A Conversation with Music Artist Desmond Parson

Desmond Parson, a man of vision, passion, and song. Music was and is the outlet in which he conveys his thoughts. Born in Washington, D.C. in the mid-70s, Desmond’s interest in music peaked at the age of four when his grandmother would play albums by the likes of Gladys Knight, Teddy Pendergrass, and Michael Jackson. However, it was one artist in particular that his grandmother played that would forever change his appreciation for and approach to music - Stevie Wonder. Through studying the albums of Stevie Wonder, Desmond Parson would learn the many roles of an artist; a vocalist, writer, composer, producer, and arranger, all of which Desmond Parson performs on all of his projects. Desmond Parson started playing the piano at age ten, learning melodies taught by his uncle. From joining singing groups in high school to presently directing his own band, Soulfied Village, Desmond Parson's musical journey is ever evolving.

Through his involvement with the D.C. music scene, Desmond Parson has performed at many historic venues in the Washington, D.C. area including Takoma Station Tavern, Smith Public Trust, and The Kennedy Center, and has shared the stage with the R&B group, The Dramatics. Desmond Parson infuses the sounds of R&B and Neo-Soul to create a style all his own.

His latest EP, "Resoulution,” that he released in April 2020, took the UK by storm on the Amazon Music Charts. He released the first single and video, "Possibly,” that charted on various radio charts in the UK. His latest single, "Mend The Pieces,” shows the vulnerability of a relationship gone wrong to be put back together.

"Resoulution" is available on all digital platforms and Bandcamp.

With his single and music video, “Possibly,” out now, we took some time to hear more from Desmond Parson. Read below to learn more about Desmond Parson, the story behind his single, and what’s to come.

Hi Desmond Parson! Let’s start with how did you get your artist name?

As my music is my story, my journey, I decided to use my birth name as my artist name to introduce my music to the world. Since the music, lyrics, and thoughts are coming from me, I figured why not just be "Desmond Parson."

What city are you from and where are you based now?

I am from Washington, D.C. and now reside outside in Bowie, MD, about 20 minutes outside of D.C.

At what point in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music? How did you get started?

I’ve always loved music since I was a small child, and I always considered it the soundtrack of my life as music was always apart of whatever was happening at that time in my life. However, it was in the early 2000s that I decided to purse music as a profession.

Has your upbringing played a role in shaping who you are and defining your sound today? If so, how?

My upbringing has played a major role in my life, particularly as it pertains to music. Family time was extremely important, and at its core, just happy times of togetherness. In the midst of those family times was music that set the backdrop to many joyous occasions. From the Christmas holidays to summer cookouts, music has always been there supporting these happy times. In fact, I would say some of these family moments were the best times of my life. From those gatherings, I heard the sounds of many of the artists that I would come to know and admire, particularly the catalog of Stevie Wonder.

How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar with you?

My style of music is a fusion of R&B and Neo-Soul. I love the style of classic and Contemporary R&B, and I’m a huge fan of Neo-Soul. I’m composing music that's just a mixture of those different styles.

Do you have any hobbies outside of music? What do you do to stay creative?

I really try to stay on top of my health, so I work out quite often. Although I haven’t had the opportunity to do so as of late, I really love sketching and have a love for visual art. I also enjoy reading.

Who are some of your main musical influences?

I have what I call my "Mount Rushmore of music." Although there are so many artists and groups that I’ve listen to and admire, there are a few that stand out that have inspired me and encouraged me to find my voice, to find my sound. Stevie Wonder has had the most impact on me in particular. I’ve been following him since I was about three years old, and fell in love with the music and his message. It was watching Stevie Wonder on television that set the wheels in motion for what I would be doing with music as my career. Michael Jackson would be my number two favorite artist of all time. His artistry, his voice, and his performances really encouraged me to find my lane with music. As a collective, I am a huge fan of Earth, Wind, and Fire. Their writing styles, recordings, and performances really set the stage on fire, and I’ve always wanted to have performances that left people in awe like theirs.

Who would be a dream to collaborate with?

My dream music collaboration would, unquestionably, be Stevie Wonder!

What are some of your future music career goals?

I would certainly love to tour from the music that I’ve been creating, so that is my number one goal. I’d also love to continue to create and produce music as well as collaborate with other artists.

Now onto your release, “Possibly.” What inspired this song?

"Possibly" was inspired by the feeling of a great conversation over a cup of tea, but also a play on the phrase, "cup of tea." I was inspired by the Neo-Soul music that I was hearing at the time and mixed in a little retro R&B.

What is “Possibly” about in your own words?

Back in the day, to show your love admiration of someone, you would call them your "cup of tea." In the song, my plea to my lover is to be their "cup of tea," essentially their everything, every morning.

How did the music video for “Possibly” come about? What was your vision for the video?

Initially, the video was to be set in a restaurant atmosphere. However, my videographer suggested another angle on the storyline. A couple who have not had the opportunity to spend quality time meet in the kitchen. Upon me seeing that my woman is physically upset because of this, I decided to sing to her to rekindle the flame that was there in the beginning. I truly believe this was the best setting, had a wonderful impact in the video, and was a great pairing with the music.

What message do you hope fans take away from your music and from “Possibly?”

I’m hoping that fans take away the vibe of the music as well as the message that it contains. Of all of my songs in my catalog, “Possibly” has a definitive retro sound. This is my way of paying homage to those artists (like Stevie Wonder) who have come before me, and to show my love and appreciation for their music.

What’s one of your proudest moments of your music career so far?

One of the proudest moments of my career is making the UK Soul charts with my single, “Sideline,” which was a collaboration with another artist, Sha’Dava. The response from that song was tremendous, and it set the trajectory for my next projects.

What would you say are the greatest lessons you’ve learned so far?

The greatest lesson that I’ve learned is to be yourself. There are so many times where we’ve been taught to live in others expectations. But, when you believe in yourself and find your own unique qualities, I’ve learned that not only will you be freer, but that others will believe in you too.

What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects that we should be on the lookout for?

The next project, on the horizon, is a full-length album which should be available fall 2022.

Where can we follow you on social media?

I can be followed here:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/iamdesmond_parson

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamdesmondparson/

Twitter: @iamdesparson

YouTube: https://youtube.com/user/desmondparson

Website: https://www.reetune.com/connect/desmond-parson