We caught up with the brilliant and insightful David D’Angelo a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi David, thanks for joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?
Earning a living through one’s creative expertise can often be a challenge, especially in the music industry. However, when it came to determining that I would make this my career, that was the easy part. I have always loved music!
I have been playing piano for over 20 years, and my mother was actually my first teacher! Piano is truly my first love when it comes to music. That love and dedication is what propelled me further into songwriting, music production, music education, performance, and my overall career in the music industry.
When it comes to my bread and butter, I am a music educator. I have been teaching piano for over 10 years, and music production for around 8 years. I teach lessons both online and in person, to all ages of children and adults.
As an adolescent, once I was able to attain a certain level of understanding and proficiency on piano I began teaching private piano lessons. That was one of my first streams of income derived from music, along with selling CDs of original piano compositions and beats. Since that point in my life, teaching has always been a way for me to make money within my field. However, for the past few years I have also been teaching with multiple music schools. I teach remotely with McAllister Music Studios, based in San Francisco, and in person with Bold Music, based in Charlotte, NC, where I currently live. I am now teaching at a full time capacity. This has allowed me to work entirely within my field of music, and still have time for expanding my own musical projects and creative collaborations !
Making enough time for all my creative endeavors is likely the hardest part, however I am very grateful to be a teacher and to earn a living sharing my knowledge of subjects I am passionate about. It hasn’t always been easy and my journey is far from done, however I see the value in continuing to improve one field of work, or one main skill, over a long period of time. For me continuing to improve my understanding of music and piano was just natural, as I simply love playing !
I encourage you to never give up on making a full time living from the services/products/benefits you can provide others, using your top passions and skillsets!
David, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Much love to everyone reading this, I am so grateful to connect with you. My name is David D’Angelo, and I am a musician who is passionate about nature and environmental topics. My mission is to bring more understanding of climate change and solution oriented music and content creation to the entertainment industry. One of my first examples of this process is through creating music, and music videos, focused on addressing specific environmental issues.
My debut EP, Born in Paradise, was created to urge listeners to see the Earth as paradise no matter where they are, and to treat it as such. My most commercially successful music release to date, “Priceless Commodity ft. MayDay”, is a hip-hop record speaking on water scarcity and the importance of clean water. I am currently planning for the Fall 2023 release of my next full length project, “In My Own World”. This EP will include “Priceless Commodity” and other records created to address environmental and social justice topics.
Even though my bread and butter is music education, as a multi-instrumentalist and music producer I often produce & compose records for other artists. I have production credits with artists of varying levels of credibility, including high profile New Orleans rapper Curren$y, LA’s own Baldacci, and many more up and coming artists.
Even though I love the studio, I also love the stage! I have performed alongside some notable acts, opening for FKJ on tour in New Orleans, as well as grammy nominated trumpeter Christian Scott. I have performed internationally, as well as on performance platforms Sofar Sounds and Balcony TV.
That being said, what motivates me the most to keep honing my own brand of environmental music is the response to my record “Priceless Commodity ft. MayDay”. This record has reached over 100K plays on Spotify, and our official music video was aired on Bet Jams, as well as featured on other platforms and music blogs. My co-collaborator and lyricist on Priceless Commodity is the rapper MayDay, hailing from Durham, NC. Together we have been working on more ways to fuse environmental justice with music. Aiding us with the visual component of our storytelling is Shay Stifelman, a multimedia artist based in Raleigh, NC. Shay specializes in photography & videography, and is the creative force behind most of my music videos, including “Priceless Commodity ft. MayDay”.
Since the release of Priceless Commodity on Earth Day 2020, we have been sending proceeds from royalties generated by Priceless Commodity and other income to Gravity Water, on a monthly basis. Gravity Water is a non-profit providing rainwater filtration systems for schools in need around the world. Turning rain into safe drinking water is incredible and we are proud to support their efforts ! As I continue to build my catalog of musical projects, It is my goal to forge deeper partnerships with organizations like Gravity Water, that are focused on providing clear solutions to specific environmental issues.
I plan to expand the ways I can utilize my art to create more positive change in this world. I hope we can work together if this is something that you are also passionate about !
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The limitless potential of creating music ! The energy and passion, the way it connects with people and uplifts people. The way that music and the arts can be foundational outlets for change and positive impact. At the heart of it, the reward comes from the feelings of love and how music nourishes our soul. People connect with the arts in a way that moves them emotionally. So when creative work comes from the heart, it has real healing and educational forces for the listener. I love this so much !
I also love playing and creating music simply because it is fun to do ! The experience of connecting with an audience, and other people being able to listen, love, and support my music in any way is the beautiful by product of doing something I love !!!
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Yes, absolutely, I love this question !
As a musician and a creative focused individual, the element that most inspires me and motivates me to continue creating and persist, is Nature. Even more specifically, I feel my purpose in life involves a responsibility to use my creative platforms and music to provide education on environmental topics, and to help provide solutions.
One thing I want you all to understand from reading this is that one of the most important things you can do in this decade and beyond is to continue educating yourself, your family and others, about the science and impacts of Climate Change. We will all benefit by shifting our mindset from denial to preparedness and belief in solutions.
As I write this, on August 9th, 2023, Hawaii is burning. Wildfires, fueled by Hurricane force winds, are currently burning through forests and towns in Hawaii. Our changing climate, which happens to be steadily making Hawaii drier, is exacerbating wildfires in a place we understand as lush, tropical paradise. Canada, Greece, Italy, California, Algeria, and now Hawaii have already been up in flames this summer, and the list goes on.
We are all getting used to seeing “apocalyptic” or “1 in 100/1000 year” weather events. We know this is not normal, yet we are hearing extreme weather events being dubbed as our “new normal.” We can’t accept this as commonplace. It seems it is up to us to create support networks, and support existing frontline battles. We, the people, also need the support of our governments and large corporations around the world. We have more leverage than we realize, because they need us to make them rich, and disasters cost money. Let’s reflect on the bigger picture, yet also acknowledge small wins and the power of continued steps in the right direction.
I will always love music and I will always love nature. I hope to better combine my knowledge and understanding of one area to support the other. I plan to partner with more people, organizations, and projects that are providing solutions to people and ecosystems in need of support. The trajectory of our world is being written right now. It is scary, yes, but also exciting. It is Real.
Let’s Re – Imagine our Future ! Together !
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.daviddangelomusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daviddangelomusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daviddangelomusic/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-d-angelo-1947127b/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/IamDavidDAngelo
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@daviddangelomusic
Image Credits
Shay Stifelman, Andy Strong