ONE OF THE MOST DISTINCTIVE VOICES IN JAZZ BELONGS TO DOUYE’, BORN IN NIGERIA, AND CURRENTLY LIVING IN LOS ANGELES.
HER JOURNEY INTO THE WORLD OF JAZZ IS A UNIQUE ONE. GROWING UP WITH A DESIRE TO BE AN R&B SINGER, SHE CHANGED COURSES DUE TO HER HONORING HER FATHER’S DYING REQUEST TO BECOME A JAZZ SINGER.
SHE’S HONORED THAT PROMISE, FIRST RELEASING AN ALBUM OF STRAIGHT-AHEAD MUSIC WITH THE LIKES OF RON CARTER AND KENNY BARRON. LATER ON, SHE DECIDED TO VENTURE INTO THE WORLD OF BRAZILIAN MUSIC, AND MOST RECENTLY, HER ALBUM THE GOLDEN SEKERE HAS HER MELDING THE WORLD OF JAZZ WITH SOUNDS FROM HER NATIVE LAND.
WE HAD A CHANCE TO TALKE TO DOUYE ABOUT HER MUSICAL AND PERSONAL GROWTH AS A PERSON AND ARTIST. LIKE THE LAND OF HER YOUTH, THE INTERVIEW WAS ENCHANTING
HOW LONG DID YOU LIVE IN NIGERIA?
I would go in and out; my family would go vacationing from Europe.
When I graduated from High School in Nigeria, I decided to go to England, and I stayed there for a few years. Then I decided that I wanted to be in America for the music.
That’s when I moved out here (now in Marina Del Rey) in my early 20s.
I decided to go to a school in Hollywood called Musician Institute to study voice. Ever since then I’ve been doing music.
I had a few teachers that took an interest in me. One of them was the one that introduced me to Terry Shaddock. He wrote the song “Physical” for Olivia Newton-John. He took an interest in me, and he worked with me to help me find my sound.
I look at him as my musical father, because he really supported me in my early years when I was trying to find “Douye’ musically”.
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“He said, “Douye’, just be yourself; you’re already doing that. Your sound will come from being in tune with who you are.””
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YOU ARE ONE OF THE FEW VOCALISTS THAT HAVE A PERSONAL VOICE. WHAT DID HE DO TO HELP YOU ACHIEVE THAT QUALITY?
He said, “Douye’, just be yourself; you’re already doing that. Your sound will come from being in tune with who you are.”
You can look at everybody else, because you have to. However, you want to know who you are to be able to sound uniquely compared to others. He said that I had that already, so I should just “stay in my lane”. (laughs)
I’ve always stayed in my own lane for all of my work ever since. That is how I remain distinct.
IT IS INTERESTING THAT YOUR DAD INSPIRED YOU TO SWITCH FROM R&B TO JAZZ. WAS THAT A BIG CHANGE?
Oh yea! I didn’t know if the jazz world would like my sound. I was very particular about that.
I didn’t know if they would shun me; there were so many “I don’t knows”, but eventually I decided to do it.
I had to, because my dad’s spirit kept coming to me “You have to do it; you promised me you were going to do it.”
So, I figured that jazz was what I was supposed to be doing, and I’ve stayed with it since
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“You can look at everybody else, because you have to. However, you want to know who you are to be able to sound uniquely compared to others. He said that I had that already, so I should just “stay in my lane”.”
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WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST HURDLE TO OVERCOME IN THE SWITCH?
The only thing that I was concerned about was if they’d accept me, especially coming from R&B
Sometimes the “jazz world” is funny and very particular. It’s like “you think you can do jazz?”
And I knew I could do jazz. But I was hoping they wouldn’t think that I was just doing it because it was something to do.
No, I did it because that is where my sound is.
YOU GREW UP IN THE CHURCH. WHAT DID YOU LEARN BOTH MUSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY?
In Nigeria we are so much into religion; we go to church.
I went into choir just to understand how I can sing with others and still respect both the sound of others and my own.
I was a kid, just trying to understand what it takes to sing. So I joined the choir, because in the choir you sing as a group. I wanted to understand what it takes to do music with others.
My godmother was the musical director in the church. She told me “you have a beautiful sound; I don’t know where life is taking you, but this is beautiful”. With that, I stayed in church as it was very encouraging.
I still go to church every now and then
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“Sometimes the “jazz world” is funny and very particular. It’s like “you think you can do jazz?””
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ONCE YOU ENTERED THE JAZZ WORLD, WAS THERE SOMEONE SPECIAL WHO’S NFLUENCED YOU? YOUR ALBUMS HAVE BEEN STRAIGHTAHEAD, BRAZILIIAN AND THE LAST A MORE “AFRICAN” FLAVOR.
Four people: Frank Sinatra, Ella, Sarah, and Billie Holiday
I pick Sinatra because of his presentation. I like his confidence, his sound. I like the fact that he had a crossover sound in the jazz world.
His presentation was right on top. I sometimes see some musicians in the jazz world today, and the seem kind of slack. They do good music, but it’s a package. I saw that package in Sinatra.
For Ella, it’s definitely the sound, phrasing, timing and the fact that she was very in tune with herself. She knew what a sound is, and she stayed in her lane.
Sarah also had sound, time and phrasing, and she had her own presence
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“I pick Sinatra because of his presentation. I like his confidence, his sound. I like the fact that he had a crossover sound in the jazz world.”
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YOUR FIRST ALBUM HAS HEAVYWEIGHTS LIKE RON CARTER, JON CLAYTON OR KENNY BARRON? HOW DID YOU GET THEM ON YOUR ALBUM?
When my dad was alive, everyone in Miles Davis’ band, like Ron Carter, was his favorite. He also liked Kenny Barron.
My dad told me “I pray you make it in the jazz world. When you become a woman; if these guys are still around, do music with them.”
So I did some demos, and sent it to them, saying “I’m trying to do a jazz album, and would like to have you work with me”. I told them my dad’s story, and they listened to my demo. They all reached out and said they’d do it. They liked my sound.
They’ve continued to watch what I’m doing
THAT GETS BACK TO YOUR IDEA OF PRESENTATION
Yes.
They didn’t know me, but Kenny Barron said “Your sound was so distinct, rich and beautiful, ”. That was just from a demo of piano and voice, I wanted them to see what I was bringing. I think they took that and appreciated it.
WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO NEXT DO A BRAZILIAN ALBUM WITH A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SET OF MUSICANS?
I was just expanding my repertoire! (laughs) I wanted to say “I can also do this!”
Most jazz singers stay in one lane, like straight-ahead, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
I feel that in this day and age it’s good to be versatile. I’m still in the same arena, but I want to also show that I can do this , or that too.
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“I don’t get intimidated because I know myself”
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WAS THAT THE SAME ATTITUDE WITH YOUR MOST RECENT ALBUM, THAT MIXES JAZZ WITH AFRICAN COLORS?
You might be surprised to know that I was actually first trying to do another straight-ahead album.
But then I remembered what my dad told me “at some point, you’re going to want to do an album that represents where you are from. Something that will have a blend between the western world of jazz and the Nigerian world.”
When I was thinking of an idea for this album, I was thinking straight-ahead until the songs kept coming to me. I then thought “maybe this is the time that I can do that album that my dad talked about”.
I was very afraid to delve into it, because to bring these two worlds together, it was going to take some clever thinking 1603, so I stepped back and thought about it carefully.
I knew of the songs on this new album, but I hadn’t performed them before, except for “The Very Thought Of You”. For everything else, I only knew of other people doing them.
Then, I just started thinking of the ideas of each song, and they kept coming to me. I didn’t think I could do “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”, but the ideas just kept coming and coming.
That’s when I decided to go see Frank Sinatra. I felt that I needed his blessing to do this song, so I went to his resting place.
HOW DOES A CONTEMPORARY SINGER NOT GET INTIMIDATED BY ALL OF THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUNG THESE SONG BEFORE?
I don’t get intimidated because I know myself.
I never look at others and say, “Oh, I want to be like them”.
I see them, and I appreciate them for whatever they are doing, but I stay in my lane. I’m faithful to how Douye’ will do it.
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“I stay in my lane. I’m faithful to how Douye’ will do it”
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THEREFORE, WHAT IS THE NEXT MUSICAL WORLD YOU WANT TO CONQUER?
I don’t know; I’m still mesmorized by this new album. I’m very proud of it. I put a lot of work into it and was hoping to capture what I had in mind.
I’m so grateful that the world has appreciated it.
Whatever the next project is, it is going to be jazz. Maybe a blue jazz album, I don’t know, but it will be in the arena of jazz.
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“I remembered what my dad told me “at some point, you’re going to want to do an album that represents where you are from. Something that will have a blend between the western world of jazz and the Nigerian world.”
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WHAT MUSICIAN, LIVING OR DEAD, WOULD YOU PAY $1000 TO SEE PERFORM?
Miles Davis. He was special with his sound and his work.
***Frank Sinatra, Ella, Sarah, those are the people I really love. They are still my teachers forever
WHAT BOOKS HAVE YOU READ THAT HAVE INFLUENCED YOU?
To Kill A Mockingbird . I think that’s my favorite book
WHAT GIVES YOU THE MOST JOY?
Quietness
I love to travel, and to cook.
I collect art, especially primitive art.
I love going to museums. This is what makes me happy.
For the most part, I just love quiet. Listening to some jazz and of course classical music.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE TYPE OF PRIMITIVE ART AND OF CLASSICAL MJSIC?
West African primitive art. Beethoven.
WHAT FUTURE GOALS DO YOU HAVE?
To continue to do music.
I have some ambitious plans. I’d like to establish an organization that will help support musicians and artists mentally. Something whereby they can come in mental health services. I’m working on something for the future for this.
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“Sinatra, Ella, Sarah, those are the people I really love. They are still my teachers forever”
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WHY DOES THIS ISSUE AFFECT YOU?
I’m interested in this because during the peak time of COVID I think that a lot of musicians suffered mentally.
I know the jazz world. We try to make music; we go out there, but we don’t make money. It’s mostly going from one gig to the next just to survive.
So, when COVID came about, people just didn’t have any money, and I think that it brewed out all of the mental issues that people were going through in the first place. Things that they may not have paid attention to; they were just functioning.
When COVID hit, people didn’t have medical insurance and all that. It takes a lot to be a musician and musicians didn’t have that insurance, as they don’t make a lot of money.
So, I’d like to develop a non-profit organization where musicians, and artists in general can come in and in and receive mental health services, whether they have health insurance or not. I’m thinking about doing something about that.
WHO INSPIRED YOU TO DO THS?
My dad, again. He was a military personnel. He used to do something that was very touching.
Every holiday season he would ask his junior officers to go out and gather the homeless people and the widows. He would give them money, and would hire people to cook and he would feed them. He was just doing it for doing. We’re talking about hundreds of people.
He was trying to do something. He was someone of service, someone with a big heart.
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“I know the jazz world. We try to make music; we go out there, but we don’t make money. It’s mostly going from one gig to the next just to survive”
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IT’S SO IMPORTANT THAT YOU HAD AN INSPIRING FATHER. THAT IS SOMETHING MISSING THESE DAYS IN AMERICA
My dad was a beautiful person. He gave me a great insight of character, of how to live.
That just built up a confidence in me
WHEN ARE YOU TOURING WITH THIS ALBUM?
Hopefully at the end of this month. I’m finishing up a dissertation, and after that hopefully I’ll be free
IN THIS PRESENT DAY ENVIRONMENT OF EVERY VOCALIST SOUNDING LIKE THE NEXT ONE, DOUYE’ HAS BECOME A REFRESHING AND UNIQUE BREATH OF AIR. MAYBE IT’S BECAUSE THE COMMANDMENT “HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER” COMES WITH THE PROMISE OF A BLESSED LIFE. HOW MANY OF US SING SONGS OF OUR FATHER?