Today we’d like to introduce you to Darynn Dean.
Hi Darynn, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am Darynn Dean and I love to sing! I am a jazz singer who composes, performs, and currently goes to the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA. Music has always been a huge part of my life ever since I was a little girl.
My journey started in the backseat of my dad’s old Avalon singing along to Chaka’s Khan’s version of “My Funny Valentine”. From that moment, I knew I wanted to sing when I grew up.
My grandfather, Donald Dean, who is a renowned jazz drummer, pulled me into the professional sphere. He would take me and my cousin, Jamael Dean, who is an awesome jazz pianist, out on his gigs around LA. We performed sets as a family and I learned right on the bandstand in real-time!
I remember having the worst case of stage fright as a kid, so my dad took me down to The World Stage in Leimert Park to sing in the Tuesday Night Vocal workshop. It was there that I met my first vocal coaches Barbara Morrison and Howlett Smith who mentored me and nurtured my talents. Those early years really helped me grow and form a strong foundation for the artist I am today.
Fast forward to today, I am overjoyed to be in the Herbie Hancock Institute soaking up all the knowledge and experiential learning I can. It’s a specialized two-year Master of Music program made up of an eight-piece jazz ensemble. We get to study, tour, and perform with iconic jazz legends like Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and Terri Lyne Carrington. I still have to pinch myself because it’s such a blessing to learn from the living masters who are the blueprint for an entire genre of music.
Right now, I am super excited to be working on my first album that will be recorded this year. I look forward to sharing it with the world!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Geez, it hasn’t always been a smooth road. Haha! It has been filled with bumps, lumps, and an occasional pothole or two. I strive to be an excellent artist who also understands the business side of the music industry.
Becoming a businesswoman has been a huge learning curve. For me it means trusting the artistic process while budgeting time, resources, money etc. There was this moment when I woke up and said, “Oh my gosh, I have to start making enough money to support myself from my art.” So a challenge in the past was forming new habits that support my vision of being business conscious and adept. I am thankful to have an amazing team and teachers around me that help make the bumpy road smooth in challenging times that arise.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a jazz singer who puts my life into song. At my concerts, l like to take listeners on a journey and tell stories through music. I love my ability to tap into different sonic landscapes when singing. Jazz is such an amazing art form that pushes the boundaries of freedom and expression. I think that’s one of the reasons I gravitate to it so much. I write, arrange, collaborate with other musicians to create an entire world bursting at the seams with melodies, rhythms, and lyrics. It’s all very exciting.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
My most important and favorite lesson is to never give up. There is a poem I keep on my wall by the XIVth Dalai Lama that has a line in it that says, “Never give up, no matter what is going on, never give up.” I take it to heart and it encourages me to always keep going.
Contact Info:
- Website: Darynndean.com
- Instagram: @DarynnDean
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darynnd/
- Twitter: @DarynnDean
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpRI5S8kdn2ztuy2WFw9tig
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5tk7GHoPklwUHmxNCeSsVW
Image Credits
Donald A. Dean, Craig Allyn Photography, Jessica Haye, Clark Hsiao, Steve Mundinger, Detroit Jazz Festival, Spotlight Music Center
