Interview with D. Allie

JazzandSoul : Tell us D, how were the reactions on your album The Cooperative?

D. Allie : I feel the reactions have been really fantastic thus far. People have been giving me a lot of positive feedback, and some of the letters i have recieved have really kept me going through the hard times that i'm sure all of us starving artists go through. The energy at the shows has been quite exceptional as well and it's a beautiful thing when fans can take you home with them in the form of a cd.

JazzandSoul : How about the visibility and the buzz around it? Was it satisfying or did you, as a lot of your fellow independent artists, experience the difficulties in getting exposure from certain sources?

D. Allie : As the reactions have been good, i have been feeling a real difficulty in getting in front of enough people to even have the chance at a positive or negative reaction. I definitely feel exposure is my number on problem right now. I can accept if my product is not liked, but it's hard to take the fact that it is often not given the chance. I am that tree in the unpopulated forest trying to make as much noise as i can so others will hear me. Locally, the detroit publications showed love because they have been familiar with me for awhile but elsewhere it has been slow goings. However, there are some outlets like jazzandsoul.com, okayplayer.com, rapreviews.com, and a few others that did take the time to listen and get others to listen and that means so much because although i need it, i don't expect it. I wish i could go get a PR agent tomorrow and handle this but money is an issue so i guess that's another thing i must remain patient on.

JazzandSoul : The musicians manifesto is quite a revolutionary document. Tell us ... how did you come up with this?

D. Allie : In a lot of ways it was due to the previous question you asked me. Major labels have the luxary of letting everybody know when their artist has a release. Unfortunately, this is not a luxary I have at my disposal. I'm an artist that people have to dig for, but I do have a very big belief in people. As these conglomorates dictate trends from the top down, the musicians manifesto is a belief that we can do it from the bottom up. I've always believed in grass roots movements so I'm just trying to apply the same formula to the music game. Music is hands down one of the most powerful mediums ever seen in any society, but the medium has been abused for so long. I think if we all get together, we can make a difference and get things back to where it needs to be. There was a time when people crafted albums, and didn't focus so much on the single, or video, or overall image. Let's just let the music be the music. I may be fighting a battle already lost, but I like our chances in the end.


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