Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Dana Vaughns

All eyes are on Dana Vaughns. The multitalented artist is absolutely crushing it on the screen and through his music. Earlier this year, he dropped his highly-anticipated EP Familiar Strangers, solidifying his place as one of the most exciting new voices in R&B. Pop Culturalist caught up with Dana to chat about his career and the exciting year he’s had.

PC: You’re an actor and musician. How did you discover your passion for the arts? Is there one that you naturally gravitate towards?
Dana: I got into the arts through dance. That was my first expression using my body or talent to tell a specific story.

I gravitate towards music. Music is the easiest thing for me to jump right into. I have a piano in my house. At any moment in time, I can grab that and play.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Dana: It’s been a mixture of people. My parents and how I was raised have given me an upper hand in how I handle decisions. When it comes to the music side of things, not tooting my own horn, but I learned a lot from myself. I look at what I can do and what I can’t do. My ear is more powerful than my skills at this point. I try to inspire myself to come up with ideas that aren’t out there already.

PC: You’ve had tons of success already in your young career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out to you?
Dana: This year, it was a big deal for me when I dropped “Rough Rider.” I put a lot into the release and video. It still lives on a few Spotify-curated playlists and Apple Music. That was a huge moment for me. It got the whole message across to my people and to new fans as well. I think it showed that I was taking things seriously.

I’ve had other records that have done bigger numbers, but this really allowed people to see what I’m really trying to do. It gave me that midyear motivation to finish strong and go hard. 



PC: What was the inspiration behind your new EP?

Dana: It was really about my life in the last year: being twenty-one, a new artist, and going through certain things. I found myself in a lot of new experiences this year with me maturing in my work and love life. It wasn’t even a coping mechanism. I wasn’t writing the darkest, craziest deep things, but all the stories were relevant to my life. The album takes you through six different emotions that I had throughout the year. 



PC: If you had to choose one song off Familiar Strangers that best encompasses you as an artist, what would it be and why?

Dana: That’s a difficult one. I would say “Cupid” is the most vulnerable record on the project. I think that one gives you the clearest, uncut, raw view of what I was going through. It explains a situation where I was almost in a love triangle. I wasn’t playing anyone or anything like that, but it was a genuine moment about dealing with two lives and making the right decision. I felt overwhelmed, and the song depicts that it’s up to Cupid. At the end of the day, I made the right decision, so he had my back. 



PC: You just got off the Eyes on Me Tour. What was the biggest takeaway from that experience?

Dana: It was good for me and Jordyn [Jones] to be on a tour. We’ve been friends for nine years, and she’s like a little sister to me. It was a good moment for us and for her. It was an honor to be on her first music tour with her. We’re such big supporters of each other that it gave us this really great feeling. Hopefully, we’ll do a remix of her song “More.” That may be a plan. I might be speaking that into existence. Actually, that might be the biggest thing to come off this tour. I performed it with her on stage. It looks really good, and the fans really liked it.

PC: You have an untitled Mindy Kaling project coming out next year. Is there anything you can tell us about that?

Dana: I can say that I’m on it. [laughs] It’s coming out next year. It’s a coming-of-age story of an Indian American girl in high school going through real-life experiences. It’s a comedy, but there are a lot of deeper messages that everyone can relate to. It’s an important show, especially for minorities. It’s rare nowadays that anyone is one race. This show gives a realistic perspective on how you can go through life and roll with the punches. I think I’m on five episodes. I play a high school kid who’s bad. He does typical hot guy douchey things. I’m super excited. I’m looking forward to sharing that.

PC: What’s one thing you know now that you wish you knew when you started your career?
Dana: I would have loved to learn how to play piano earlier. I taught myself by ear. I play pretty well. I can’t read music, but I would love to have done that when I was younger. It doesn’t hinder me too, too much. A lot of teachers and mentors did the same thing. Later down the line, they got some music theory behind it.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?

Dana: I think they’ll be surprised to learn that I have three Taylor Swift songs on my playlist.

PC: First album you bought?

Dana: One that I can remember is the Trilogy album by The Weeknd. I bought it on iTunes, and I would listen to it over and over.



PC: First concert you attended?

Dana: Britney Spears



PC: An album that changed your life and why?

Dana: Frank Ocean’s Orange album. It changed my perspective on music that I truly, truly liked. I could tell it was different but still had this timelessness about it. 

 



PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?

Dana: I don’t know where it’d be, but the Super Bowl.

PC: A must-have on the road?
Dana: It used to be headphones. I think for me it’s ample water and toothpicks.

To keep up with Dana, follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Pick up or stream Familiar Strangers on Amazon Music, iTunes, or Spotify.