We recently connected with Duane Powell and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Duane thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
When I worked “regular” jobs, I didn’t feel satisfied or fulfilled. I was moving about unmotivated and too many times I dreaded having to get up in the morning to work at these places. When I started working in the music distribution and retail, I came alive and thrived but as the industry changed, I had to make the decision to find other creative work or go back into the workforce. I did the latter and went back to feeling unfulfilled. A year and a half into this day job, the business folded without warning and I was forced to use my gift and knowledge of music to take care of myself. At that point, I started doing the work to make this my full time work.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Growing up immersed in the richness of Chicago’s soul music scene of the 70s and early 80s, I entered the world of street promotions in 1985 pounding the pavement promoting events for prominent DJs within Chicago’s burgeoning house music scene starting with Lil Louis. By 1990, I had done street promotions and served as marketing manager and consultant for many clubs and DJs including the historic Powerhouse. I began spinning music in 1997 and since my humble beginnings, I’ve headlined and has held residencies at many of Chicago’s most popular music venues, hot spots and festivals including Taste Of Chicago, SummerDance and Chicago House Festival. I’ve also been headliner at festivals throughout the U.S. including Arizona House Festival, Afro Disco Miami and shared the bill with the likes Francois K, Nicky Siano, Joe Claussell, Ron Trent, DJ Spinna, Ian Friday and many many more. In 2019, I was named Best House DJ by the Chicago Reader. Most recently, recorded a live DJ set for the international TV networks Boiler Room, Elevator Music and was a performer at the Smithsonian under the banner of sound religion as apart of their Folklife Festival.
For fifteen years, I also worked in music retail and distribution. Also within those years, I launched the Soundrotation brand and began throwing events and concerts highlighting up and coming artists on the jazz and soul scene. Working with and promoting artists including Robert Glasper, Ledisi, Jill Scott, Eric Roberson and pretty much every artist on the scene in their beginning. Eric Roberson gave me the title of “Cultural Custodian”
As a historian, I created a lecture and listening series titled Rear View Mirror Sessions and have conducted them or given talks at institutions including UChicago Arts, Stanford University, Detroit Institute Of Art, Chicago Public Library and more.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
The thing that society can do to better support artists and creatives is simple: SUPPORT THEM. Buy their art if you can afford it. Help spread the word be it by word of mouth or a social media post about their art if it moves you, if you love it. If you’re a blogger, write an article. If you’re friends with the artists, still buy a ticket to their gig or show and not ask to be on the guest list. Subscribe to their websites, social media pages etc. Get involved. Spend more time taking about the music, the actors, the artists you love and less or any time on the ones you don’t care for.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
The mission and goals that are driving me in my practices is the feeling of gratitude I get when patrons who come to hear my spin express that they were touched positively, enhanced, and their spirits were lifted. The response I get from those that support my lecture series expressing that they walk away with more knowledge and understanding. I’m hoping that I doing my part in keeping the excellence of music culture alive.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.duanepowell.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soundrotation/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/djduanepowell
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/duane-powell-18b15685/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SOUNDROTATION
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SOUNDROTATION
- Other: All My Links for special events, online mixes and DJ sets https://linktr.ee/djduanepowell
Image Credits
Photos by Christopher Andrews, Seed Lynn, RJ Eldridge