Artist Spotlight 2023: David July
David July
Artist Spotlight
Trevor Donohoe (better known by stage name David July) was born and raised in Vancouver British Columbia. At just 21 years old, David has showed a masterful display of the melodic hip hop genre with soothing vocals, catchy melodies, and emotional lyrics.
In just three years of doing music professionally, David has landed shows throughout his home province of British Columbia and beyond across Canada and throughout Washington State, and 250,000 Organic Streams on his singles, publications from Hip Hop Canada, Sidedoor Magazine, and Vancouver's largest media sources. He's also attained nearly 50,000 Views on his 'Give it Up' visualizer and over 250,000 combined streams.
This is the Artist Spotlight, where we ask bands/artists 5 questions with the goal of getting to know the band/artist better, see what they’ve been up to and what lies ahead. Here are 5 questions we asked David July:
You recently released a new single "End of the Night", what was your approach lyrically/melodically for this song?
I knew I wanted to make some sorta summer pop track, so I told my boy TylerB to start cookin something up for that type of vibe. After he had the beat made, I started with the melodies, which came quickly. I was really just feelin the whole commercial summer pop idea that we had goin and we just kept goin off of that. The lyrics really just came from how I was feelin about making the song in the first place; just having a good time.
Earlier this year you released your debut album "Kaleidoscope." Artists sometimes have a favourite song while recording an album but later after they've performed the songs live after a while they'll end up having a new favourite. If you had to choose one, what was your favourite song on the album while recording, and what is your favourite now?
Some of the songs on Kaleidoscope go back a couple years ago, so I’ve had more time with some of them more than others, which definitely affects the way I feel about them in a way, but my favourites will always be changing. My favourite track to record was probably the Intro track. I had the idea of the structure of the song in my mind, so I worked with my guy Tyler to turn that into reality. I knew as soon as he started with some of the melodies that we had the intro to the album right there, so I started laying down some vocals. I recorded the vocals in less than an hour, and we just kept coming back with ideas to make it even more dramatic, and even more tone-setting for the album.
Right now, my favourite track to listen to on the album would have to be Take Me to the Moon. It’s always been one of my favourites, but I definitely have been on it more recently. I have a deep connection with the song, as I should, and I keep coming back to it to listen to the message it is telling me, as the deep meaning of the song is really a message from my younger self to my current self right now, asking my “future self” if I’m still working towards this goal that I’ve had for years now, and if I’m still doing it for the same reason I was back then.
If you could collaborate on a song with anyone, Artist, Producer, etc. Who would it be?
Hans Zimmer. That man composed for Interstellar, Gladiator, Inception, The Dark Knight, and more.
Having released an album, a couple other singles, and toured already this year, what's next? (any new music/albums or touring on the horizon?)
I got some new music coming, including the newest single “End of the Night''. The Kaleidoscope chapter is coming to an end, but there's still a little more to go, so stick around and you’ll see what we got comin. After that’s done, a new era will begin.
If you could be a part of your own dream festival, could be with any artist from any time period/any genre. Who would be your top 3 acts on the festival?
Really hard question, but gimme Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd and Queen.
David July has an upcoming headlining show at The Roxy Cabaret Thursday September 14th with Special Guest RYYZN. You can purchase tickets here.