7 minute read
Eric Darius
Q. Thanks for interviewing with us. Tell everyone who you are and what you do?
A. Hello, thank you so much for having me! I am an international recording artist & saxophonist, singer, songwriter, producer, educator, husband and CEO of my own record label,
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SagiDarius Music. I grew up in Tampa, FL in a musical household (my father plays the bass, mother sings and plays the piano, brother plays the drums, and sister sings) and started playing the saxophone at the age of 10. I studied both
Music and Business at the
University of South Florida and got signed to my first record deal in 2004. I’ve since commercially released 7 albums, have had 5 Number
One hits on the Billboard
Contemporary Jazz Charts, and have been blessed to tour worldwide with my own band over the past 18 years in addition to performing with
Grammy award-winning artists such as Prince,
Mary J. Blige, David Foster,
Carlos Santana, Jamie Foxx,
Babyface, George Benson, and many others. I am a recording artist who’s living his dream and
God-given purpose!
Q. What made you want to pursue a career in the music industry?
A. I’ve always had a love and passion for music ever since I was a kid, being exposed to all styles of music by my parents growing up. It wasn’t until I was 11 years old though that while performing in Switzerland at the
Montreaux Jazz Festival with
Sonny LaRosa and America’s
Youngest Jazz Band that I realized that I wanted to pursue a career in music. I had an epiphany while I was performing on stage in front of thousands of people at that festival when
I saw the sheer joy that my music was bringing to everyone in the audience, even though most of them didn’t even speak English. I realized that music is a universal language and the indescribable connection I felt with the audience in that moment truly lit my desire to want to touch people’s lives through the gift of music. I knew at that point that this was my calling.
Q. Let’s talk about your single
“Summer Feelin” and the motivation behind it?
A. Summer Feelin’ is the latest single from my upcoming album due in early 2022. I wrote it during the pandemic as I felt compelled to write a song to uplift people and provide a sense of hope and positivity during such difficult times. This song captures that feeling of togetherness, family, and backyard BBQ’s that makes summer such a special time. Summer Feelin’ is like that warm, ray of sunshine that serves as a reminder of better days to come.
Q. Which musician would you like to collaborate with next?
A. There are so many artists I would love to have the opportunity to collaborate with, but if I had to only name one, it would be Bruno
Mars. He has been bringing
“real” music with substance to the mainstream world and I’ve always been a huge fan of his music and everything he represents.
Q. What is your creative process like?
A. I find that I am most creative when
I have the opportunity to be still for a little bit and just reflect on my life experiences. Musical ideas and
melodies are constantly floating around in my mind, so as they come to me, I try to just hum the ideas into my phone and then at some point, I’ll re-visit those ideas and develop them into full songs. Every time I start writing a song, I visualize it as a blank canvas. As I reflect on what’s inspiring me at that moment, I start with melodic ideas that paint a vivid picture and tell a story. Just as a painter would add more colors and textures to a piece of artwork, I develop the song by adding different grooves, harmonies, layers and sounds until I feel the song is complete. Being that most of my songs have no lyrics, I feel that it’s important that my songs take the listeners on a musical journey, conveys what I’m feeling in that moment and connects them to the meaning behind each song. My music is a true, honest reflection of myself and my life experiences.
Q. Let’s talk about your tour and what your fans can look forward too?
A. I officially launched my “Back 2
Work” Tour this past April and plan to continue the tour through the rest of 2021! We’re in over 40 cities this coming Summer/
Fall, so I’m really looking forward to re-connecting with all of my fans. I can’t tell you how amazing it feels to be back on the road again and doing what
I truly love to do after a 15-month postponement due to the pandemic. I feel we all have so much to be grateful for, so this tour is a huge celebration of life filled with good vibes and action-packed energy! You can definitely expect to be dancing all night long!
Q. Tell us one of your most memorable achievement or accomplishment you have received?
A. I have truly been so blessed to have accomplished so much so far in my career from topping the Billboard charts to sharing the stage with some of the artists who have inspired me, but one of my proudest achievements is starting my own record label and becoming an independent artist 3 years ago! After 15 plus years in the music business and being with multiple record labels during that time frame, I really felt like the time was right to take the leap of faith by embracing technology and the changes in the music business and taking full creative control of my music. It’s a huge responsibility, but I have never been more fulfilled as a recording artist.
Q. What advice would you give to the next generation of male leaders?
A. I would love to share with the next generation of male leaders that in order to be successful regardless of what field you’re pursuing, abiding by these 7 P’s of principles will guide you along your journey and put you in a position to succeed: Purpose,
Practice, Passion, Persistence,
Patience, Perseverance &
Prayer. Following these keys to success has had a profound impact in my life and I believe that it can help make a difference in other’s lives if they apply it as well.
Q. Are you working on any projects or upcoming events?
A. I have a lot of things in the works at the moment. I have started working on my 8th studio album, which I plan to release in early 2022. I’m really excited about this new project and feel that it is going to be my best one yet, so stay tuned for more details soon! In addition to this, I plan on expanding my record label next year and signing new, upcoming artists in an effort to create a platform for them and give them opportunities for commercial success as a recording artist. I plan on continuing my “On A
Mission in the Schools” initiative which is my way of giving back to the youth in the form of education by going to different elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and colleges around the country and doing masterclasses with the students in an effort to help keep music alive in the schools, encourage the next generation to follow their dreams expose them to Jazz and inspire them to play musical instruments. Lastly, I plan on hosting several upcoming Jazz festivals starting with the Florida Smooth Jazz Weekend in Daytona in November, the San Diego Smooth Jazz Festival in July 2022 and several others next year. My plate is definitely full, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Q. Where can the readers follow you?
A. Readers can go to my website www.ericdarius.com for all of my information and updates and connect with me on social media as well:
Facebook: @officialericdarius
Instagram: @ericdarius
Twitter: @ericdarius
