{"id":1967,"date":"2014-04-14T23:52:51","date_gmt":"2014-04-14T23:52:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/amusednow.com\/blog\/?p=1967"},"modified":"2014-09-09T01:46:00","modified_gmt":"2014-09-09T01:46:00","slug":"trell-daray-target-truth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/amusednow.com\/blog\/trell-daray-target-truth\/","title":{"rendered":"Trell Daray ~ Target Truth"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Trell

Trell Daray<\/p><\/div>\n

During our Featured Artist interview, Trell Daray and I started a mutual fan club. I love his music and he loves how I support the indie movement. I listened to all Trell\u2019s music on his MTV artist page and Night <\/i>Owl<\/em> is my favorite.<\/p>\n

Trell considers the church as the biggest influence to his sound.\u00a0 His father played Motown records in the house. Trell identifies with Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and Prince. His most \u201cmodern\u201d musical influence is Aliyah, \u201cThe angelic voice of the world. I love her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trell Daray has been performing since he was five years old. \u201cWhen I was five, my mother and father discovered that I could sing and dance and act. I was a character in the household. My mother and father would just look and me and shake their heads. They let me take music classes and acting classes.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Trell wanted to further his young career, he competed in state competitions. At fifteen, he auditioned for American Idol: \u201cI saw the magnitude of music, the big rush. Wow! All these people love the same thing that I love.\u201d Trell got cut after a couple of rounds, but the experience inspired him to further his training.<\/p>\n

Trell auditioned for and was accepted to The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in New York City. He studied intensely for three years with teachers who actually worked in the industry: recording artists, movie actors and Broadway dancers. \u201cThose were the worst three years of my life. It was hard. Those teachers really strove for professionalism and perfectionism. New York is definitely the place to train if you want to be a star.\u201d The freshman class started with about 380 students and only 50 students graduated.<\/p>\n

\"Trell,

Trell, Natalie and DopeNorTeria<\/p><\/div>\n

Trell Daray collaborates with a group of musicians called DopeNorTeria based in Atlanta: Chad North, Jordan Washington and Jiele Washington. \u201cThey are smart, intellectual geniuses of music.\u201d He also collaborates with Emerson DeJean (who produced Night Owl<\/i>), SeanTre, Chy’nah Man and his head of operations, Natalie D’Orlando. \u201cI have a little team, a little family.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for songwriting: \u201cI try to do as much of that as possible, so they\u2019re my thoughts and how I feel. When I need little kicks, I\u2019ll call on the people who produce the track.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trell organizes his team for success. His team draws out a business plan, and he decides what to tackle first, second and third. When other opportunities present themselves, his team decides whether or not to take advantage. \u201cWe just believe in drawing the foundation, seeing the foundation and then executing. Those are the three simple rules of life: see the vision, execute the vision and go after it with your whole heart.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trell Daray heavily uses social media to connect with fans. I met him on Twitter. He has a website, Facebook page, Google+ page and Instagram account. \u201cWhen it comes to connecting with my fans, I definitely try my best to stay with social media, especially Twitter.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"TrellWhen they approved Trell to be an MTV artist<\/a>, his fan base grew exponentially. He really wanted to understand where his fans lived, so he Googled himself and discovered that his fans live all over the world. \u201cI try my best to connect with all the people who helped me build this. I try to tackle this through social media. I make it a personal thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Trell, \u201cWhen you\u2019re an artist, you have to go where your demographics are. I target people who love the truth of being creative in a positive way. When it came to knowing how to market myself, it was easy for me, because it came from a true, honest place. People connect to that truth.\u201d<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a lot to becoming a successful artist. Trell Daray advises, \u201cSometimes you have to take yourself out of the picture and focus on the artist as an actual brand. If your art is true, then you are the artist and it comes naturally. Know who the artist is and study the artist (yourself); know what you want to do. It\u2019s all about being in tune with yourself and not listening to what people tell you that you should be. Trust your instincts, not what other people say.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trell goes even further to say, \u201cI think it\u2019s so shady to want another artist to be someone else. You\u2019re taking away their individuality. That\u2019s not how life is supposed to be. You are supposed to enjoy yourself and be you. That\u2019s why I enjoy my independence. People want to see the truth and I\u2019m all about truth\u201d<\/p>\n

Trell, I wholeheartedly agree. That\u2019s why I do what I do and support the indie movement.<\/p>\n

Watch the Featured Artist video interview on the Amused Now YouTube channel:\u00a0http:\/\/youtu.be\/tH3Y9sVrZyg<\/a><\/p>\n