New York City: #011 (Signs & Omens)

...just getting in, what time is it. Only 11:37, feels like 3 in the morn. My eyes feel 5,000 pounds heavier than they should (I didn't take a nap today...yea i take naps, so what son). Sitting here at this Harlem kitchen table with my homegirl's PC (b/c we already talked about my mac *waiting for somebody to gift me a new one*), and we got alot to cover - i can't tell it all, too much. But here we go...

So last night (wednesday for late readers), I went to SOB's to catch the Sol Village music series. This series has been going for several years now, as I remember trying to get on it in years past. Nothing came of it, so I moved on. Well, funny how fate plays out I'm back in New York and got the invite to come out. So I came and that's where I met a wonderful woman...I said WOMAN. Her name is Avery Sunshine (don't click this yet, cuz you'll be there awhile, trust me on this one). I'd seen Avery Sunshine very briefly at another show in Atlanta last year, but also as of late she'd been on iTunes top 10 so I took notice again. But when she took the stage I had a feeling she'd lay out the goods - take us to church and back u kno. And she did, but it wasn't too much...she did her thing for sure. But it wasn't until i met her backstage. Our convo...

Me: "Hey Avery, beautiful show out there...I saw you once before in ATL. I'm Darnell Levine, a singer/songwriter from Nashville."

Avery: "Nashville, you say? I was just there!" By now she had already won me over. I'm only 28 u gotta remember, and she is 35 (she said her age on stage)...but that mama is gorgeous. I say mama cuz after we started talking and she had to step away she said...

"I be right back, give me some suga." I did.

Luckily I had a toast of something someone had bought me earlier so I was very...easy goin. Yep, that just happened. So I ran into several folks and told em "hey, can I get on this show next month...I'll still be here." "You haven't played here!?" Fiona Bloom & Sweetlocs (two great friends of mine) said. "Nope. I've had my folks request it several times (my folks being me!), but no not as of yet. But I want to, it'd be an honor in fact. Shoot, El Debarge is playing here next week!!!" I replied in a let's make it happen kind of way. "We're gonna make it happen." they both said. So there it is...hopefully you'll see a flier up here soon with my big face or name on it & I can christen SOB's finally. Keep u posted.

Anyhow, as I was leaving I ran into a guy who was singing background on stage for Eric Roberson (the host of the night)...I said to myself..."I know this cat from somewhere!" I thought about it..........Jesse Boykins! (a fellow BET Music Matters artist currently) That's who that is!

"Hey, Jesse! U don't know me but I'm Darnell Levine, a singer/songwriter from Nashville. I dig what you do man."

"Ah, thank you man." he said in a very humble way. Yet I could feel the 'ok dude you don't know me' vibe coming off just slightly (I know b/c I've given it before -- but won't ever again!) But it was still cool, I respected it. Later that night as he was leaving I caught up with him again and asked for HIS email. I learned over the years, you giving people ur info gives them the power, the whole point is for YOU to have the power to win THEM over, how you gonna do that with no info! You get the power. [that message was brought to you by any Kanye West video, no link necessary]. (nyc voice in the background)....Ay Yo, rap it up B! ...Ok ok, so that be wednesday.

TONIGHT...last night (since it's 12:41a now)

My dude Rudy Currence (read a blog down) invited me to his BET Music Matters set, as he is next in line to get his turn to shine.

Let's follow the signs, are you following. Yea, me too. So in a nutshell, dude killed it. Cleaned house, wrecked shop, popped trunk...all that. I pray dude gets wherever he's trying to go, cuz he deserves it. HereYou'll see. Meantime, I run into guess who...Stephen Hill again (read blog #002). I made myself known again. He peeped me bruh (shout out to KY). It's funny I've been in this city for a month & a half and already seen the head of BET music TWICE! TWICE SON! I think that deserves a new macbook, I'm just sayin. Anyway, I ended up getting to the crux of the situation. Terrence Clayton, the dude behind Music Matters.

"Hey Terrence! Name's Darnell Levine man, how you doing!?"

"Good man, and yourself?"

"Great. Really enjoying the night. Glad I came out. I'm a singer/songwriter new to the city from Nashville, Stephen Hill passed along my music to your staff recently a few weeks ago."

"Oh word, u got some more on you!?"

--------Now stop right there, before you say anything about where this is headed. I'm gonna tell you, NO, I didn't have anything "on" me as in a CD. I had cards and me, but no physical CD. I took a vow that I had to be my biggest fan, and I couldn't just let a CD do the talkin', I actually had to talk about me, from my own mouth. AAhhhhhh D, u killin' me! I know ur sayin it, i kno. But why didn't I bring an album? For several reasons, b/c giving someone your music, your story, your whole shabang in the first meeting isn't always the best move. People tend to lose stuff at clubs by the end of the night, they get drunk, they sit it down and forget it, they use it as a coaster by the end of the night. All these things happen, they have to me lol. (That LOL is followed by a very serious face). So I said, "If you have a card I'd love to connect more when your free. Just to let you know more about me and the music I make." He gladly reached in his pocket and gave me his card. I said, "Thanks Terrance, I'm gonna call you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow's great!" he said. Tomorrow's great I thought? Nobody ever says that...ever.

...the road to our dreams isn't always smooth, and not always clear. But if you pay attention to the little signs, the small omens of confirmation, ...it'll tell you where to go. I'm gonna call Terrence tomorrow.

P.S. by the way, i'm in love with avery sunshine. im serious. the end.

P.S.S. no proofread...i'm tired.