INTERVIEW: Dominique — Music Musings & Such

INTERVIEW:

Dominique

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THE incredible and impassioned Dominique…

has been telling me about her new single, Receipts. I ask what the single’s story is and whether more material will come; what the music scene and vibe is like in New York; whether, as a female producer, she feels the industry needs to give more props to her peers – Dominique discusses her influences and musical tastes.

I was keen to know which new artists she recommends and which albums she holds dearest; if she gets time to unwind away from music; if there are any tour dates coming up – she ends the interview with a great song choice!

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Hi, Dominique. How are you? How has your week been?

I'm doing great! Super-excited to have put out a new track last week and I'm so happy that people are enjoying it.

For those new to your music; can you introduce yourself, please?

I'm a singer, songwriter and producer based in N.Y.C. I've been releasing music for the past few years and have my second E.P. on the way.

Receipts is your track. Can you discuss its story and how it came together?

Receipts was inspired by someone screwing me over again and again and always begging for another chance until I couldn't take it anymore. In this case, the 'receipts' are the evidence I needed to prove that I couldn’t trust this person.

Is there going to be more material coming later this year? What are you working on right now?

Yes! There'll be another single and most likely some remixes and feature tracks. I'm trying to make each release as special as possible with each one having its own set of visuals.

I believe you have been writing with two N.Y.C. contemporaries MDA and EJAE. Has that led to possible material?

Yes. I love these girls and writing with them is a blast. We'll definitely have more music we've written together on the way.

How important are New York and its diversity regarding your creative spirit and artists around you? Do you find it a great place to write music in?

N.Y.C. has a very tight-knit writing community that I'd only recently started to get involved in within the past year. Many artists and writers have relocated to L.A., but there's still a bunch of us holding down the fort. I wouldn't want to be based anywhere else.

Music came into your life very early. Have you been writing since you were a child? What got you into music so young?!

I have! My dad is a musician and a professional bass player and he fostered my love of music. I began writing really goofy short songs at the age of seven and I'd sing them all the time and annoy the hell out of everyone. Around age fifteen, I took songwriting more seriously and started making full tracks and producing demos on GarageBand.

Who are the artists that inspire you and led you to get into songwriting?

Most recently, the artists have been Charli XCX, Allie X and Tove Styrke. When I was a kid, I listened to a lot of Queen and whatever other '60s and '70s music my dad had playing in the house all the time.

You are a successful and prolific producer. Do you think it is important the music industry takes more notice of female producers? Do you, in turn, reach out to aspiring female talent and guide them?

Thank you! Yes - and I think the recent activism has helped a bit but there's still a ways to go. I love to help guide aspiring artists and if anyone ever wants to reach out to me for help, I'd be more than happy to. Any time I work with a woman who has an interest in learning how to produce, I really enjoy teaching them how to work with Ableton, etc.

What do you hope to achieve by the end of 2018?

I REALLY want to start playing out live and I'd also love to release a music video.

Have you got a favourite memory from your time in music – the one that sticks in the mind?

Honestly, I think these past six months have been my favorite because I just started collaborating with other artists and writers instead of working by myself all the time. Music is so much more fun to make when you do it with other people.

Which three albums mean the most to you would you say (and why)?

Miike Snow – Miike Snow

I really vibe with the production and feel from this album and am always revisiting it. It's been one of my favorites for the past eight years - and I don't think that'll ever change.

Melodrama – Lorde

This is such a well-done and emotional album. Lorde's a genius and really knows to make the listener feel something.

OutKast –The Love Below/Speakerboxxx

This was the first album I ever bought and I have probably listened to it over a thousand times. It, hands-down, had a huge influence on my writing and production style.

If you could support any musician alive today, and choose your own rider, what would that entail?

I would die to support Charli XCX - and I'd probably be so happy to be there that I wouldn't even fill out a rider.

Can we see you on tour soon? What dates are coming up?

Unfortunately, no dates right now - but I PROMISE it's coming soon.

What advice would you give to new artists coming through?

Spend a lot of time refining your writing and thinking about the artist you want to be. Look at the artists you love and figure out why you love them so much and learn from it. Listen to a ton of new music!