Exclusive Interview: David Duane Talks Unapologetic Blonde, Exploring His Artistry, and More

David Duane is a rising artist who has made quite a statement with his debut album, Unapologetic Blonde. The genre-defying talent has channeled his own experiences as well as those closest to him to create a universal message and sound that has resonated with listeners around the globe. Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with David about Unapologetic Blonde, the importance of pushing yourself in all areas of your life, becoming the artist that he always knew he was meant to be, and more!

PC: This is your debut album. Tell us about the process of putting this together.
David: This album almost got completely shelved. There was a lot going on as far as mixing and mastering were concerned. There were issues with producers. I’m very particular about my stuff, and I don’t want anybody to hear my music and be like, “He worked with this person and he worked with that person. He’s not taking this seriously.”

Anything that I’ve ever done, it’s always been about quality. It has to be about the quality. I’m a Taurus. I’m an Earth sign. We’re very picky. We’re sticklers. We’re on it about ourselves. If it’s not right, then it can’t come out. This has been a lifelong dream since I heard Prince and Michael Jackson.

I was going through a lot of hardships while finishing this project. I just wanted to make sure that people felt what I was feeling. To my surprise, they really liked these songs. They were feeling it.

PC: This has been a lifelong dream of yours. What do you hope to say with this body of work?
David: I hope that listeners get a chance to understand who I am as a person. There have been a lot of misconceptions. In life, there are a lot of misconceptions, and people can get confused about what they see that’s out in the forefront versus reality.

If people can hear each other’s stories to get a full understanding, there would be more transparency. It creates the opportunity for people to have a better understanding of who you are. Then transparency comes to light. This album is a statement piece, not just for me. The situations in these songs are not just about me but also my friends. I kept everybody in mind with this album. I didn’t just want to sing songs about myself and my own experiences. That’s great, but some people may not be able to relate to every single thing that you’ve gone through. You have to be able to cater to your potential audience in many different ways. Be authentic to yourself, but cater to topics that are relatable to your potential audience. Relatability is so important. That’s one of the things I wanted to keep in mind. This project was created with intention, and that’s what Unapologetic Blonde is about.

PC: You’re no stranger to this industry. How did Urban Fierce come to fruition? How has your work behind the scenes played a role in your development as an artist?
David: Urban Fierce is a blessing that really set the tone for it all. We housed my show On Air with David Duane. We’ve worked with so many incredible artists, entrepreneurs, actors, and actresses. I’ve been able to utilize all of those relationships and the platform that’s been given to me. Glory to God because he gives us gifts, and it’s very important for you to understand your gifts, strengths, and weaknesses and to work at it every single day. I’m constantly telling my friends, “That’s nothing. I know I can do so much better. I have to push. I can be much more than what it is that I’m doing.” Because guess what? Even if you’re great at something, you can be greater. That’s not to put yourself down, but it’s to say that there is always room for improvement. I love to push myself. I’m grateful for the experiences that I’ve had on the executive side because now I know the do’s and don’ts and understand how much of the execution has to be there when putting out a project.

PC: This album is such an eclectic mix of pop and R&B. There is something for everybody. Who are the artists that influenced you and this process?
David: I would say first and foremost Michael Jackson, Prince, Beyoncé, Drake, J. Cole, and Brandy. We hear these names all the time. Brandy is an incredible artist who so many people love and respect. Her runs and her ad-libs are ridiculous. Also, Mary J. Blige and Keyshia Cole. They’re all forward-speaking women. They speak their minds, and they sing with so much conviction. I haven’t heard any male artists that come with that forward of an approach. I thought, “What approach would Mary take? How would Keyshia do this?” I feel like that was so much of the inspiration on this project.

PC: This album has been an accumulation of 27 years of your life. Did anything surprise you? What did you learn from this experience that you’re going to apply to future albums?
David: My honesty surprised me. I’ve never been this vocal in my whole life, and you know that I’m very vocal. [laughs] I really dove into things that people didn’t know that I was going through if they didn’t know me personally. I wanted to make sure that people really understood my perspective.

That honesty is definitely something that I will bring to the next project. It might hurt some people’s feelings with the things that I’m saying because these songs are very edgy. I’m not holding back. But that’s my advice to anyone who’s doing anything in the creative space: don’t hold back! Be exactly who you are and say it with your gut. Mean everything that you say. Walk that walk and talk that talk with everything in you because we only have one chance to live life on Earth.

We’ve really got to give it our all and be the person that we’ve always meant to be. I can truly say that I’m stepping into the person that I’ve always meant to be, and that’s such a good feeling.

PC: As we look ahead, what’s next for you?
David: I’m already in talks about doing some live performances. We’re definitely going to do some shows this year. I’m manifesting it. I’m putting it out there. By fall 2024, I will be headlining my own tour. It may not be in 2023, but 2024 definitely. I feel like it’s important as an artist to make sure that you’re performing and able to connect with the possibility of another fanbase. You don’t want to be in a space where you’re limiting yourself to the internet. I know that there are some people that are shy about performing and things like that, but you’ve got to get out there and do it.

To keep up with David, follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Spotify, and Apple Music.