Being Present in the Process
Amanda Davis candidly shares about difficult decisions, sacrifices and personal growth in her career as a music artist.
By Kendolyn Walker
Last year, from IG Live comedians to virtual concerts, creatives kept me fully entertained. I remember putting online events in my calendar to make sure I was tuned into whatever platform was hosting. Ups and downs, 2020 was quite the year for the creative community. It was no different for singer/songwriter Amanda Davis. Let’s go back a bit. I was introduced to Amanda by a mutual sis, for the City Love NYC artist showcase that took place in Manhattan once a month. When I sat down with her at The Langston Hughes House in Harlem, in February of 2018, she started to tell me her story.
In her final year of college, Amanda had her sights set on staying in Philadelphia with her family and friends to begin her music career. On the night of her graduation party, her mother’s good friend pulled her to the side and said “You need to go. You need to go to New York.” Without question, Amanda heeded the counsel and moved. Her apartment, a job, and friendships all fell into place.
After taking a few years to working in the fashion industry and get settled in a new city, Amanda has just recently started taking time to start singing and songwriting. Her friends and family have supported her every step of the way. Amanda credits her parents and mentors with helping her to make hard decisions about her career so far. She adamantly believes that when it is time, the right doors will open. It was in this first conversation that she coined her songs as “life music.”
I hope you enjoy the full conversation in the audio clip below.
“This really takes sacrifice… You have to give the art the time that it needs. It almost demands it”.
In our most recent conversation, over Zoom, Amanda shared more about her music career and her transparency really moved me. She spoke of the sacrifices she made last year to check her motivation for singing, participating in two writing camps, one of which was hosted by Maverick City Music, being present in the process, and how collaborating with other creatives deepened her creative horizons.
*Amanda will be a featured artist at City Love NYC on November 4 at Shrine in Harlem.
“I’m learning to sit in that space of … ‘Amanda don’t think about results, but do be disciplined and take the time to cultivate something that you feel like - I’ve given my best”.
Kendolyn Walker is a creative based in Harlem who serves as producer and founder of The City Love Collective: City Love on the Radio, City Love NYC and the City Love Picnic.
Franchesca Dunmeyer: Desires of My Heart
by Felisha Ellison
Franchesca Dunmeyer is a radical, free worshipper out of Raleigh, North Carolina who has a refreshing new sound and spin on Gospel & Christian music. A singer, songwriter, and musician, Franchesca was first introduced to music in church but began her own journey with Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior in 2016.
Recently, I had the chance to ask Franchesca about her musical journey, her creative process, and her new album. Here’s what she had to say.
Felisha Ellison: Hi Franchesca, Thank you for taking the time to share your musical journey and the story behind your new album, Desires of My Heart. We are excited to share your story with our readers.
Now, tell us, what is the inspiration behind the Desires of My Heart album?
Franchesca Dunmeyer: Desires of My Heart was inspired by a word spoken by God. He clearly told me, “Don’t die with these songs inside of you.” After that moment, I just worked on actively getting the songs I wrote, outside of me. The intention was never to actually create an album. As the songs continued to come out, they all had a resounding theme - they were my feelings, my hopes, and my desires. So, ultimately the album was inspired by a word from God.
Felisha: What was the greatest challenge you overcame as you worked on your album release?
Franchesca: The greatest challenge that I had to overcome during the process of working on the album was honestly my finances. I had to trust God to provide and make a way for me. It’s no surprise that He made a way.
Felisha: If someone could only listen to one song on Desires of My Heart, which song should they listen to and why?
Franchesca: I would urge listeners to listen to track #5 Only Way. Only Way is a perfect description of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. More than listens or streams, it’s about souls. Winning souls for the Kingdom, because that’s all that’s going to matter in eternity, not if I top the charts but if I make disciples and spread the Gospel. Only Way describes that Jesus Christ is the only way to eternal life. It deters people from popular beliefs that perhaps Heaven or Hell isn’t real. Only Way shares the gospel and that’s the good news we all need to hear. It reminds people that the only way to the Father in heaven is through the Son, Jesus Christ.
Felisha: What life events do you think prepared you to complete this project?
Franchesca: Giving my life to Jesus prepared me to complete this project. I literally couldn’t have acted on one single thing without God. He’s a constant reminder that it’s not about me, it’s bigger than us all. So, when I had a personal encounter with Christ it changed me and the vision for my life. Afterward, I knew I desired to give Him glory for who He is and all He’s done for me. That’s what I pray is reflected in everything I do, including this project and many other things to come.
What does your creative process look like?
My creative process looks like playing the music that I personally feel connected to. I usually have a recording device nearby and my favorite place to create is in my car. After getting a feel for the beat, a groove with a slight head bop, I begin to sing what’s inside. No pen, no paper - just feelings. After I’ve let out a first take/freestyle, I may begin to mumble melodies or sing random parts that feel good. Following that, I’ll provide some structure [to the song] once I’ve completed the melodies. That’s pretty much it.
What advice would you give other Christian creatives who know that God has placed a desire on their heart to accomplish something but they don’t know where to start?
After speaking what He spoke to me saying, “Don’t die with this music inside of me.” I knew I heard Him clearly and I also knew I’d be obedient. I just didn’t know where to start. So, God is faithful and graced me with direction. He spoke again and said, “Just put one foot in front of the other.” I’ll never forget it. So, those are the words I’ll pass on to you. Just put one foot in front of the other, which means: don’t look at the entire vision He’s given you, instead, look at the very first step, task, call, etc. that needs to take place in order to get to the destination. In that, the pressure is taken off because if God has called you to it, He’ll get you through it. Some doors won’t open until you take the first step and when you make that first step He will meet you there.
When should we expect your next album?
The next album will be released in Spring 2020.
Where can we listen to your current album?
You can find Desires Of My Heart on all streaming platforms like Apple Music, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Pandora, YouTube and many more!
Visit FranchescaMakesMusic.com to hear more music from Desires of My Heart.
Beauty In the Weeds
Since February of this year, Liz Vice tunes have been my regular rotation on Spotify. My mother’s church was playing Empty Me Out as background music before the service started. My ears immediately tuned in and I asked Momma, “What song is this? Who sings it?” I soon started listening to Liz’s album and tried to find out all that I could about the Portland native.
By Kendolyn Walker
“Ah… another brown girl.” Liz Vice said with contentment when we found each other near Brooklyn Bridge Park in Brooklyn, New York. We made our way to FEED Cafe on Water Street and settled in for our interview.
Since February of this year, Liz Vice tunes have been in my regular rotation on Spotify. My mother’s church was playing Empty Me Out as background music before the service started. My ears immediately tuned in and I asked Momma, “What song is this? Who sings it?” I soon started listening to Liz’s album and tried to find out all that I could about the Portland native. When I found out she had recently moved to Brooklyn, I immediately reached out for an interview.
As we sat down sipping coffee and tea in the cafe, Liz spoke of Portland, music, the times we live in and her relationship with God. She was gracious and transparent right from the start. I soon put away my prepared list of questions and just listened. Here’s what she had to say:
“Freedom is scary.”
I love NYC. It’s hard not to. I love the diversity of brown people. Yet, as I reach the one year mark of being here, I feel an ache. I feel an ache to go back to where I was known. I feel a longing to go back to my “Egypt,” my place of comfort, where, even as I stood out and everyone knew me, I felt enslaved to who I thought I was because of what people told me I was. What I allowed myself to believe about myself. Does that make sense? Even though I was once called "a different kind of black girl," I could at least walk into any place in Portland without having to tell my story. And although I felt like I couldn’t breathe a lot of times because of people’s caricatures and ideas, comfort held me captive.
I think it is easier to be enslaved than it is to be free because freedom is scary for some reason. Freedom is not something everyone does well because it [is a choice that] gives you the ability to become enslaved in the first place. Sometimes feeling enslaved feels safe. Controllable.
In Portland, I felt like I was missing out on a part of myself. As a black woman, I dealt with questions and comments like “You're a different kind of black girl,” “You people and your attitudes,” and “they’re not treating you this way because you’re black. It’s in your head.” Comments and a journey of ill health and beyond led me to attend film school awhile back. I wanted to tell the bigger stories that exist about us. I wanted to make movies my niece could watch and say “that girl looks like me.”
Just sharing what is on my mind this week. I am a little less emotional now than I have been for the past couple of days.
On many occasions, a church I attended in Portland would preach about callings and walking in your purpose. I just knew I would learn, on those Sundays, that my calling was not music. Friends would come to me, wincing and bracing themselves, to share “You know, I think you should be singing.” I just didn’t want to do it.
One day my pastor said, “Liz, I have these songs, and I think they are for you. I want to be selfish and keep them for myself but I think they belong to you.” So we recorded a full album, two years after my pastor told me these songs “belonged to you.” I didn’t have management. We had an album release show at a local venue and sold out in 10 days. The venue booker then asked me to open up for Cody Chestnut. Each show opened up another door.
After attending an artist retreat, I met a man who believed I had the gift of song. I would meet in his office once a week for three months during the day and he would give me exercises to help me write songs.
“Hey, would you be interested in leading worship at our church?”
I knew the wife of the pastor I currently work with in Brooklyn. When he first reached out to me about becoming a worship leader for a church plant, I said no. I did not want to work for a church. Yet, no matter how frustrated I got or how I tried to run from using my gift of music, I was more committed to the mission of love, grace, mercy, and hope. I had to see beyond myself and practice seeing people the way Jesus sees them by using my gift of music to bring people of all backgrounds together.
So, I now lead worship. After a year I said yes. I am learning to feel safe in a church setting there and have learned to give myself the grace to do something I never wanted to do because it’s new and uncomfortable to grow and learn to lead as you lead.
“I told God I wouldn’t do another record unless He gave me the songs.”
ME: God, don’t you see what is happening in the world? Have mercy, have compassion.
GOD: What are you going to do about it? You are my hands and feet right now. What are you going to do about it?
What is my little black voice going to do for change? I don’t want to sound like an angry black woman, but I am. I am mad and disgusted, but that is the very essence of compassion; an issue hits you so hard in the gut, you feel sick if you don’t do something about it. I don’t have a million dollars to fix Puerto Rico, rebuild homes in Houston or provide therapy to those affected by the Paris terrorist attacks, but I can write songs. I can provide a space for people to gather and not think about how a person is different from them. I don’t want one to be color blind though. I actually hate that term. I want you to see my black face and I want to see what makes you different from me, what makes me beautiful.
I have been sad, and I am licking my wounds as I continue to see the trouble in the world around us. So again I question.
ME: God where are you?
GOD: Hello, I put my Spirit in you so you can be my hands and feet and my mouthpiece. What are you gonna do? How are you gonna show up in this?
These are things I think about before I go to bed at night.
How do I use my Blackness-Jesus-loving privilege to sing songs of hope? Even as I might sound vintage to one person, I am singing songs of Light. I am not trying to save you, I am trying to let you see the light that is in you.
If your gift is to write, then you need to write about these things. If your gift is to sing, sing about the issues that you want to change the most. If your gift is to dance, dance about the things you are most compassionate about. Rise up out of the ashes and show us something beautiful.
I can’t tell if this album fits the genre of typical artists. But I feel like… well, I am not trying to compete.
ME: Hey, I am just gonna start singing over here, if you want to join feel free. You might have to buy a ticket, but anyone can come.
I don’t feel like I am in competition. That has not been my story. It’s actually really awkward for me to be on stage.
ME:Why do I do this to myself?
I get nervous before every show and am definitely not the singer who feels as though they were made to perform.
My album is getting there. It’s close to being finished. I don’t feel comfortable with this statement. It’s definitely going be different from the first record. One song I included was a track I used to sing at age 15. This song is my foundation.
I decided that if I am going to take this calling seriously, I need to meet with people who are willing to write songs with me to articulate these feelings that I have. I decided that I am just going to show up.
One of my producers shared a story with me that left a lasting impression. Before he lived in his house, the backyard had weeds hip-high. There was a next-door neighbor whom the previous homeowner had befriended. Every day she would sit on the fire escape and throw seeds into his backyard. When he asked why she did that, his future neighbor responded: “I just want to see a little beauty amongst the weeds.” This neighbor soon passed away. When my friend moved into the house, he soon began clearing the weeds out of his backyard so that he could build a patio or deck. He came upon some flowers and wondered if the flowers just might have come from his neighbor’s seeds. The woman wanted to see some color amongst the weeds. When I think of this story, it reminds me of what I think we are supposed to do. We are not the heroes of this world but we can add some color to this mess.
So I have this call on my life, to bring people together. I am learning to surrender.
ME: If this is what You’ve called me to do, then I’m in. I don’t know what’s behind the door of each new morning but I’m in.
And that is me throwing seeds to see some beauty in the weeds.
Off-The-Record Quotes from liz vice
3 - “Can you cry to your own voice?”
2 - “And that leads me to A Handmaid’s Tale.”
1 - “...when all you want to do is stay in bed and watch Keeping Up With the Kardashians or The Only Way is Essex.”