A question that I often hear these days is “how did we get here?” Here politically in this country, here individually in our lives, here globally looking at the millions of families who flee war, face famine. Yet the line from there to here only needs a look at the steps taken or not taken. One’s purpose, intentions, and calling become one’s destiny. That makes Destiny Muhammad’s name perfect for who she is and what she does. Destiny Muhammad’s intention to create, her calling of music and song, and her purpose to use art to uplift, to inform, to heal, and to inspire are clear. I have had the pleasure and honor of performing with her over the past few years. I have also been able to sit back in an audience and just watch her swing. This is an experience that should not be missed. Destiny recently took some time to answer a few questions about her music and creative process.
Why and how the harp?
When i was 9 years old, I saw Harpo Marx playing the Harp on ‘I Love Lucy’ and I decided that was what I wanted to do. The Harp wasn’t available then in my Compton environment – I got my first Harp 21 years later at the age of 30.
The harp is generally seen as an instrument confined to more classical European forms. You create an elasticity with it that makes it sound as it was created to play jazz and even gospel. Was this a challenge?
Not really- I played what I felt- I played what felt natural to me. Jazz and Jazz Inspired music, Soul Jazz and R&B felt natural to me. Once I started to get eye hand coordination working together, and vocals, the music began to flow.
You are certainly a renaissance woman in music: harpist, vocalist, composer, arranger, lyricist, and then band conductor and show producer. How do each of these avocations balance with the other?
HA! It is an intricate balancing act and I love it! Add into the mix MusicPrenuer and Social Media Maven to make it even more interesting. Each skill set is an extension of the other. My musicianship (harpist vocalist) is constantly evolving. I am a student of music learning more of its language, the speaking, spelling and application of it on my instrument(s) (harp/ voice). The composer/ arranger side of myself has the desire to create my own conversation, tell my own story with this language (music). I write the script (score) for the voices (instruments and vocalist) that are the characters of the music I’ve written. As conductor/ bandleader, I harness the energy of all of the skills to guide my musicians through my sonic conversation. I learned from Duke Ellington- I write with each instrumentalist sound in my mind. I hear in my head the way they will deliver the sonic idea I scored.
What do you see as your biggest challenges as an artist?
My biggest challenge is time management and project management. I literally write out my ‘Plan of Action’ the night before so that I get the most accomplished the following day on each project I’ve planned for. I usually have about 4 projects happening in a day- I set my timer usually at 15 min increments to step away for 5 min clear my head and go back to the project. Each daily project i give about 1-1/2 hour. Then I go for a 30 min walk outdoors.
Each year you present a unique “On the Corner” show that showcases various artist in various genres. No show is the same except in high musical quality and the fact that every artist is relevant and their work folds into the theme. How do you pick a theme for each show?
Thank you for the kind remarks on ‘high musical quality. I am in communion with sound all of the time. I allow it to tell me what the show will sound like. I trust it and it always leads me right. My concert ‘StoryTime’ hit me with the ‘ThrowBack’ sound of my childhood in Compton and the stories that were taking place all around. Everything and Everybody was a STORY. The music was its own story- not the backdrop to daily living. My concert themes come to me as sound/ a feeling and they tell me what they what to do to make them happen.
What is gained and what is lost by having a show which is not just music but also explores other genres?
With each show I gain more of my own self love and authenticity. With each I lose more of the fear of not being enough. Each genre explored allows me to fully explore my possibilities.
There is no question that sound quality can make or break a show. You are blessed to have your husband be your sound man. How has this collaboration enhanced you performances?
My husband is what I had prayed for- a partner friend lover that loves me my work and respects me and my work enough to come together as a united creative team functioning holistically. I KNOW he has my back! He can feel anticipate my very breathe when I am singing playing and has moved the sound with me without hesitation. I feel safe in my performance and free to be fully me on stage when he has set up sound or working with the sound engineer at a theater/ location guiding the engineer.
What are some short and long term goals?
Short term goals- Have a super stellar time with Devorah Major at SFJAZZ on April 9!
Long term goals- Westcoast Tour with my Jazz Trio and a having a new work performed by Oakland East Bay Symphony with my Jazz Trio in 2018.
Where can people see you perform live? See my Website for upcoming LIVE performance dates.
My music can be purchased on my site