Singer-Songwriter Adegail on Being Who God Created You To Be
“I try to use all of my skills to equip, empower, encourage and educate women and men alike to be all that God has created them to be.”
What a delight to chat with singer-songwriter, Adegail (such a lovely name!). Currently based in the U.K., Adegail has two singles available for your listening pleasure, including her latest song Strength. Enjoy this conversation and be sure to follow her on Instagram to keep up with her music.
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WG: Where did you grow up and what were your interests in your growing years?
Adegail: I grew up in church, in England, and for as long as I can remember, music has been a part of my life. I started playing the guitar at age 10 and that continued throughout my life. I also was in a gospel choir in primary school and have continued singing in and directing choirs since then. That developed into leading worship at age 18, doing covers online, and now writing and releasing my own original songs.
WG: When did you start writing and singing?
Adegail: I only started writing properly in 2019 but started singing and performing in church choirs when I was in my pre-teens.
WG: What are you most proud of in the work that you do?
Adegail: The fact that I’m able to empower other people to use their gifts and talents. My work and the effort I put into it inspires others to do the same. I’ve seen this in particular over the last two years when I started doing iRadiate workshops and events to equip musicians globally.
WG: What has been your biggest struggle as an artist/ creative?
Adegail: Being brave enough to do things creatively that haven’t necessarily been done before, while also using the resources I have and just trusting that God will make it all work out …. (He always makes a way!).
WG: Is there a verse, quote, or life mantra that you live by?
Adegail: We are blessed to be a blessing. Shine your light.
WG: What has God shown you as you continue to grow in your craft or career?
Adegail: Obedience is not about our convenience many times. Being traditionally very shy, I have learned to overcome ‘self’ to be effective for the Kingdom of God and my community.
WG: What do you do to rest and pour into yourself?
Adegail: Being part of a loving, like-minded community is important and helps me a lot. I listen to a lot of music, as you can guess. Reading the Bible is also the obvious way to recharge as there really are no substitutes.
WG: Who inspires you and why?
Adegail: I particularly get inspired by women of colour who are trailblazing within their chosen industry - starting from my own mother to Sarah Teibo (UK), Tasha Cobbs, and even my childhood inspiration, Tori Kelly. I take inspiration from a range of creatives known and unknown - I think that’s important.
WG: Tell us more about what you do and how you empower the community of women around you.
Adegail: I’m a singer-songwriter, guitar tutor, event organizer, worship leader, and more. I try to use all of my skills to equip, empower, encourage, and educate women and men alike to be all that God has created them to be. It’s an honor to be seen as a role model in various spaces.
WG: Anything else that you want our readers to know about you?
Adegail: I’m excited to host my third live recording later this year and look forward to sharing some new songs at the right time!
“We are blessed to be a blessing. Shine your light.”
Click to enjoy adegail’s latest single.
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.
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.