Davis & The Love

Q) How would you describe your sound?



A) Future Retro…influences of the past with a modern sound.



Q) Who are some of your musical influences?



A) Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Tears for Fears, Beastie Boys



Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Song For You.”



A) It’s my favorite song off of the album and started off as a melody that I had in my head that I sang into my phone. And with the help of producer Jordan Hawley and Jay Jones on piano, we were able to make it a reality. It’s not only a love song, but also a metaphor for my relationship with music. I wanted it to be like a shoulder to cry on when things get tough…to show how music can be there for you to help you get through things in life. Hopefully, it’s something that people find uplifting when they’re going through a rough spot or played when they want to celebrate getting through something difficult or want to be put in a good mood.



Q) “Taking You Home” was a 2019 ISRC Song Writing Competition Semi-Finalist. What does that mean to you?



A) It’s a nice validation for an artist. Definitely nice to be known as someone who can write a good song.



Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?



A) I hope that it’s the vulnerability and the soul of it. The song is honest and asks the listener to be honest and let out whatever emotions you have knowing that the music will be there to soothe you and get you through whatever it is that you’re going through.



Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?



A) It definitely helps to have the music first. I find it hard sometimes to have the lyrics first unless you have a particular melody in mind, otherwise it becomes more of a poem than a song for me. The music helps create the mood and in turn becomes the inspiration for the lyrics and the themes that naturally flow out of me.



Q) How much of hand do you have in the production of your music?



A) Probably more than the producer would like sometimes. [laughs] If I hear something that’s missing in a song like a horn part or a guitar riff, I will reach out to musicians that I know to add to it. But it’s more of just icing on the cake than being there to help bake it. I normally let the producer do his thing and focus on the vocals, but I had a particular idea of the sound that I wanted on this album in particular. So, I had things added when I felt like they would help. However, Jordan really had everything laid out beautifully in his production and we just added a couple things.



Q) What themes do you explore off your new debut LP Future Retro Love Story?



A) Love. Redemption. Vulnerability. Acceptance. Passion. Soul.



Q) You reached out to some musician friends to lend a hand on the music for the LP. Who were you most hoping to snag and who is someone you were surprised to get help from?



A) I was lucky enough to get help from everyone that I wanted, really. Jay Jones on keys. Ryan Russell, the guitar player from my first band, along with Ken Martin, who plays with me currently and even Sinclair Wheeler, who DJ’s as IAMBLACKAM, laid a solo. I was also able to get Dee Curry on drums who has toured with Janelle Monae and T-Pain. She got her brother DeQuan on bass as well as Jeremy Taylor. Nicholas Gerlach laid some sax and he has sat in with Thievery Corporation and Umphrees McGee. Rock singer Hannah Zale lent her vocals to “Get Out My Life” and Mr. Collipark who produced some of the most popular hip-hop songs of the 2000’s produced the track to “Get Out My Life.” I called in a lot of favors and feel very fortunate that they made the time to lend their talents to the album. [laughs]



Q) What are some songs on the LP that hold a special place in your heart and why?



A) All of them really. I feel like this was the most honest music that I’ve ever made, so this album will always stay close to my heart. “Hot Damn” was the first song that we worked on, so that’s always going to stand out to me. “Song for You,” “Taking You Home” and our new single “Don’t Take it Away” because it was produced by the current keyboard player in the group. They’re all special.



Q) What songs off Future Retro Love Story are you looking forward to performing live?



A) All of them. There’s no better feeling in the world than watching a crowd vibe to music that you made. I’m really looking forward to touring this record.



Q) What do you hope listeners take away from listening to this LP as a whole?



A) I hope that it makes them feel good. I hope it resonates with them. I hope it empowers them. I hope that it inspires them to embrace love. I hope that they understand that flaws and failure are necessary as long as you learn from them. I hope that they feel the passion and the honesty in it.



Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?



A) The Vogue in Indianapolis because it’s where I grew up and is such an iconic spot there. 5 Paces in Atlanta because of the energy. Anywhere there’s a stage because it allows me to play music for people, and there’s no better feeling in the world than that.



Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?



A) Thievery Corporation, Leon Bridges, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Rick Rubin, Halsey, Huey Lewis, Bruno Mars, Pretty Lights…too many to name really.



Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?



A) I listen to a lot of Motown and soul. So, I’ll just put on the best of Motown if I’m cooking or want to be in a good mood. I just love the passion and rawness and heart of it.



Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?



A) It’s a direct line of communication. And it allows you to let the people see who you really are if you choose to approach social media in that way.



Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?



A) Thank you for letting me live my dream and giving me purpose every day. - Starry Mag

Hi Nate, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?
– I’ve been good, all things considered. Lucky enough to be healthy and keeping to social distancing. I’m also trying to stay busy by learning the piano, staying creative, and catching up with old friends and family.
Can you talk to us more about your single “Song For You”?

– It’s a couple different things for me. Not only is it my love song to music, and fans of music, but I also wanted it to be a shoulder to cry on when things get tough. Hopefully, it’s something that people find uplifting when they’re going through a rough spot in life, or played when they want to celebrate getting through something difficult.
Did any event in particular inspire you to write this song?

– I wouldn’t say any one event in particular. I’m inspired every time I hear a great song, or any time I’m doing a performance that resonates with people. There is a healing power in songs and the way it can change our moods, and I just wanted to write a song with the purpose of doing that. The world can be overwhelming sometimes, even before this crisis which just adds to it infinitely. We all deal with expectations and pressure, money worries, personal failures, body issues, anxiety, the obsession with social media, and I just wanted to write a song to let people know that they are good enough and that there is always someone there to listen. I also wanted to celebrate music and the power of the song.
How was the filming process and experience behind the video?

– The video was very spontaneous and a little crazy because we shot the New York footage in February, about three weeks before the coronavirus and we were in a packed Times Square, so to see pictures now where it’s empty is surreal, and we felt we needed to put that footage in to remind ourselves of what we will eventually get back to. The Nashville footage was shot the day before a tornado ravaged the city, so it really gave that footage and the message in the song a deeper meaning. The last piece was going throught live performance footage because I wanted to show how much joy I get from playing and the energy and affect that music has on a crowd. I wanted it to be real and honest to not only show the large performances and big stages, but also the shows in the bar scene and where I’ve came from.
The single comes off your new album Future Retro Love Story – what’s the story behind the title?

– Well, the Future Retro part is there because I wanted to put something out that had a retro feel to reflect my love of Motown and soul music, but have the songs still fit into the modern pop landscape. It has elements of 80’s pop, some 90’s hip hop influences, a touch of EDM, and a lot of soul. Also, in the future, my album will be considered retro, so it just sounded like a cool way to put it. The love story is reflected in the songs and how they are ordered on the album to have a narrative throughout, going through the process of falling in love and what comes along with it; the doubts, the fears, the passion, the acceptance, and the selflessness that comes along with it. There are two love stories happening at once. The obvious literal love story between two people, but also my love story with music and all of the influences that continue to inspire me to this day.
How was the recording and writing process?
– It came together really fast. Jordan Hawley, who did the majority of the production had just finished his Northside Collective studio with his brother Matt, in the basement of his house. When I went to check it out, he had a lot of tracks that fit the vibe of what I wanted to do, and we just immediately started working. The lyrics and hooks just flooded out. It felt like everything that I had done before musically, had led up to this album and this moment, and there was a real cathartic feeling when we were finished. I was also lucky enough to have some really great relationships with some uber-talented musicians who I was fortunate enough to collaborate with and they came in to add their own flavor to some of the songs.
What role does Indianapolis play in your music?

Indianapolis is my hometown and where music really became a big part of my life. I had a group called The Franchize that had some success and really led me to believe that there was a place for me in music. My Mom and Dad are there as well, so I go up as much as I can to visit, which hadn’t been much around the time that I went up. But, I was looking for time away to figure out what I wanted to do next, and there’s something about being home that allows you to really reconnect with who you are and where you came from. I also have a lot of friends there that are really supportive and that’s how Jordan and I started working. He had been a friend and a fan of some of my other projects and I didn’t even know that he had been producing music. But, he had a catalogue of great stuff and understood who I was as an artist and it just clicked.
What is it about the 80s and Motown sound that you found fascinating?
Well, the 80’s to me had the perfect fusion of the analog and digital world coming together. There were still a lot of live instruments, but also heavy synth and electronic drums. Some great pop songs were written in that decade and there was just such a great energy about it. With Motown, it’s just how incredible and timeless the sound is. It’s extremely raw and soulful and honest. It also just shows how great love songs can be for the soul, and still be stuff that you can play at parties, as well. The music is so uplifting, even though it was made during such a dark period in our history as a nation. But it really brought people together and that still resonates to this day. It’s timeless and will be around forever. Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder will be up there throughout musical history with Mozart and Beethoven.
What aspect of love did you get to explore on this record?

All different aspects and kinds of love. Love for your significant other, love of self, the love of the journey, and the love affair that I have with music and as a fan of music. Also the things that come along with love like regret, rejection, and heartache. But, the most important theme is the celebration of love.
Where else did you find the inspiration for the songs and lyrics?

Every day life experience. Bill Withers had a great line that said “I write about whatever I’m able to understand and feel,” and I really think that was the approach to this record. It’s personal, but also wanted it to be able to resonate with people because heartache, passion, love, jealousy, pain, and healing are emotions that affect all people and hopefully there is a song on this record for any mood, and that you walk away after listening to it feeling better than you did going into it.
Any plans to hit the road?

I absolutely cannot wait to hit the road. I was gigging three or four nights a week before this, and I miss it terribly. I definitely prefer the stage to the studio, although I love them both. But I’m a performer, and I love the immediate feedback from a live performance, the interaction with the crowd, as well as the improvisation and the passion that comes with performing. It’s what I live for. So, when this is all over, I’m definitely going to hit the road as I think we will need music to heal and it will be important for us as a society to come together and be together when it’s safe. Human beings need and long for connection to one another, and music will play an important role in bringing that back. I look forward to playing a part in that when it’s time.
What else is happening next in Davis & The Love’s world?

I’m just going to keep exploring my sound and trying to make good music. I’m really trying to get my chops up on piano as well, because I don’t want to ever be stuck in a moment where I can’t create or share a song with the world. It’s too good of a feeling. And, as long as there are people to reach with music, I’ll keep going. - Vents Magazine

Okay, we got something unique and interesting from the band Davis & The Love, this fusion band carries the soul of Pop with thick musical groovy with a touch of R&B vocals on one side. Through this single "Don't Take It Away" they are escorting the presence of their latest album "Future Retro Love Story"

The single "Don't Take It Away" is our introductory song with the energetic Davis & The Love band. Playing disco beats that will make us shake a little in this seat. There are many layers, which are well-woven, dynamic Funk, poetic pop and refreshing hip-hop. It is truly a pleasure to introduce them to you. - Parapop

Future Retro Love Story – that is the title to the scheduled debut album by American alt. pop group Davis & The Love. The LP which is expected to drop this month is a showcase of the band’s genre-blurring mix of classic soul, Motown, retro pop, R&B and hip-hop. One of the songs on it is being released today. Named “Don’t Take It Away”, the track infuses elements of funk and has an enchanting effect on the listener.

“I’d been making rebellious party music with bands like The Franchize, KontraBand and NAKD,” admits Davis. “But, I was looking for a project that reflected my love of Motown. Once I got together with Jordan, I knew we had something. The earth seemed to shift on its axis a bit for me.” - aipate

Davis and the Love is the project of frontman Nate Davis and producer Jordan Hawley. The long term friends sat down last year to listen to a few songs that Hawley was producing. The modern pop mixed with old school vibe sound interested Davis and they worked together to create their debut full-length album called ‘Future Retro Love Story’. Nate was searching for a different sound that incorporated his love for Motown and he found the sound he was looking for with Jordan. Working through 2019 and catching up with former band members who contributed their expertise, for example, guitar riffs, horns, and drums Future Retro Love Story was created.

‘Don’t Take It Away’ is their latest single that stood out from the crowd with its rather unique sound due to the mix of genres. The only way for you to understand the genre-crossing in this song is to listen to it! I love how catchy it is and the way it makes me happy listening to it. Their press release says “Soulful Feel-Good Music From Modern Pop Collective of Musicians And Producers” which I feel is an accurate way of describing the sound. Nate’s vocals are incredible! As well as a great sound they are storytelling vocals that get the meaning of the song across to the listener. ‘Don’t Take It Away’ explores the instant chemistry with someone you just met and is an ode to how great love it. Fitting nicely into the album in the middle to change the mood of the album from the complications of love to celebratory of love. Clever! Take a listen to this super contagious song here. - Music Injection