INTERVIEW: D’andre Wilcox
Unrequited love. Brutal confessions. Feelings that hang in the ether, threatening to explode; these are all themes that 20 year old singer/songwriter D’andre Wilcox explores in his vulnerable, self-aware and youthful new track “Friends?” Wilcox croons over a bare acoustic guitar, admitting that he is suspended in the ether, unsure just how to move on and salvage a friendship after confessing his unrequited feelings. Noisescape caught up with Wilcox to discuss the inspiration behind “Friends?,” the musicians who have shaped his sound, and what listeners can expect next from him.
You just released your song “Friends?” on March 21st. Can you talk about the inspiration behind the song?
When I develop feelings for people, it’s usually unrequited. They usually don't have the same feelings back. I go into it knowing they’ll feel that way and I set myself up for heartbreak. And, so in this particular case, there was someone that I developed strong feelings for really quickly, and I told them “hey, I have these feelings for you, what do you feel about that?” to which they responded “I love being your friend, I love being around you, but it's just not the same.” Immediately I was like “I messed up.” But you live and you learn and you write a song about it.
“Friends?” is such a dreamy, confessional and warm track about falling for a friend. When I listen I personally get Daniel Caesar vibes. Who do you look up to musically, and what artists/people/things have shaped your sounds?
Who I look up to musically and the people who have shaped my sound are different. The people who I look up to musically; my first inspiration as a kid was Beyonce, I was just completely obsessed with anything she would do. That kind of trailed along as I grew up, it was always more high energy pop people I drifted towards- more recently, I am into Harry Styles. I think the people who have shaped my sound are the more laid back, gentle soft voice artists- Billie Eilish is definitely one of them. Dominic Fike has begun to shape my sound a lot. During my writing process, I try to imagine the things that he is doing in his writing process. Also, Omar Apollo is another big person who I think shapes my sound. And then, the R&B that I grew up listening to is a big, big influence on me.
In your own words, how would you describe your sound, for someone who has never heard you before?
My natural tone of voice is a more warm tone, but I also have a softer side. There is not not a lot of power when I am singing, it is more of a light wispy sound. Anything that I have made so far has leaned more towards the side of heartbreak, so if you are in the mood to listen to something that will make you reflect, my songs are definitely something that I gravitate towards.
So, would you say that heartbreak is something that inspires your art?
For now, atleast.
Do you tend to write from personal experience, or do you go the [Taylor Swift’s] Folklore route, and take on a persona/character/explore fictional universes?
Of the unreleased material that I have, almost all of it is written from a perspective that is not my own. But the songs that I connect with the most are always the ones that I have written from complete personal experience. I can go line by line and tell you what each one meant and how it relates to my life. It's crazy you mention the Folklore album because it is something that I listened to and thought “wow, that is a very creative strategy for writers.” I definitely want to try to get into that writing style a little more so in the future there might be some more songs that are not about me.
Has the person you wrote “Friends?” about heard this song? If so, what was their reaction?
I have had the song for four months to myself now. I always play my songs for anyone who I think should hear it, and I thought that the person who it was about definitely should. So one day at the mall, we got into the car and I played the song and they were just in love with it from the first listen, which shocked me a lot. They wanted to listen to it all the time. They ended up loving it and now I can’t listen to it without thinking about them, but I am glad they like it.
Who are the first people you play your music to? Your family?
I laughed because when you said “my family” I immediately thought of my parents and I don't play it for them ever [laughs]. The first person who I usually send music to is my best friend Jason. I have another best friend named Kennedy who I send my tracks to because she is always very honest about them. The last person who I send my music to is a girl who I made music with in high school, Alice Woodword. Her taste has changed a lot so it gives me a different perspective on my songs.
What is your favorite song that you have ever written?
“Friends?.” “Patience” is my first song that I released and it is also another very, very personal track. One where you can dissect it line by line. But I just think “Friends?” goes a little bit deeper into the story than “Patience” does so it has to be that one.
When did you start making music? Can you talk us through your decision to pursue music full time?
Maybe when I was 6, I was writing songs with my friends. Nothing too serious but it was just something I liked to do. The first time that I recorded a song, I was in high school and I was 17, I believe, and the song is called “Amazing.” My friend Kennedy loves that song. So that's when I decided that I don't have to be scared to tell people I'm a singer anymore and this is something that I can actually do— it felt tangible at that point.
You have been open about your journey, the good and the bad, as an independent artist. Here at Noisescape, we like to highlight independent artists making great music. What has been the biggest challenge thus far, being an independent artist? How do you approach your musical promotion?
The biggest challenge is my own mind. That's been my number one roadblock, many times. Initially straight from high school, once I made the decision that I wanted to pursue music, I had a route all mapped out, and I was like “I'll go to college and I’ll network with people who want to do the same things as me and I will make tons of friends, and that will be the way that I blow up as an artist without a label.” Things didn't go to plan because Covid struck, and then I was alone a lot with myself. I realized I hate being in college and I like things to be spontaneous. I decided to drop out, plans changed and my life went in a different direction. And that's ok. I like the way it went because from there I gained my TikTok following and I gained a fanbase who I can rely on to actually listen rather than just stream it for a number. Another thing that is a hardship for me is just support from my parents, it is something that is a daily struggle. We go back and forth on whether they believe I can be this big thing. I don't blame them for thinking it’s far-fetched because they come from a different time than me. They don't share the same experience that I have had in music, and they don't really know how much it means to me because they aren't me. We’re on the up now, so we'll see where it goes from there. The last thing that has been a big hardship for me is just ignorance of the industry. I don't come from a musical family. I just got into music. It seems like it's been a long time but in the grand scheme of things it hasn't been that long so I'm just learning everyday, more & more about what goes into actually being an artist. I am always going to be ok with whatever it is but I'm taking it day by day, trying to learn the inner-workings.
What has music given you? From an outsider perspective, especially based on “Friends?”, it seems like an outlet to express those things that are too hard to admit. What would you say?
Music has definitely given me a mental escape. I have always used it to escape to a different place. Not in the sense where people think you just drift into this imaginary world, it's not like that. It's just unconsciously I have an entire separate life when it comes to the things I do with music versus the things I do as a person who would never experience music. I like to consume other people’s music a lot more than I like to make my own. Maybe that's just because I am trying to find my way into an industry that I wasn't born into but I really appreciate learning other people's story through music.
Is there anything you can tease about future music?
Lots and lots of guitar. I have really just learned to love the sound of a guitar, the way that it complements my own voice and the way that I can write to it so easily- so there will be lots of guitar incorporated in my future tracks. There will also be elements of lots of different genres.
WHERE TO FIND D’ANDRE WILCOX
Instagram | TikTok | Youtube | Spotify | Apple Music