Episode 231
A Journey of Faith: From $400 to Musical Stardom
The focal point of this podcast episode revolves around the transformative journey of an individual who, nearly a decade ago, seized an unexpected opportunity that would significantly alter the trajectory of his career. This personal narrative commences with the speaker's decision to attend a conference by Israel Houghton, driven not by ambition for fame or monetary gain, but by a genuine desire to learn and grow within his craft. The speaker recounts the serendipitous encounter with his mentor, Paris Barnes, who recognized his potential and invited him to perform, despite the speaker's initial reluctance and lack of preparation. This pivotal moment catalyzed a series of events that led to substantial professional opportunities, underscoring the importance of intentionality and the willingness to embrace challenges. Throughout the discourse, we reflect on the significance of remaining grounded and appreciative in the face of success, emphasizing that the journey itself holds as much value as the destination.
Takeaways:
- DLO reflected on a pivotal moment nearly a decade ago when he decided to attend a conference without prior registration, demonstrating a willingness to take risks for personal growth.
- During the conference, DLO unexpectedly encountered his mentor, Paris Barnes, who recognized his potential and ultimately invited him to perform, highlighting the importance of seizing opportunities.
- DLO emphasized that despite initial uncertainty and financial constraints, his commitment to learning and improving his craft led to significant opportunities in the music industry.
- A year after his first conference, DLO was presented with a challenging opportunity to perform a complex song with minimal preparation, underscoring the necessity of readiness and adaptability in high-pressure situations.
- The narrative illustrates DLO's focus on learning rather than monetary gain attracted opportunities, reinforcing the notion that passion and intention can lead to success in one's endeavors.
- The discussion reveals that building genuine relationships within the music industry has been foundational to DLO's career, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and connection over superficial ambition.
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- Israel Houghton
- Paris Barnes
- Tori Kelly
- Ty Trippett
- John Gray
- Aaron Lindsey
- Warren Campbell
- CC Winans
- Tasha Cobbs
- Fred Hemings
Transcript
The defining moment was some years ago, almost 10 years ago, I was with.
Speaker A:I caught a flight to Israel Houghton's last.
Speaker A:Well, not his last.
Speaker A:I caught a flight to one of his conferences.
Speaker A:Deeper conferences, right?
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker A:And when I caught a flight, and, bro, I had literally, like, 400 to my name.
Speaker A:Like, I didn't know.
Speaker A:I didn't even register for the conference.
Speaker A:I didn't do anything for it.
Speaker A:Like, something.
Speaker A:I heard people raving about it, and I just said, I'm gonna just take a chance.
Speaker A:And so I.
Speaker A:I got a flight.
Speaker A:I went.
Speaker A:I didn't even know where I was staying.
Speaker A:I think I had, like, $80 on me.
Speaker A:So I had it all planned out.
Speaker A:I'm gonna.
Speaker A:I'm gonna buy these dollar.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:Cheeseburgers.
Speaker A:Yeah, Noodles and some ramen.
Speaker A:Noodles, man.
Speaker B:It's an option, man.
Speaker A:Like.
Speaker A:Like, seriously, like, when people hear this, they, like, burst.
Speaker A:For real.
Speaker A:I'm, like, so serious.
Speaker B:10 years ago.
Speaker A:Yeah, man.
Speaker A:And long story short, I just.
Speaker A:I ended up getting in, and I walked past Paris Barnes, okay.
Speaker A:And he stopped me.
Speaker C:Can you share who Paris Barnes is for our audience?
Speaker A:Paris Barnes is my mentor.
Speaker A:He passed away last year.
Speaker A:Major influence to this industry.
Speaker A:Yeah, I wouldn't even be here if it was.
Speaker A:I wouldn't be in the industry if it wasn't without him.
Speaker A:Right?
Speaker A:And he's played for pretty much everybody.
Speaker A:He's responsible for the GA movement and sound check.
Speaker A:He was the MD keyboard player for that.
Speaker A:So when you get some time, just look him up and just see the work he's done.
Speaker A:I'm sure you walked past.
Speaker A:He walked past me.
Speaker A:He stopped me.
Speaker A:And I'm a fan, you know, I know who he is, but, you know, I'm not that type of guy to be howling people, right?
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:And he stopped me, said, man, I know you from somewhere.
Speaker A:And I was like, no, I think I seen your video or something.
Speaker A:You playing, bro?
Speaker A:You.
Speaker A:You're.
Speaker A:You're an animal, bro.
Speaker A:He's like, you want to play tonight?
Speaker A:And I was like.
Speaker A:I was like, bro, I don't know no songs.
Speaker A:I didn't come here to play.
Speaker A:I really came there to see what it takes to be on the next level, right?
Speaker A:So many classes were happening.
Speaker A:John Gray, Aaron Lindsey, Warren Campbell.
Speaker A:It was Israel Houghton.
Speaker A:It was so many people that were doing classes.
Speaker A:So I was just like, I.
Speaker A:I want to go.
Speaker A:And he said, do you want to play, man?
Speaker A:Tops of Cops need somebody to play for and stuff.
Speaker B:So I was like, a big name in the industry.
Speaker C:All right.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:And so I played.
Speaker A:And the following year, fast forward, they called me to be actual a part of Deeper.
Speaker A:So the year fast forward to a year later, my stamp and my moment was Israel came in 15 minutes before the show and said, hey, CC1, we're doing something for CC winers.
Speaker A:We need somebody to play and learn alabaster box.
Speaker A:We're not using the tracks.
Speaker A:We're using the band.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:And so when it was like, who, everybody looked at me.
Speaker A:Aaron, Paris, Leonard, Ray, Kevin Camp, Justin Rains.
Speaker A:All they said, the new guy.
Speaker A:And so I had to learn alabaster box.
Speaker A:And if you know that song, it's not a CCM song.
Speaker A:Like, you really have to sit there and learn verbatim what's going on.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:And so it's 10,000 people out there.
Speaker A:I have to learn the intro, the outro, the key change.
Speaker A:Just like the record for the artist.
Speaker B:I was gonna say for season four.
Speaker A:With the feature of Tasha Cobbs, because we're honoring the artist.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker A:And so I was scared.
Speaker A:My dog almost peed myself.
Speaker A:And I only had 15 minutes to learn the song pressure.
Speaker A:And right then and there.
Speaker C:15 minutes.
Speaker A:Yes, I had 15 minutes.
Speaker B:That's crazy, man.
Speaker A:I had 15 minutes to learn the song Israel.
Speaker A:Israel will tell you.
Speaker A:We had to put him under the fire.
Speaker A:And that moment when I finished playing alabaster box, that moment of relief and all of the homies, like, you made it in.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:Was like, that was my.
Speaker A:That was my moment.
Speaker A:That was my mom.
Speaker C:That's an incredible story.
Speaker C:It's hard not to believe in higher powers when you think of, you know, that moment happening for you just off of a random, you know, you know, instance of you wanting to go to that conference for no reason.
Speaker C:It's not because you're like, I'm gonna blow up from this.
Speaker C:I just want to be there.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker C:I just want to be a fly on the wall.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker B:That's so true, man.
Speaker C:That's incredible.
Speaker B:You're talking about the intention of things.
Speaker B:That one thing that we've talked about a lot is intentionality and the lack of.
Speaker B:And we know what the social media world is.
Speaker B:Everybody's.
Speaker B:I shouldn't say everybody, but it seems that people are just after the attention and.
Speaker B:And it's like a me, me, me, look at me.
Speaker B:And in the cases where people really hit it off, like, in your situation, you showed up there.
Speaker B:I don't want to put almost like, in a desperate place in some sense, for sure.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:Like, you need money, you need opportunity, and everything else is kind of connected and you're just like, I just want to learn.
Speaker B:I just want to.
Speaker A:I was just at a place of just being better.
Speaker A:I was just at just wanting to be better.
Speaker B:There's like a pureness coming from that.
Speaker B:Like your absolutely was to grow.
Speaker B:You're going to put yourself in a surrounding.
Speaker B:And you know, we do that all the time.
Speaker B:Whether it's like self help or music or it's like I want to be around the people who are doing what I want to do.
Speaker B:So that's where I got to put myself, regardless of sacrifice to get there.
Speaker B:And then from that intentionality, you get hit with this opportunity, which is like now it's a test of everything that you've been kind of working towards and hoping to be.
Speaker B:It's like, well, here's your shot.
Speaker B:A lot of people would be like, nah, man, I'm not ready for that yet.
Speaker B:And that's it.
Speaker B:You don't hear that.
Speaker C:That's the definition of luck, right?
Speaker C:Like, it's that opportunity and preparedness.
Speaker C:You happen to be in the right place at the right time and you know, it just works out that.
Speaker C:That's beautiful.
Speaker C:Fifteen minutes though, to work on that song.
Speaker C:Yeah, man, that'd be terrifying.
Speaker B:Wait, so what happened in between?
Speaker B:So in that year, from that initial conversation at the conference to then now a year later where you get tested again, it's like you thought you were just gonna play.
Speaker B:You thought you were just here for this.
Speaker B:Nah, you got to step up and do this whole other thing.
Speaker A:Yeah, man, I had to.
Speaker A:Man, I had to step up.
Speaker A:And then they actually called me to start going on the road with Israel because Leonard, Leonard Ray, which is a close friend of mine as well, he got a call to do Tori Kelly and so he left to go do Tori Kelly.
Speaker A:And this is around the time Tori Kelly is massive.
Speaker A:You know, she's like, yeah, being she's on Pepsi commercials.
Speaker A:She's right, you know, she's.
Speaker A:She's the new thing.
Speaker A:And.
Speaker A:And so I started going out and man, from there to now, it's just been a crazy roller coaster, man.
Speaker A:It's just been like, yeah, man, like it's been like really like 10 years of going non stop.
Speaker A:I went from this, I went from Israel to Todd Trivet.
Speaker A:I actually met Ty at that conference.
Speaker A:The same one, the same way.
Speaker A:And Paris introduced me to Ty.
Speaker B:Wow.
Speaker C:Wow.
Speaker A:And it was just peak.
Speaker A:A lot of people don't know that.
Speaker A:And we were playing, we were jamming out the church and Ty was just like, man, who is this guy?
Speaker A:And Paris was like, yo, this is my little bro right here, man.
Speaker A:Y'all should meet.
Speaker A:And so he was like, man, let me get your number.
Speaker A:So I was like, cool.
Speaker A:I think.
Speaker A:No, I think about a month later, I get a text message.
Speaker A:I'm in a rehearsal for a live recording, and I get a text message, and it says, yo, D, what's up?
Speaker A:And I'm like, who is this?
Speaker A:He's like, yo, this Ty Trippett.
Speaker A:And I was like, what?
Speaker A:He's like, man, give him a call when he's like, give me a call when you get a chance.
Speaker A:I was in rehearsal.
Speaker A:Yeah, I got up.
Speaker B:You left.
Speaker A:I said, yo.
Speaker A:I said, hey, I had an important phone call real quick.
Speaker A:Yeah, let me.
Speaker A:Let me go outside and take this call.
Speaker A:And, yeah, the rest is history with me and him.
Speaker A:He got that phone call, and it was just like, yo, man, let's do lunch.
Speaker A:And he's like, you in Orlando?
Speaker A:I said, yeah.
Speaker A:He said, I'm in Orlando.
Speaker A:Said, man, let's do lunch.
Speaker A:So.
Speaker B:Wow.
Speaker B:Yeah, that's something, man.
Speaker A:And that led to so many other things.
Speaker A:So.
Speaker B:But, yeah, now I'm like.
Speaker B:I mean, each one of these situations, like, these instances would have blown your mind.
Speaker B:I'm sure that wasn't the last.
Speaker B:So what's, like.
Speaker B:I don't want to say the biggest, but.
Speaker B:Okay, so let me ask you this way.
Speaker B:So when you kind of, as I guess you get used to the feeling.
Speaker B:Like, I'm sure the first time was like, this is nuts.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Was it constantly that same, like, this is nuts all over again?
Speaker A:It did, and then it kind of numbed down because it started becoming my norm.
Speaker B:Like, you're.
Speaker A:It started becoming normal for me to be with and befriend some of everybody's favorite artists.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker A:Like, you know, I started seeing a side of the artist, like, oh, they like me, like, you know, saying, oh, they.
Speaker A:They do like, shrimp and grits.
Speaker A:Oh, you know, this.
Speaker A:Oh, they do like, you know, a glass of wine, like, you know, so it started becoming a norm.
Speaker A:And once it became a norm, it's like, once you get in that.
Speaker A:That club, it's like everybody knows you.
Speaker A:And it's like, yo, what's up, man?
Speaker A:Yo, what's up?
Speaker A:Like, it's a normal thing for me now.
Speaker A:Like, I've had Fred Hemings FaceTime me at 3:00 in the morning.
Speaker A:You know what I mean?
Speaker A:So.
Speaker A:And, you know, and.
Speaker A:But then I do have my moments where a lot of times I pause and I'll be like, Whoa.
Speaker A:You know, don't take this moment for granted, like.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker A:God really puts you in a place of, you know, comfort with these people.
Speaker A:And I think that's my biggest gift.
Speaker A:Besides, music is huge.
Speaker A:Being a friend.
Speaker A:Because there's times where I.
Speaker A:I've shared secrets, and they shade secrets with me, and it don't leave.
Speaker A:You know, I don't be on social media.
Speaker A:Hey, y'all, look, I'm at this person house, or look at this.
Speaker A:You know, I.
Speaker A:I play basketball with a few celebrities to this day, like, twice a week.
Speaker A:And if I.
Speaker A:If I did this, you know, people would be like, oh, well, you do this.
Speaker A:But then it'll make them uncomfortable.
Speaker A:So it's like, you know, a lot of people can't handle that.
Speaker A:So it started becoming a norm for me in my life, you know, But I don't take it for granted.
Speaker A:But, you know, when I do meet people or they, you know, oh, what's up, D?
Speaker A:Oh, what's up, D?
Speaker A:People like, how, you know, I'm like, you know, those my homies?
Speaker A:You know what I'm saying?
Speaker A:So, you know, it just becomes a normal life.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Wow.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker C:But perspective is important.
Speaker C:So every now and then, you do still go back and go, heck, yeah.
Speaker A:Oh, man.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Heck, yeah.
Speaker A:I'm like, oh, wow.
Speaker A:Like, oh, man.
Speaker A:All right.
Speaker A:Wow.
Speaker A:They're my friends.
Speaker A:Like, I could really call them.
Speaker A:I could really text them, you know, and so I do give God reverence for that and thank him for that.
Speaker A:You know what I'm saying?
Speaker A:So.
Speaker C:And that's going back to the.
Speaker C:The.
Speaker C:The way this kind of all started for you.
Speaker C:It's.
Speaker C:To me, it really teaches me a lesson, and anyone else aspiring to get to a level is to.
Speaker C:You know, there's a quote right now where people are focused on the bag, and they're really focused on trying to make money.
Speaker C:And you were always from.
Speaker C:You started telling just, I'm just trying to learn.
Speaker C:And I feel that your opportunity fell into your lap because you had that perspective and approach starting out, and you weren't chasing money.
Speaker C:You didn't say, I was broke and I needed money.
Speaker C:I needed to work from money.
Speaker C:You were like, I want to go there and learn, and look what happened.
Speaker C:And I wonder if you could maybe share with our audience the importance of.
Speaker C:Because I also find that making music, writing music, when you write it from a pure, organic space, only good things can happen from it, and you appreciate the art form more, you know, And I was wondering if you could maybe share with people how you've been able to continually rise and level up without ever really chasing the bag, you know?
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Or for me, I enjoy the process.
Speaker A:Like, right.
Speaker A:There are some people who get a kick out of cooking because they love the process of cooking.
Speaker A:Have you ever seen somebody cook a full meal and then.
Speaker A:But don't eat?
Speaker C:Yeah, all the time.
Speaker A:You know, I'm like, mom, why don't you eat?
Speaker A:Y'all eat.
Speaker A:Y'all eat.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:They enjoy the process of cooking and making sure every sharing it, of sharing everybody else.
Speaker A:I love the process of making things and then letting everybody.
