Darrel Petties: ‘The Year of My Identity’
http://tri-statedefenderonline.com/articlelive/articles/4628/1/Darrel-Petties-The-Year-of-My-Identity/Page1.html
By Nyah Nile
Published on 02/11/2010
Unwinding recently during a conversation at the House of Mtenzi, Darrel Petties – charismatic as ever – rolled through his difficult yet faith-based childhood, fans and his latest plunge into entrepreneurship.
Guess what Gospel artist fans? Memphis’ very own Darrel Petties is stamping 2010 as “The Year of My Identity.” Unwinding recently during a conversation at the House of Mtenzi, Petties – charismatic as ever – rolled through his difficult yet faith-based childhood, fans and his latest plunge into entrepreneurship.
Nyah Nile: If there are a few out there who know little about the Darrel Petties story, do you mind filling them in?
Darrel Petties: Well, the life of Darrel Petties has its ups and downs. It also has trials and it has triumphs. I had a rough beginning. Where I am right now is a marvelous place. I tell people all the time there is no public celebration without a private struggle…. I started singing when I was five years old. I’ve never missed a Sunday since and I am 26 now…so God is just really enlarging my territory….I have been doing this a long time. I started the group (Strength in Praise, a.k.a. S.I.P.) It has now been ten years. God has blessed us; we are four time Stellar Awards nominees and many other multiple awards and accolades recipients.
Nyah: In many interviews, they always place emphasis on your age and that you have an old soul. What do you think about that?
DP: Yeah. (Laughter) I have been labeled across the country as an old man stuck in a young man’s body. If I had a dollar for everybody who has told me that, I would be filthy rich….I have always had a passion for this. Also my grandparents really had a hand in raising me and I have always been a church boy. I just think that’s where the wisdom came from.
Nyah: Tell me what is coming up next for Darrel.
DP: I am excited. I am getting ready to start a six-month promo tour. I have a new record coming out July 27th.
The record is entitled “The Year of My Identity.” I am really just excited about this record. I am actually doing this record independently. I started my own record label when I left EMI Gospel last year. It is called “Strong Sounds.” I am going to be my own first artist and I am going to launch myself. It my first avenue of entrepreneurship and I am excited about it.
Nyah: Tell me about this title of your new album, “The Year of My Identity.”
DP: Well, this is my third record. My first and second records, I was just really starting to feel myself. I was young and still trying to figure out the message and who really Darrel Petties was. My first record, I wrote out of a lot of anxiety and pain. The second record was like my transition. This record is the first record (that) I describe as stability. There is something in it for everybody. I am comfortable with my message, I am comfortable about who I am. This is just “The Year of My Identity”….
Nyah: Well, I for one could not tell you were feeling misplaced and I am sure I am not alone because people just love your music.
DP: Thank you. I have been extremely blessed. God has blessed me to rub shoulders with the best of the best across the country and world….It makes me so excited to see the favor that the Lord is showing me.
Nyah: What has been your most exciting moment of your career, thus far?
DP: The most exciting moment was the year I was nominated for four Stellar Awards. I realized then people really do pay attention to what I do….I will never forget it. I was sitting in the nominee reception and Patti Labelle walked up to me and said. “I love your song.” I said you don’t know who I am and she said, “Yes, I do know who you are little Darrel Petties.” (Laughter) That moment just solidified a lot of things for me. You know sometimes as an artist you walk around and you really want to know if anybody is really paying attention to me and what I love to do. That moment was enough for me. You know, I have worked with so many – Kirk Franklin, Matthew Knowles, Smokie Norful and the list just goes on and on.
Nyah: Is there anything you want to say to Memphis?
DP: I love you Memphis and I don’t plan on going anywhere….We are going to make sure that we make Memphis our paradise. I am going to make sure that I am a forerunner and ambassador to bring all genres of music to a point of celebration in Memphis. I love Memphis.
(For more information on Darrel Petties & Strength In Praise, visit www.darrelpetties.com or myspace.com/dpetties.)
(Nyah Nile covers the hottest entertainment & artists in Memphis on the “Issues of Life TV Show” on Comcast Channel 17 at 7 p.m. each Friday.)
(If you have questions or comments or would like Nyah Nile at your next big event, e-mail nyah@tri-statedefender.com)
 |
Unwinding recently during a conversation at the House of Mtenzi, Darrel Petties – charismatic as ever – rolled through his difficult yet faith-based childhood, fans and his latest plunge into entrepreneurship.
Darrel Petties: ‘The Year of My Identity’
Guess what Gospel artist fans? Memphis’ very own Darrel Petties is stamping 2010 as “The Year of My Identity.” Unwinding recently during a conversation at the House of Mtenzi, Petties – charismatic as ever – rolled through his difficult yet faith-based childhood, fans and his latest plunge into entrepreneurship.
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Nyah Nile |
Darrel Petties: Well, the life of Darrel Petties has its ups and downs. It also has trials and it has triumphs. I had a rough beginning. Where I am right now is a marvelous place. I tell people all the time there is no public celebration without a private struggle…. I started singing when I was five years old. I’ve never missed a Sunday since and I am 26 now…so God is just really enlarging my territory….I have been doing this a long time. I started the group (Strength in Praise, a.k.a. S.I.P.) It has now been ten years. God has blessed us; we are four time Stellar Awards nominees and many other multiple awards and accolades recipients.
Nyah: In many interviews, they always place emphasis on your age and that you have an old soul. What do you think about that?
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| Darrel Petties |
Nyah: Tell me what is coming up next for Darrel.
DP: I am excited. I am getting ready to start a six-month promo tour. I have a new record coming out July 27th.
The record is entitled “The Year of My Identity.” I am really just excited about this record. I am actually doing this record independently. I started my own record label when I left EMI Gospel last year. It is called “Strong Sounds.” I am going to be my own first artist and I am going to launch myself. It my first avenue of entrepreneurship and I am excited about it.
Nyah: Tell me about this title of your new album, “The Year of My Identity.”
DP: Well, this is my third record. My first and second records, I was just really starting to feel myself. I was young and still trying to figure out the message and who really Darrel Petties was. My first record, I wrote out of a lot of anxiety and pain. The second record was like my transition. This record is the first record (that) I describe as stability. There is something in it for everybody. I am comfortable with my message, I am comfortable about who I am. This is just “The Year of My Identity”….
Nyah: Well, I for one could not tell you were feeling misplaced and I am sure I am not alone because people just love your music.
DP: Thank you. I have been extremely blessed. God has blessed me to rub shoulders with the best of the best across the country and world….It makes me so excited to see the favor that the Lord is showing me.
Nyah: What has been your most exciting moment of your career, thus far?
DP: The most exciting moment was the year I was nominated for four Stellar Awards. I realized then people really do pay attention to what I do….I will never forget it. I was sitting in the nominee reception and Patti Labelle walked up to me and said. “I love your song.” I said you don’t know who I am and she said, “Yes, I do know who you are little Darrel Petties.” (Laughter) That moment just solidified a lot of things for me. You know sometimes as an artist you walk around and you really want to know if anybody is really paying attention to me and what I love to do. That moment was enough for me. You know, I have worked with so many – Kirk Franklin, Matthew Knowles, Smokie Norful and the list just goes on and on.
Nyah: Is there anything you want to say to Memphis?
DP: I love you Memphis and I don’t plan on going anywhere….We are going to make sure that we make Memphis our paradise. I am going to make sure that I am a forerunner and ambassador to bring all genres of music to a point of celebration in Memphis. I love Memphis.
(For more information on Darrel Petties & Strength In Praise, visit www.darrelpetties.com or myspace.com/dpetties.)
(Nyah Nile covers the hottest entertainment & artists in Memphis on the “Issues of Life TV Show” on Comcast Channel 17 at 7 p.m. each Friday.)
(If you have questions or comments or would like Nyah Nile at your next big event, e-mail nyah@tri-statedefender.com)