DANIELLE BLAIQ WHO IS MS. WHAT’S HER FACE ?
CHOKOLET : What’s up Danielle? Danielle BlaiQ : What’s up?! C: You’re pretty young in the game...How old are you? DB : I’m 24 going on 42 *( Laughter )* C: Where are you originally from? D B: I was born in Brooklyn, NY & raised in Garner, NC (5 minutes outside of Raleigh, NC). My family is from the West Indies...Guyana, South America. C: Cool. So, tell us how it all started with you in the music business & about your management. D B: I started writing music when I was 13, after I met my biological father. It was my way of dealing with life since my family, culturally, didn’t show emotion. I’ve always been more expressive; music was the only place my different was “normal”. C: ...which was a really positive & mature move for someone going through such issues at that age. You could have easily turned to something negative or tragic. D B: I was 14 when I did my first studio recording in Apex, NC. I re-sang Brandy’s “Brokenhearted”… she would be brokenhearted if she heard my rendition of it! *Laughing * Needless to say, I’ve been singing all my life but, didn’t start singing on key until I was 16 or 17 years old. I joined a chorus to learn how to use my voice. I found a label, “Xtreme 1”, based in Cary, NC at the age of 17. It never took off the way it should have. C: Ok D B: I ended up relocating to Boston, MA when I was 18. I started to learn guitar and piano, while trying to perfect my rap lyrics and R&B persona. It was a lot to take on at one time, & I had never fully pursued those aspects of musicianship. I wanted to perfect my sound & delivery. When I enrolled in college at the New England Institute of Art, I started coming out of my shell & recording more. C: How was that? D B: We recorded everywhere…in closets…in halls…behind sheets, mattresses *LAUGHI NG *…anything we could find. Niggas was just that hungry & dedicated. I miss that. People don’t love it like that anymore. C: That is so true! D B: I put so much time into that, I neglected actually being in the studio & perfecting my craft as an audio engineer. Long story short, I came back home in a few months before I turned 20 & shortly after I met a group by the name of SoAu. We didn’t stay members long. C: Why is that? D B: Creative differences. Not to mention, I’m a chick & whether fellas admit it or not, they can’t stand a female “spitting” harder than them. I got tired of the egos & arrogance; negative influence, so I split with them & started my own company…”BLAIQINQ”. I was 21 when I did this. I released a promotional album on my 23nd birthday titled ”Ms What’s Her Face”. C: You’ve been a busy lady in your early 20s! You MUST have a team that helps you out. D B: At this current time, I do not have a team of people promoting me. I am a self owned, self run entity. Am I open to a team…Yes. Do I feel like dealing with them…no but, I know what’s required to make it in the business. C: Who are some of your musical influences? D B: Lauryn Hill, Aaliyah, Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, Foxy Brown, Nas, Pun, DMX, Jay-Z, Cannibal Ox , Busta Rhymes, Andre 3000 C: Now, THAT’S a line-up of chart slayers right there! Describe Danielle BlaiQ’s style vs. Danielle Boyce’s style. Or are they the same? D B: This could get complicated. *LAUGH TER * Danielle & BlaiQ is on division. Danielle BlaiQ, (the artist) vs. Danielle Boyce (the person) is another. Danielle Boyce is a woman, I am quiet but, passionate. I can be very shy. I’m loyal, giving, caring, and very down to earth…very private. Danielle is my R&B persona…she’s still finding herself, but I have a feeling, she’s damn sassy!
BlaiQ is the rebellious bitch *LAUGHTER* Niggas love her. Bitches love her. I love her. She’s real. She’s blunt. She’s a jerk…a smartass. She’s nasty…like lyrically. She’s playful. She has range…she don’t hold back; she is the representation of what every chick wants to say. The difference between her & rappers like Foxy & Kim or Jackie- O is that she knows when & where to act out, & when not to. I wish I was BlaiQ all the time sometimes…but, that could call for a lot of busted lips & broken legs. C: *LAUGH I NG* D B: What all these entities have in common is that she always…I always…carry myself & conduct myself like a lady. And I’m real & honest. C: Do you think your style has switched up since you’ve relocated to NC & how did you feel about moving here? D B: Yeah, it has. I did a lot of developing in both Boston & NC. I find it cool, actually, making progress very quickly & my transitions are easy lyrically…just got to find the right people to work with to continue to make that progress as an artist. As far as moving back…it happened too, fast for me to process. Artistically, I love it up north…even when you ain’t working or trying to be an artist, you got this pride in you like…your swag is always on like you rep something. At all times AND it reps you. Here in the south though, you just relax. It’s not uptight like up there. I like that I can rest here. No fast paced, no crunch time…just chill. I wish I could take NY pride & opportunities and mesh ‘em with NC comfort. I’m here in Durham but, even now it feel like I don’t be here all the time because the music scene ain’t popping the way I hoped. Up north, Little Brother is BIG & I thought when I got home, Carolina was showing love to its own like that…they don’t…Shit it’s a jagged pill. I thought coming home to NC, I would more comfortable and well received, but I been through more hardship musically, here than back in Boston or in NY where people was more supportive & open to what I could bring to the table. I expected all that up North, but it never happened to me up there. They were supportive. I got here. I mean, you meet shady folks everywhere but, to the degree I got it here…it’s like night & day. That’s no diss to NC…I sound NY but, its fish & grits running through my veins. I love Carolina but, you can feel the difference. I can’t always say that for my career, I am happy being here. I just try not to think about it. I felt at one time, I would be that change NC needed but, it’s like…everybody wants to be first. I’m not on that ...I just want to be successful. C: See what Drake started! *LAUGH IN G* D B: Bottom- line, I think at the end of the day, the business is ugly no matter where you go. Life is ugly no matter where you go. Or it’s what you make it; it’s a matter of do you feel like smiling for fake people 100% of my career for something that ain’t guaranteed? I can do it. Or should I just live a normal life where I can choose who I want in my life, people that love me for me. I opt for the latter of the two, any day but, when I consider how much money I could make compared to the BS I hear…the bills that come in, * LAUGHI NG * it’s hard to choose ‘cause it still cost what I don’t got to get where I want to be. C: I feel ya, I feel ya… Are there any projects we can look forward to &/or any that you’ve already done that the people should check out? D B: At this moment, I am undergoing artist development & considering where I would like to take my career. “Ms. What’s Her Face”-6.7.08 release date-album available for down load. Also, I am currently writing material to release with 4ward Movement- a label in Raleigh, NC. C: That’s so much, Danielle for hangin’ out with East Coast Flavor! D B: Thank YOU!