Dannis Winston, Putting the Art in Artisty with His Debut EP “Master Class”
Artistry is something that seems to get lost in mainstream music these days. We live in the age where anyone with a Soundcloud can consider themselves an “artist” but what happened to artists writing songs, playing instruments and killing live performances. These are the things that Dannis Winston, international bandleader and singer/songwriter brings to the table. I recently had the pleasure of attending his listening party at Harlem’s historic Minton’s Playhouse. And when I say it was pleasure, I mean it. His debut EP Master Class (which is set to release in mid-October but you can check out a sneak peek of it HERE) isn’t like anything you hear on the radio right now. It’s original and melodic with a couple upbeat tracks that make you want to hit the dance floor. After his stellar live performance of his EP (and a few of my favorite covers including Prince’s “How Come You Don’t Call Me”) we sat down to discuss music, his latest project and the Black Lives Matter movement. Check out the interview below.
The Cool.: How long have you been doing music?
Dannis: I’ve been doing music as long as I could remember. Maybe since I was 5 yrs old.
The Cool.: How many instruments do you play?
Dannis: I play the guitar, piano, drums, harmonica, percussion, and bass. I’m just one of those guys who picks up an instrument and learns it. I’m sure 2 years from now I’ll have a few more on that list. I’m that curious and in love with music.
The Cool.: You also do some philanthropic work. Tell me more about that.
Dannis: I recently worked with Boys and Girls Harbor. I taught a master class for them that included instruments and vocals components. I helped get them ready for Berkeley College’s Music Summit. They were doing Otis Redding’s “Try A Little Tenderness” and they KILLED it! I also work with Harlem School of the Arts from time to time.
The Cool.: Is this your first solo project?
Dannis: No I released a single called “Let Me Go” in January that got some pretty good press coverage. It was in the Huffington Post and few other outlets. But this is my first release of 5 original songs. So today’s kind of a coming out party.
The Cool.: With this EP coming out this week, where are you looking to go from here?
Dannis: What’s next is the radio promo tour. Next year I want to work on my full length album. But the real purpose behind what I’m doing is to be a different artist than what’s out there especially for young men that look like me. There’s a reason why I carry myself a certain way, why I dress a certain way. I want them to believe that they can take their surrounds and invest in themselves to make something greater. I came from a foster home and I’ve built a business basically out of nothing just by using my talents and I think we all can do that. But it takes someone being out there like “look here I am. I’m doing it and you can do it too.” Someone that isn’t dealing drugs, not knocking the hustle, but there’s a different way.
The Cool.: Yea, there’s different hustles..
Dannis: Yes and my hustle was entrepreneurship. And that is definitely a hustle!
The Cool.: The lead single off your EP is 4BlackMen. What prompted you to write that song and how do you feel about the Black Lives Matter movement?
Dannis: I’m very into the Black Lives Matter movement because it’s important, period. I dedicated a verse in that song to young black men because it’s written from the perspective of a being young black man. Every character in that song is a different age. One’s a homeless guy, one’s a Wall Street guy, one’s a guy apart of the LGBT community and I have a young guy that says “my eyes are young, you can’t tell me what I’ve seen. Even my dad can’t protect me because the water isn’t clean.” And that’s a direct reference to the Flint Water Crisis. It’s like even his father can’t protect him. He has no one to rely on and I had to write that because it’s so true.
Be sure to check out his single “4BlackMen” as well as a preview of Mater Class EP HERE And keep up with all Dannis Winston is doing on IG: @DannisWinston and Twitter: @DannisWinston.
Here are some pictures from Dannis’ Mater Class EP Listening Party at Minton’s Playhouse.
