We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Darenda Weaver. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Darenda below.

Darenda, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?
As a first generation college student it has been quite a journey completing classes while working full time and still trying to be creative. Not to mention I am now a mom! Graduating with my Masters in 2020 after giving birth to my daughter was one of those things that I never saw for my future. I grew up in a working class family. My father works hard in the Texas sun doing construction for many of the streets and parking lots that Houstonians utilize. We grew up counting pennies for lunch money and spending some weeks without electricity because the bill was too much for a one working parent household with four children. I never thought of our family as low income although we did go to pantries for food a number of times. My parents did everything that they could to make sure that we were fed and had a good childhood. Despite the many challenges that they had to face. My father grew up around music and played percussion in his high school band in a small town called Many in Louisiana. He put out a few records that his band recorded in his friends basement. One record was recently repressed on Feel It Records! I grew up singing alongside my father and eventually joined/created a few bands of my own. I think that my upbringing has led me to my current career and passion working at Houston area nonprofit organizations. I have competed my Masters in Nonprofit Management and hope to continue to make a difference in the Houston community by giving my all to assisting others with resources available. On top of helping the community and being a new mom, I am still out and about playing records at local Houston venues and am working on starting a new band. Music is a part of me and my identity and I believe that my family has really pushed me to continue to be myself and keep creating and djing in the Houston community. I love my city, and feel honored to be able to share with friends and strangers my love for music.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I have always been a music fanatic. I just do not feel happy about my life if I am not involved in music in some way whether it be supporting my friend’s events, playing records for an audience, or playing in a band. Space City Mod Club is my DJ night and we play 1960’s Jazz/Soul/R&B and even Mod Revival records of the 1970’s depending on the night. Since there was not always somewhere to dance in Houston, especially when A Fistful of Soul ended their monthly parties I started my own night as a way to get out and stay active. I enjoy playing the records I find for an audience and it is a great way for an anxious person like myself to make friends.

I started to DJ in hopes of inspiring other girls to get involved in the music scene. I am proud of what I have accomplished in Houston. I have been a part so many events fun events and plan to continue to spin in 2022.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
We can all do better at shopping local, supporting small business and attending local artists events. We can also share creatives social media pages on our social media platforms to spread the word about what people are doing!

Is there mission driving your creative journey?
What drives me to keep moving everyday is knowing that what I am doing does make an impact in the community. I love getting to know people and being a part of this city. I try to promote my friends and what they are doing as much as possible, because creative people and ideas are what keeps a city moving forward. I love my day job helping people find resources and the fun events I get to be a part of on some weekends!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: /DarendaDorsey
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darenda-dorsey-a4ab5436/
• Other: Email: [email protected]

Image Credits
Black Slacks