With a
musical career that spans almost two
decades, the beloved Singer, Songwriter, Instrumentalist, Innovator and
Educator CONYA DOSS returns with her eighth studio album titled Clear.
The 13-track project features the singles “I’m Trying”, “Back to Us” and the retro-vibe “Until”. I caught up with Conya Doss to discuss the
album, what motivates her, her misconceptions, upcoming mini tour with Kindred
the Family Soul and much more…
LISTEN
TO THE SINGLE “UNTIL” BELOW:
TERRANCE: How does being a
Cleveland native impact your music?
CONYA
DOSS: I feel that being in Cleveland we have a lot of talent, however there's
not a lot of outlet's as you find in maybe New York and even California, so I
think that a lot of us here are just putting more effort and time into our
craft and when we really get that chance, we work hard at it.
TERRANCE:
You recently released your eighth studio album Clear. How does it differ from
previous efforts?
CONYA
DOSS: I think in life, everything evolves so you're always gonna have some
different experiences and everything. I think this particular project is a
reflection of that, you know? Being more vulnerable, being more alert about
things that I want to talk about without being overly cautious about it. This
is what need to be told, this is my story and this is what I'm going to talk
about, so I think it's just growth as far as me growing as a person, so of
course there's going to be some degree of evolution.
TERRANCE:
So that's where the album title was inspired from?
CONYA
DOSS: Oh yeah. And just to go back on that a little bit. If you think about it,
on Just Because or Love Rain Down, I wasn't a mother then. On Blu Transition I
had my son, so it changes your perspective on how you look at things.
TERRANCE:
What can you tell us about your single "Until"?
CONYA
DOSS: Oh my. "Until" is like one of my favorites because it just have
that ol'skool vibe. I haven't done a video and I don't know if I plan on doing
a video for it, but I can just see myself in a suit with a bow tie and some doo
wop singers (laughs). It's just a feel good song and just about unconditional
love. You know some things are not possible. You know that the moon is never
gonna be out the same time as the sun is, so it's like, you are really asking
me that? It's unconditional.
TERRANCE:
One song on the album that resonates with your current state of mind.
CONYA
DOSS: "Unbreakable" I think. I like that because it resonates with a
lot of things that's going on in today's society, especially with
African-American people and African descent, period. It's like, no matter what
we go through whether it be a societal thing or an internal, we’re a strong
group of people and it’s like, you can’t break us. You’ve tried for Centuries
and you still can’t do it, so I think that resonate with me at this moment
because that’s the thing with my music, it depends on the situation and what’s
going on at that time.
TERRANCE:
The song "Misconception" has been described as a departure from your
sound. How did that song come about?
CONYA
DOSS: Yeah it totally is. That's interesting that you said that because the
producer on that song and I were just talking about how people have perceptions
about certain people like me. If you don't know me you would think that I'm
quiet or some people would perceive that as being stuck up and that's totally
not me if you know me or stand off-ish and I'm like, no you don't know what's
on my mind. I'm always thinking about things but I'm probably one of the most
giving people that I know. Even relationships sometimes they go left because
people don't communicate, once again it leaves room for a lot of
misconceptions. It was interesting in doing the song because I even did
something vocally like singing at a lower register than my natural and some
people didn't know that was me and I'm like, oh? (Laughs). It was kind of fun,
like okay, alright, I'm outside of the box for real now. That's interesting
that you mentioned that, for sure.
TERRANCE:
It definitely stands out to me.
CONYA
DOSS: Wow. I really like that one too. That's one of my favorite ones.
TERRANCE:
Do you think there's a misconception people might have about you as an artist?
CONYA
DOSS: I think so (Laughs). It's really interesting because I don't know if it's
because of the way I look or the way I dress or what. They just assume that
I'm a vegetarian and I don't eat pork and all of those kind of things. I'm sure
pork is not good for me, but every now and then I will eat some bacon and some
pork chop. About my music, it's really interesting when they get to talk to me
and hear my story and things that's going on in my life, then they have a
better understanding, like, oh okay. I think they have an even more
appreciation for what I do.
TERRANCE:
Advice you would give the aspiring artist on consistency and longevity?
CONYA
DOSS: I say this time and time again, stay true to your craft because I've been
projected to this and let myself be projected to this and I have to live in my
truth. You have to stand in your truth. Anyone that's doing this, you have to
stand in your truth and be true to yourself whether it's good, bad or
indifferent and I think sometimes people are not and then they are unhappy when
they are doing the music, because they are letting someone else dictate, oh
this is not the single or this is not a radio hit or whatever. So you have to
be true to yourself and in addition to that, you also have to surround yourself
around people who believe in what you're doing at the same time, because if
not, then you're going to have some additional issues.
TERRANCE:
What are you hoping listeners take away from the Clear experience?
CONYA
DOSS: They’re gonna take some diversity because what I will say there is
variety. We have a song that can go in any genre, so I think that’s something
they’re gonna be able to take away. They can take away a message. There are
several messages that may be amicable at that time or if not now, maybe five
weeks from now or a year from now they’ll be able to relate to. I want to
create timeless music that people can go back and say, okay I remember when I
was going through this and this song helped me through that, so I’m just hoping
that I can reach as many people and the fans and supporters that I have not
reached that didn’t know about my music, now they’ll know because with every
project people are saying, oh such and such hip me to your music so I’m hoping
to gain more people who appreciate what I do.
TERRANCE:
Any final words you would like to add?
CONYA
DOSS: I appreciate when people email me just to tell me how my music inspires
them. I just appreciate the energy because to me I’m a big believer in positive
and negative energy but when I get the positive energy it’s just a motivator.
It’s like powers that want to keep me moving and pushing forward and that’s all
that I want to say. I’m grateful and I’m blessed. CD
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@conyadoss / Twitter @conyad
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