Urban Grandstand Digital Issue 11: Divine Brown | Page 87

U.G. Digital Mag: I can hear a lot of the harmonies and melodies. I’m glad you mention people like Brandy, because her music is really soaring. She’s grown tremendously. I hear some of everything in your vocals. At times, it sounds like a jazz undertone. I get that you’re being you, and not trying to fit into what everyone else is doing.

Xavier Keyz: I study different artists, and mix it all into one. I like too make my music for night driving, because I drive a lot at night. Being around older people, I write for the more mature audience. As an independent artist, you have to stay relevant, but also remain true to yourself and your craft. It’s a thin line to walk on.

U.G. Digital Mag: It makes perfect sense. When I look at your social media, I see you communicate with the fans a lot. How important is that for you?

Xavier Keyz: Talking to my fans and supporters, I take it so seriously. I don’t let anyone else manage or communicate with them. I want to build relationships. It’s impossible to build with thousands of people, but I want to connect with and impact as many lives as I can outside of music. My fans can text or call me at any time. Sometimes I can answer, and sometimes I can’t. It’s weird, but I can uplift and encourage them this way. It’s really important to me.

U.G. Digital Mag: I think it’s amazing. You don’t see many artists who put their cell phone number our there. How many people are actually getting back to you?

Xavier Keyz: In a day, I may get 200-300. It’s not that many. I can’t respond to each and everyone of course. If they add themselves to my digital address book, then I know who they are in a sense. Without that, my phone will auto-text them back and ask them to add themselves. Then it’ll ask if they downloaded the album. It’s really a good way to connect.

U.G. Digital Mag: A lot of artists can gain from that though. it sounds crazy, but it’s a way to engage.

Xavier Keyz: It is, I mean, you can post your number. At the end of the day, you have to have the hustle mentality and the drive. Without that and having the sense of wanting to be successful, it’s not going to do anything for you. You really have to hustle as an independent artist. You’re always in competition.

U.G. Digital Mag: That goes for any area you’re in. You have to hustle and have that mentality. It’s really hard out here. The fact that you are fully involved is helping you so much. You gain so much credibility by handling the things you do. I definitely want you to talk about the album, Monday - Sunday.

Xavier Keyz: The album was released in December 2015. There’s 17 tracks, and the album focuses on the woman. I wanted it to go back ton the old school days. It’s been crazy times where we need love in the world. That’s the answer to a lot of this craziness. The way a lot of guys treat girls today is crazy. I just wanted to make an album that shows appreciation of the woman Monday thru Sunday. That’s where the title came from. From start to finish, it talks about her beauty, how much you care the fights, heartache, break ups, and all that in an hour. You have your old school sounds. It’s a really great album. One of my favorite songs is the title track.

U.G. Digital Mag: Putting the album together, who did you work with production-wise?

Xavier Keyz: I worked with a guy named Donovan. He’s amazing. he produced a majority of the songs on the album. When I heard the instrumentals, I was able to write and record instantly. The entire recording process was amazing. I love creating and doing something better than the last time. Donovan was really great.

U.G. Digital Mag: I thought “Nobody Else But You” was really dope. It seems like you and B-Lin worked really well together.

Xavier Keyz: We go way back to High School. We went to Kenwood Academy and were in choir together. I heard Avant and Keke Wyatt’s song, You and I, and I felt like I could do it too. I got the instrumental from Donovan Jarvis, and wondered who i could feature who would