On June 25, 2020, Viral Records announced the release of the long awaited latest album on their label by Darrell Kelley. This follows his spring 2018 debut EP titled “Storm Is Coming”, then in the winter of the same year the album “Unity”. Next, in the spring of 2019 Kelley dropped his “Here Ends the Lesson” album and ended that year with another LP, “Get Wild”. In between those extended and long playing records was a blizzard of singles that rose up the radio charts around the world. So it was no surprise to hear that this prolific recording artist was back again with his latest collection of songs: “The Audacity”.
This week Darrell Kelley took a few minutes from his whirlwind schedule to field a few questions and share some answers that we knew Hot Indie News readers were curious to find out about. What we’ve provided below are some excerpts from that interview. Sit back, fasten your seat belts and get ready for the ride…
Hot Indie News: Mr. Kelley, we know you’re one of the busiest men in show business. Could you tell us what’s been keeping you so busy and what you’ve been up to?
Darrell Kelley: Let me start by just saying what a pleasure it is to have this dialogue with you here at Hot Indie News. Since the beginning of my career in the entertainment industry you folks have been right there beside me and shining your light on what I’ve been doing. Some of my records you liked and some you didn’t, but you’ve always been honest in all of you assessments, and I respect that, man!
As you know, besides being a professional singer and songwriter I’ve always been active in the business community. I’ve bought, managed and sold restaurants and real estate among many other ventures. Was a bishop in the Baptist church before creating a new religion I call U.W.G. E.A.M. Lately I’ve spent much of my time participating in social activism and traveling the country to show my support and lend a shoulder to carry the cause of Black Lives Matter and social and legal justice for all. In the last few weeks alone I’ve traveled to Houston, Minneapolis, Atlanta, and many other cities to stand side by side with the demonstrators peacefully protesting the unjust and assiduous murders of black people around these United States of America.
When asked if I’ve now become a radical I tell people that I’ve always been a man of God. And if you’re a man of God you are compelled to stand up, raise your voice to the heavens and even look Satan in the eye to stare down the evil you see happening around you. If you’re truly a man of God you have no choice but to make right what is wrong in this world if you ever hope to be welcomed and embraced by the Lord in the next one. You see, sometimes you must do more than just pray—through your actions you must do good always!
Hot Indie News: Wow, that’s quite a manifesto! Switching gears now, what’s the story behind this new album?
Darrell Kelley: During the past year, in reaction to hearing about all the murders of black people by police and racists within the Caucasian community, I began composing and recording more and more tracks concerning these incidents as a way to relate my feelings about what was happening. These songs were simply flowing out of me one after another in a fashion that I believe was God’s way of using me as His vessel to deliver His message to the troubled world we live in today. I was yet one song short of completing the album my record company was still waiting for when I recalled reading former-president Obama’s great book, “The Audacity of Hope”, a couple of years ago. It certainly left an indelible impression on my soul. As soon as I remembered reading it I knew what I had to so I booked some studio time, got my crew together and headed in to work on what would be the final cut for my then unnamed release and in a flash we’d finished recording a number called “The Audacity”.
It was also the perfect title for this new compilation because there were new songs included that I’d recently written like “Ahmaud” which was of course about Ahmaud Arbery being shot by two white vigilantes in Glynn County, Georgia. I had to add “Because of You” that called out the NRA to bear their share in the responsibility in the deaths of countless people of all races, colors and creeds. “Police Brutality” focused on the murder of George Floyd while in the hands, or better said, under the knee of the police. Then there were some older ones I’d reworked, such as “Believe In Something (Kneel)” about the reaction to the Colin Kaepernick protest at NFL games, or “Unity” where the title defines the message of how we all must find ways to live, love and work together in this world.
While recording the song “The Audacity” it occurred to me that would be the perfect title for this album. The thread that holds the tracks on this album in tack is, like Dr. Martin Luther King told us, we all must be audacious enough to demand the right to be recognized and treated as an equals. That’s something I believe has still to be achieved, not only in this country, but around the world for all men and women. I’m simply saying that like MLK and Barack Obama it is our burden to bear in possessing the audacity to take control and command of our own fate and destiny then to right what we see is wrong.
Hot Indie News: To say the least this has certainly been enlightening. Darrell Kelley, thank you for taking this time to share you thoughts with us today.
Darrell Kelley: Thank you Hot Indie News, and stay well and healthy, my friends.
