Darnell Levine
Out of Nashville, Tennessee’s flourishing soul scene comes Darnell Levine, a talented singer/songwriter who uses his voice to sing and play, or at least sound a lot like a horn. On his refreshing and original debut, "We Gon’ Use What We Got," Darnell moves from vocalist to trumpeter and offers a jazz and soul-infused CD that sounds like nothing else out there.
Darnell Levine was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. In 2001, while attending the University of Kentucky, he developed something called MIKE-check with some friends, which was an open mic event for artists and musicians, which continues to this day, although Darnell transferred to Middle Tennessee State University in 2003, where he earned a Music Business degree. That year he released an EP, called "Vocal Sessions." Currently, Darnell Levine is a big part of Nashville’s thriving soul music scene, and he released his full debut CD entitled “We Gon’ Use What We Got” last year.
Darnell’s debut CD contains common themes of relationships, personal struggles, and spirituality, and Darnell shows promise and talent as a songwriter, but the sounds are really what make the album pop. He’s often compared to artists like Bobby McFerrin because of his ability to use his voice to imitate horns and other instruments, but where Bobby’s style lies somewhere in the space between jazz and classical, Darnell’s sound leans more toward jazz and soul, and there’s a really fresh and modern feel to his music. Darnell’s own instrument, combined with a heavy dose of live instruments, make his debut CD a great listen. Highlights of the record include the head nodding, "keeping it real" title track, tender slow cuts like "Kiss Yourself for Me," and inspirational, midtempo grooves like "You Can’t Grow."
Darnell spoke recently about making his debut CD, discovering his unique voice, and shared the stories behind a few of his songs.
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