to collaborate with?
So, I have a few dream collabs: number one being Young Thug. He’s my favorite rapper, so getting a collab with him would probably be my biggest dream come true. Second would be Kodak. He’s my second favorite rapper. And, Lil Baby being third because I feel he is the top rapper, and getting a collab with him would be both a blessing and a challenge that I’d love to look forward to.
What are some of your future music career goals?
My most immediate music career goal is to be able to be fully financially dependent on music. I want to be able to fully lock in and tighten down on my musical career. Another goal I have is to have Kodak Black on my debut album. Being from Florida, I feel like it’s a must to have Kodak on your first project. He paved the way for all Florida artists today.
Now onto your release, ‘Young Bands.’ What inspired this song?
So, when I’m looking for beats, I just sit in my car, light up a blunt, close my eyes, and let the beat speak to me. I always say it doesn’t feel like I’m writing lyrics. It feels as if I’m just translating the beat into words. When I write music, it feels like I’m bridging the language barrier between beats and lyrics, so it just flows perfectly. I never force it, and if I find myself losing my creativity, I take a break, unwind, come back when I feel rejuvenated, and boom. The birth of ‘Young Bands.’
What is ‘Young Bands’ about in your own words?
So, ‘Young Bands’ is kinda that introduction song to the new and improved. Lately, I’ve struggled mentally, and I’ve been fighting my own battles. This song introduces who I am, where I come from, and why I am the way I am. It gives people a peak into who I am, and what made me that artist I am today. The video is shot in my old hood and right in front of ‘The Circle,’ where all the kids in the hood met up to play.
What is your favorite lyric in ‘Young Bands’ and why?
My favorite part of the song is closer to the end of the second verse. To be honest, it’s hard to pick because I love my whole second verse, haha, but if I had to pick, it’d be between “Semi stickers and blickers Loco gotta Uzi, 5 keep a hammer, Poison gotta toolie Danja with a banger, Rollo gotta movie” or “And I ainn with the chitter chatter I come with the splicka splacka And I ainn with tit for tat kuz I come with the tit for tat(x4) we gone scrape em all, You take a nigga from my crew then we gone take em all” It’s hard to pick between the two because it’s the whole set up and in between that makes the second verse so great. It’s catchy, it’s energetic, and it makes you want to replay the song over and over.
What message do you hope fans take away from your music and from ‘Young Bands?’
The message that I want fans to take away from this song is that there is nothing better and easier than just being you. I’m comfortable being Bands. I don’t want to be anyone else, and I don’t want to be from anywhere else. It’s ok to be you, and it’s ok to be proud to be you.
What’s one of your proudest moments of your music career so far?
I want to say my proudest moment of my career so far was getting posted on SayCheeseTV. It got me a lot of followers and new fans, a lot of engagement, and I know the next time that I get posted on SayCheese, the majority won’t have a choice, but to tune in to the DaVinciBands Show.
What would you say are the greatest lessons you’ve learned so far?
My greatest lesson that I’ve learned is to keep going no matter how little views or engagements I get. I suffer with depression, and I’ve always been vocal about that. I have to keep the mental strength to keep striving for greatness, and I always keep in the back of my mind that it’s not about how many little fans I have. But, it’s about pleasing the fans that I do have and watching them grow. Optimism is key.
What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects, or do you have any upcoming shows that we should be on the lookout for?
‘Young Bands’ is a single from my upcoming project, ‘DaVinciBlues.’ It’s a tape that I’m dropping this year, and it’s my redemption tape in a sense. I dropped one single last year because I allowed my mental illness to get the best of me, and I promised myself that once I start again that I’m not stopping anymore. It’s more than just a tape for me, it’s my battle against inconsistency and depression, and it’s one that I know I can win.
Where can we follow you on social media?
My social media handle on all social networks is @Bandsfrmthel, and a link to all of my pages is below:
