D.Cure | 'Clean' Album Interview
What is the name of your new album?
Clean
What inspired the title?
This idea came as a part of an album series. First I released "Adapt", then "Build", and now "Clean"! Each album is about a different point in my life. I decided on "Clean" because I make clean music and because I talk about cleaning the negative things out of my life.
Where did you record this album?
At home! I'm fortunate enough to have a home studio. It's nothing super fancy but a mic, headphones, laptop, recording software, and an audio interface does the trick... and monitors also help.
What is your favorite track? Why?
Recently, my favorite is "Run". It's a little more laid back, but it has a great message about not running from your problems. In the song I say, "You run and run all morning just to find a way to get through. Open up your door and [do you] know who it is on the other side? It's you." No matter where you live, or where you move, you will find yourself with the same issues if you don't address them. You can distract yourself with new places and faces, but your problems won't change just because your surroundings do. I know this truth all too well.
What is your favorite line from the album?
That's an impossible thing to pick! Haha. I'm proud of many lines on this project, but my favorites usually involve some kind of metaphor/simile/play on words. One line that comes to mind is from my song "If I Return," where I talk about bad friends, specifically, drinking buddies. In the second verse I say, "Must be hanging with Geppetto (yo) they work me like a puppet." I'm comparing the people I used to hang with to Pinocchio, hanging by strings, and being worked by those around him (his woodcarver).
Who helped make this album what it is? Writers, Producers, Muses, Support System, Etc
My engineer, 2probeats, plays a huge part in my album process. He gets the best out of my vocals and even goes above and beyond to add extras. Producers never get enough credit. They inspire us, sometimes without ever knowing, and give us a great place to start. For this project, I have to thank Feniko Beatz, Gsoy, Absynapse, Made by Flowerz, and DillyGotItBumpin for the beats! Of course, I have to thank the others artists I featured: The Marine Rapper, Topher, TerryJosiah, and Mr. Glue. Finally, I have to thank my wife, Erin, for being my best supporter and always understanding why I sometimes need extra hours in the studio.
If you could remix any song and feature any artist, what song would it be and who would you feature on it?
I would get NF on "Run" or Rittz on "Tag". I really appreciate NF's honesty, conviction, and the fact that he's also a Christian hip-hop artist. I really like the speed and the recovery story that Rittz has. To me, they are both relatable artists that I have things in common with.
What's your dream?
My dream is to have enough reach that my music is able to help people through a tough time. I have a unique story, but I also feel a lot of people can relate to my messages. Recovering alcoholics/addicts, trauma survivors, veterans, those with a strong faith, and human beings in general can all find a piece of their story in my music.
What is some advice you would give to someone with a dream?
I’d remind them that they are living it right now, that the journey is just as much a part of the dream as the dream itself. Dreams aren't just about getting to a certain place. A dream is not about simply finishing or achieving something. The dream is about living and sharing those experiences with people. Everyone would like to be wealthy and well-known, but what is it about those things that are so attractive? To me, it's being in the position to help others and actually seeing a better future. If I had the reach and the resources to help thousands of people, that would be quite the dream! My point is, we can all dream about making it big, but there's more to life (and your dream) than that. Dreaming is about being alive and having hope. It's about believing... and you should always believe in yourself and something higher than you. Those beliefs are necessary if you want to move forward.
