We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful NoCapeDav. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with NoCapeDav below.
NoCapeDav, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
The most meaningful project that I’ve worked on is my latest album release titled “Over/Under”. This is my second underground album, with Who Needs Saving being my first. Before going into this project’s journey, I was dealing with a lot of doubt not only from others around me and my family but myself too. Over/Under is short for Overlooked/Underrated, which are feelings I’ve always felt about myself since I was in grade school. Throughout life, we are all considered overlooked and/or underrated in some areas we are involved in, but who gives others’ judgment worth? Yourself!! Within the project, I used that as energy for this project, but then it made me realize there are so many things in our lives that are constantly viewed as overlooked and underrated such as something so simple as making a cup of coffee in the morning or being able to call a loved one and say hello. The project has a logo being (+/-), which is referred to as the over/under in gambling, so I used that sign to tell listeners and newcomers to gamble their ears and risk a few minutes of their time with a chance to unlock a new enjoyable sound that can be played today, tomorrow, and years to come. You know how the saying goes “it took blood, sweat, and tears”, it took exactly just that plus a few fears to get this project completed as I didn’t just record but also I engineered the entire body of work besides the final track ‘Genuality’. The first time I relied on myself to pull through majorly, and I did just that!
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?
My artist name is NoCapeDav, my real name is David but people call me Dav (pronounced Dave just without the ‘e’). I’m from a military town called Killeen in central Texas, but currently reside in the best city in Texas, Houston of course! I attended the University of Houston and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Psychology, I’ll be graduating with my Master’s in May next year. I’ve always wanted to do music growing up but never had the confidence to do so but hanging with local Houston artists Babyk. 99 and $amo on multiple occasions, they knew my talents and basically forced me into the environment. Very thankful for them two for starting the engine most definitely!
The music I create would mainly fall into HipHop and R&B, but a few tracks would be considered alternative or pop. My music is still heavily underground but the tracks are priceless as each track within my discography tells a story and the stories aren’t too farfetched for the listeners to relate to or understand. The most trending song on the ‘Over/Under’ project is titled ‘Close 2 Me’, which tells a story of a lonely heart yearning for their other half to be in the same space as him or her. The second in line is the track titled ‘Bissonett’, which is a more upbeat song that depicts an area in Houston that is well known amongst Houstonians in which non-Houston listeners will easily get an idea of what to expect in that region when visiting Houston. The two songs given are on the complete opposite spectrum which shows how flexible I am when it comes to sounds. What sets me apart from others is that I can read a crowd or the room effortlessly, I call myself ‘The Vibe Conductor’ sometimes, which is something I’ve seen many talented artists fail to do. Me, being the flexible artist I am, I have the talent and work to adapt in any crowd setting, doesn’t matter if I’m seated singing during an open mic at a coffee shop or jumping around rapping at a club or lounge. You can put me anywhere, satisfaction guaranteed! You can tell the confidence is pretty evident.
When it comes to working with others, I tend to engineer my own work but I’ve been mixing other recording artists as well if needed. Problems are usually solved within the same sitting because I would lose so much sleep if I can’t fix something knowing I was blessed with the capabilities to solve it. Other artists have reached out to me for engineering and feature purposes, I am completely honest with people that want to collaborate. Now, I don’t ever bash anyone’s art because it is still art no matter how you look at it or hear it but I do value my time and energy so if I feel the collaboration is incompatible then it won’t happen, unfortunately.
I’m proud I didn’t allow opinions to deter me from my blessings even when my faith was low.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Something I had to unlearn was believing everyone has your best interest at heart because they don’t. I grew up in a military home so I carry a lot of those militant values with me, such as treating others the way you want to be treated which is the universal law. I had to force myself to understand that you can’t try to find yourself in others because they’re not you, only you can be you. Being in Houston has led me to be around a bunch of amazing entrepreneurs and creatives who all want to win or become success stories, but the vision that everyone can win doesn’t sit well with everyone. The music industry is definitely complex so if it was easy everyone would do it, which I agree but to gatekeep from the ones you call friends or good people, just isn’t a good look in my opinion. Not really into drama, but to keep it short and to the point. When I first started my creative journey, I would seek information and advice from peers that I thought would put me on the right path or direction but they would rather give me excuses as to why they couldn’t help out or talk. If I am able to assist anyone in any way possible I could, but if I could end inflation I would do that too. Just to give some understanding, I am more than willing to help anyone but I am realistic with what I can assist with.
Everyone is not your friend when you’re on the way to your success and nobody has your best interest at heart better than yourself, you just have to win the everyday battle with the man in the mirror.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Be the first.
Nobody in my family on either side has ever been well off, I want to be the start of the domino effect. Russell Westbrook has a motto stating two words “Why not?” and I use that saying in almost anything that seems too far to reach or looked at as impossible because nothing is ever really impossible. When I began the journey, it was unbelievable to see so many people you’ve been around for years doubt you or already count you out. Well when it comes to me, NoCapeDav, you better count me in every time or add a regret onto your list. I use to take offense when my family or close friends doubted me but it made sense because they have never seen it done before, especially for someone they are connected with. My mom always told me, “misery loves company” and I refuse to be miserable. So why not me, why not NoCape? You tell me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/nocapedav
- Instagram: nocapedav
- Linkedin: nocapedav
- Twitter: nocapedav
- Youtube: nocapedav
Image Credits
Jordan Bailey Victor Carroll Mo Dawodu SPLA$H TV