Interview with the Band Davis and the Love

December 17, 2021

Interview with the Band Davis and the Love

By Mick Michaels

COSMICK VIEW: Hello! Welcome to The Cosmick View and MBM Ten Pounder. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to chat with me, it's greatly appreciated.

CV: Describe your definition of the band’s sound and style and how does that definition uniquely describe the music?
Davis and the Love: I would say that the band's main sound would probably be pop/soul, but we borrow from so many influences that it's really a mash up sound of pop, soul, blues, rock, and even hip hop. While we have classic soul elements, we have modern synths and drums, so really it's just a new interpretation of classic feel good pop and soul.

CV: Today, everyone talks about artist and audience connection. Is such a level of connection actually achievable for an artist and if so, how have you made the connection to your fans?
Davis and the Love: I think it's interesting because now fans can have more access to the artist. In the past, there was an air of mystery and a kind of anonymity, but with social media now, the fans really get to see the person…for better or worse.

I have a hard time opening up in that way because I like for the music to speak for itself and for the live show to really connect with the audience, so it's something that I'm trying to get better at. I think it's awesome that an independent artist can have what seems like an unlimited reach, but I really want the audience to connect with the music and have it create a feeling/emotion/story for them without me getting in the way of it too much.

CV: Is fan interaction an important part of the band’s inner culture?
Davis and the Love: Fan interaction, especially at a live show is paramount to our culture. And, if anyone ever reaches out to us, we always get back to them.

CV: Can a band truly interact with its fans and still maintain a level of personal privacy without crossing the line and giving up their “personal space” in your opinion?
Davis and the Love: That sort of goes to my earlier point. I think that you just have to have boundaries, and be honest about those boundaries. People respect and appreciate honesty. So, if you tell them I'm not comfortable sharing "this", but I have no problem sharing "that", I think they will respect that. I also think that keeping things a little bit private are essential to allowing your music to be out there without prejudice.

CV: Is music, and its value, viewed differently around the world in your opinion? If so, what do you see as the biggest difference in such multiple views among various cultures?
Davis and the Love: It's funny because I think that American artists…which we are, always feel that Europe, Asia, Africa, etc., are way more open to new music and having an open ear, but I wonder if European artists feel the same way. Sometimes it feels like people have to be told that it's cool first before they believe it and don't always trust their ear. But, I think we all value music the same way in the sense that it's an important part of our lives, brings us together, and helps us through good times and bad.

CV: Do you feel that a band that has an international appeal, will tend to connect more so to American audiences? Would they be more enticed or intrigued to see the band over indigenous acts because of the foreign flavor?
Davis and the Love: You know that's interesting. I don't really know. I think there is a subset of audiences that really relish finding new and different artists and a group of people that like what they can more easily relate to or represent where they're from.

CV: Has modern-day digital technology made everyone an artist on some level in your opinion? Have the actual lines of what really is an artist been blurred?
Davis and the Love: Well, I think that everyone has it in them to be an artist. We all have a creative side. And, I'm not one to judge on who is an artist and who is not. It's definitely a blessing to be able to put your art out in a much easier way now. I don't think that blurs the lines. The "lines" within art and sound have always been blurred LOL. What some people consider great music, others consider trash and vice versa. That's the wonderful and crazy thing about art. But, I'm all for more access to and more outlets for artists and aspiring artists.

CV: How would you describe the difference between an artist who follows trends and one who sets them?
Davis and the Love: Well, that's interesting because we are all inspired by past art whether consciously or subconsciously, so in a sense we're following a past trend, but I think that you have to make music that's true to you and your influences rather than trying to copy something, or make something that you think people want to hear versus music you actually want to make. Setting a trend is really just about being vulnerable and honest and creating something that you want to create and it resonates with people who want to imitate it, while following a trend is being the imitator.

CV: Has music overall been splintered into too many sub-genres in an effort
to appease fan tastes in your opinion? And has such fan appeasements, in
actuality, weakened music’s impact as a whole by dividing audiences?
Davis and the Love: I absolutely hate sub-genres. I can't tell you how hard it is to upload a song on a distribution site. They give you all of these options, and. you're just like "yes, I'm this...but I'm also that". It's tough for sure. I think that sometimes songs that blend styles can get lost in the fray. It's all about the algorithm right? That's the thing that gets me, but I also know that it's helped the listener's experience in some cases too, so that's a tough one.

CV: What can fans expect to see coming next from you?
Davis and the Love: More music. More touring. We're just getting started!

CV: Thanks again for taking some time and talking. It is greatly appreciated.

Check out Davis and the Love at:
Youtube: www.youtube.com/davisandthelove
Instagram: www.instagram/davisandthelove
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2McDkoUAzi43Yzhf6D27wB
Facebook: www.facebook.com/davisandthelove

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My name is Mick Michaels...I'm an artist, music fan, songwriter, producer, show host, dreamer and guitarist for the traditional Heavy Metal band Corners of Sanctuary. Writing has always been a creative outlet for me; what I couldn't say in speech, I was able to do with the written word. Writing has given me a voice and a way for me to create on a multitude of platforms including music and song, articles, independent screenplays, books and now, artist interviews. The Cosmick View is an opportunity to raise the bar and showcase artists in a positive and inspirational light. For me, it's another out-of-this-world adventure.