Urban pop artist Dici, who was born in Italy and raised in Miami, has just released his newest song, “Champagne Showers,” the first of a pentalogy of singles that will be released in 2022 on his own record label, DICI Records, on February 17. It thus becomes the most recent addition to a collection of melodic hip-hop anthems that have amassed more than 4 million views on his professionally produced and directed YouTube videos and over 2 million Spotify streams across 100 countries. Check out the exclusive interview below:
1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?
DICI: I was born in Milan, Italy lived there for 5 years I then moved to Miami, Florida I have been there for 14 years and recently I have been going back and forth between Miami and Tokyo.
2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?
DICI: I didn’t have any formal training in music production or writing music but I have recently started working with a vocal coach. Besides vocal coaching I am 100% self taught,
3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘DICI’?
DICI: My first inspiration to want to start doing music as a living was Action Bronson. The name Dici came from a trip I went on as a kid. When I was 15 I went to Italy and my real name is Quinn and 15 in Italian is quindici so my nickname eventually became Quinndici and when I started music I cut out Quinn and just made it Dici.
4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
DICI: I have made such a broad range of music and my music is constantly evolving. I feel like the main key element is the growth throughout the songs. My sound is just always evolving I started at rap then moved to hip hop and now I’m starting to move towards pop.
5. What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
DICI:
The most difficult thing in the music industry I would say is breaking through.
6. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as R&B?
DICI:
I never really had a phase of emulating other musicians I would just watch YouTube tutorials and slowly learn. I would say I do Pop and Hip Hop I would say my development has been exponential my new music is only getting better and sooner or later I will put out a hit.
7. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?
DICI:
I don’t personally make music thinking of it as a social vehicle obviously I would love if it would positively affect people but I just make music that I like to listen to. I believe music is very powerful and for that reason I try not to put too much thought behind trying to make it a social vehicle, I just try to make is enjoyable.
8. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?
DICI: For me having people listen to my music on a consistent basis and having people come out to concerts is so incredibly fulfilling and it would be greedy to ask for more.
9. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?
DICI: I usually start with the music and write lyrics, starting with the hook, to it. I used to not collaborate with others but in the past year I have started venturing out.
10. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
DICI: Getting on billboard with a song that I fully wrote and produced I would say was a very proud moment for me.
11. With social media having a heavy impact on our lives and the music business in general, how do you handle criticism, haters, and/or naysayers in general? Is it something you pay attention to, or simply ignore?
DICI: I read sometimes and ignore sometimes just depending on if I have time or not I like to hear people out regardless of whether it is negative or positive.
12. Creative work in a studio or home environment, or interaction with a live audience? Which of these two options excites you most, and why?
DICI: I like the hop environment because I think part of creating good music is being comfortable while making it.
13. Do you think is it important for fans of your music to understand the real story and message driving each of your songs, or do you think everyone should be free to interpret your songs in their own personal way?
DICI: I think music should always be left up to interpretation, now some songs many people will interpret in the same way but I believe having the freedom to do so is what makes music so great.
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