Darcie-Nicole Wicknick is a music business consultant, journalist,
songwriter, and owner of "...Ask Darcie" and Co-Founder/Managing
Director of The Boston Hip-Hop Alliance. She teaches music business
courses at Boston University’s CDIA and on SongU.com. She regularly
writes for MusicBizAdvice.com and others. Darcie is sought after as
a lecturer and panelist for college and community events such as
NEMO, Hip-Hop Reconstruction, The Berklee Hip-Hop Summit,
BostonCares, and more. She has provided support to high profile
events including The National Hip-Hop Political Convention’s
Sudanese Relief Concert, The Harlem Book Fair of
Roxbury, Red K Records, The Numark Milestones show, The MIC Hip-Hop
Awards, The Boston Beat Battle, and many others.
Darcie is a highly celebrated, classically trained Soul and Gospel
vocalist who has been performing since 1976 in stage and recording
settings. She leads Velvet Stylus (alongside fellow School of
Groove teacher James Auburn) and she served as house lyricist, demo
vocalist, A&R rep, and administrator for TKO Sound and IPOP
Records.
She has been involved with events featuring artists including
Charles
Neville, Andre Ward, Digable Planets, Raydar Ellis, Clayton Savage,
Rocco
Prestia (Tower of Power,) Donald Harrison, Milton Wright, Royce da
5’9, Joe Budden, Dre Robinson, Devin tha Dude, Gabrielle Goodman,
Freda Battle, and more. Darcie teaches voice for both singers and
MCs, and serves as a Berklee Alumni Chapter Representative and City
Music mentor.
Sitting down with Darcie Wicknick
VSG - What brought you to music?
DW - I started as a child fashion model and actress and figured that to succeed
in acting, I should learn how to sing. My mom is a fantastic guitar player
and she and her friends used to play folk music and sing in the kitchen and
I loved watching that when I was young. She also has a great record
collection and music was always around me in the home. My grandfather was an
accomplished acoustic bass player, my cousins symphonic musicians, my aunt a
dancer, and my parents play guitars and harmonica excellently. Plus my
grandmother is an artist so the arts were alive in my family. When I started
to study voice when I was six, I felt a real click. It's what really stayed
with me and I really connected to soul music -- R&B, Soul, Gospel and when
it emerged, Hip-Hop. Of course, I also gained an appreciation for classic
Rock, musical theater, and Folk music too! Music found me and I could not be
happier!
VSG - Why do you teach music?
DW - I really have a giving nature - I like to share what I know with others and
help people find their expression, their gifts, their voice.
VSG - Who is or has been the greatest influence on your life, and why?
DW - I would say that above all, although I view every person in my life as
having an influence and an important place, it is my faith that is my
guiding force. I would say that my most fervent influence is Jesus. My
relationship with God is ever growing and my pursuit of Him is endless. He
is my Source.
VSG - What makes you different?
DW - People always tell me that I am different - but in a good way! I really am a
people person - I don't give to get, and really view someone else's success
as very rewarding. I love people and view relationship building and a
giving, honest spirit as the most important elements to secure long term
success in business. I think really long term and possess a tremendous
amount of patience and tenacity. I hope those things are meaningful to my
students and I hope to inspire them for the long haul.
VSG - What are your words to the aspiring artist?
DW - It will take a very long time to emerge as a true artist - every life
experience will forge newness. Artistry is lifelong so don't be worried if
it seems to be taking a long time to get someplace. Musicianship is a
lifelong career. View every accomplishment as cause for celebration no
matter on what scale the success seems. Always be humble and willing to
learn - we are perpetual students. Find mentors and adopt a sharing spirit
early on. Also, educate yourself about the music business - don't be naive
to the inner workings - be a knowledgable artist because at the end of the
day, you will be protecting yourself before anyone else can protect you. I
recommend reading All You Need to Know about the Music Business by Don
Passman - buy it, read it, refer to it. It's going to be an ongoing
resource. Don't be afraid to step out of what is comfortable - try new
songs, new ideas. And make everything you sing or play your own. Put your
stamp on it. The commercial music business may treat musicians as products
but remember always that you are an artists and uniquely gifted. People will
want to hear YOU! So don't be afraid to invest the time it takes to find
your own special sound and style.
