Dionne Kirby enjoys making music that connects with her fans

By:  Jackie Hardy, NDG Contributing Writer

Dallas native Dionne Kirby is making her mark in the music industry as she most recently performed with legendary jazz artist, saxophonist and flutist Najee in Austin in which she proclaims has been one of her career highlights since starting in the business.

According to Dionne, music has been in her blood since birth.

“Music has been a part of me for as long as I can remember.  I do remember just singing all of time, it was kind of my therapy in difficult times, my friend in good times when I celebrate things and times in between,” she advises.

Dionne fondly remembers the first time she performed was during church; where at the age of seven she sang her first solo.

“I was never a shy child,” added Dionne. She also stated that when performing for the first time, “I sang because I liked it and I had fun while I was doing it, but it wasn’t about hearing myself. It wasn’t about how I sounded. That’s just what I loved to do.”

Performing in church, participating in extracurricular activities such as drill team to attending the Performing and Visual Arts School, Booker T. Washington are all experiences she credits in helping her learn the discipline of hard work within her craft of performing.

“Schools and institutes like that (Booker T. Washington) are really important because of the friendships that you build. Then you need to be around other people who can perform at your level and produce and create on the same level where you are. You are challenged by being in that environment,” she adds regarding the importance of having schools like Booker T. Washington available for students with a passion for the arts.

Anita Baker is one of the artists that Dionne also credits as a major influence and who inspires her both musically and creatively.

She advises, “In my younger years,  I just did not hear another voice like hers and my love of her artistry and what she did; she just continued to grow.  Initially it was just her voice as I was like; it is really different from everybody else that I am hearing and then as I got older I really started focusing on her lyrics.”

Dionne recently released her latest album entitled, Helium.

According to Dionne, the response from her hometown has been favorable as she exclaims she sold over 50 percent of her CD inventory during the album release concert she held back in June at the Bishops Art Theatre Center in Dallas.

“It was definitely a packed house and people were very supportive of me beyond what I imagined.”

As an independent artist, Dionne feels her latest project is apropos to where she is both creatively and  professionally.  She equates the title of her CD, Helium to pushing beyond her comfort zone and expanding the possibilities.

“As I looked at the titles of all the songs, toward the end of the project it was about moving, expanding possibilities, moving upward and beyond.  While everything is real, the lyrics (from the CD) are based on the now and what’s real, but also accepting the reality and then, shifting the reality toward what you would want and so that’s where Helium came from,” she explains.

Dionne shares how being an independent artist does not come without its challenges. One of her greatest challenges was creating her brand, which required significant time and money.

“I think the most difficult part is creating your brand and bringing attention to yourself as an artist and the brand, because this is a business industry and most of the folk who can make a decision — their bottom line is about making money.  So the challenge is putting something together that you are passionate about, that you love and turning that into a business.”

Dionne is involved in every aspect of the creative process. She enjoys all facets of making music from writing to producing and performing.  She also enjoys the rehearsal time before the performance the most because it allows her to see the vision come together.

“My favorite space to be in is in rehearsal before the live show; I happen to love that time being with the band and getting ready for the show.

I enjoy it because I am actually living the production, I created it, I’ve recorded it and now its living with the musicians and artist and then, now as I am rehearsing I am creating the visual, I’m creating what people are going to see and what they are going to hear; so it’s like a celebration,” she describes.

The writing process is also enjoyable to Dionne as she explains her publishing company called, Lyrics First Music fueled her recent album project; and according to her, it is the hope to collaborate with other artists to write and produce more music.

In describing her writing process, Dionne states, “I often start with what’s in my journal.  My songs are always about what is going on with me.  A lot of times its about a challenge that I have worked through and kind of the aha that came out of that challenge or situation.”

Her R&B and smooth jazz sound is what she feels is refreshing to her listeners, because her music as she describes is real, simple, optimistic and relatable.

Dionne is very optimistic about her future as she reflects on some of the accomplishments she has achieved thus far, such “Honorable Mention” recognition from Billboard Music on her first EP project. She hopes to accomplish future goals of continuing to connect with young people through her music; garner international success, as well as, pursue acting and write a book.

She hopes to continue to connect with young people whether it be through speaking engagements and workshops.

“I definitely plan to write a book and looking forward to going to the UK to perform,” she adds.

Dionne also wants to continue her passion of community service and has a heart for working with youth. She has served as a teacher and a deputy director of an arts and academic program in Washington, D.C.

“I remember what it was to be young, and I think that is what young people need for people to remember — what it was like to be 14.  I want to listen to young people and for their voices to be heard,” exclaims Dionne.

For more information about purchasing her CD, upcoming concert dates or to view her soon-to-be released music video for the title song, Swim Around, visit dionnemusic.com. To hear samples of her music from the latest project, Helium visit https://soundcloud.com/dionne-music-world.