How God Speaks Through Music
Our chat with music aficionado and writer, Dominique Williams.
Meet music aficionado and Editor-In-Chief of the forthcoming Multitudes Magazine, Dominique Williams, and learn more about how her relationship with music has influenced her growing years, adult life, and vision.
KW: How does music inspire you? Music is essentially what taught me language, but it’s also taught me how to feel and how to express myself. I think music is such a connector, so in a way it reminds me that someone all the way across the world could hear my favorite song and feel the same way I do about it. They could be going through the same thing as me and in that way, I’m never really alone. In that way, music inspires me to connect as well, but it also helps me tell that story. I always play music when I write. I see full scenes when I hear certain songs, so I definitely need music to help me do the things I love, like write. I need it in my everyday life, too.
KW: Where were you born, and where did you grow up?
DW: I was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina but I moved to Anchorage, Alaska when I was nine months old, so I don't really claim North Carolina because I lived in Alaska for most of my childhood. I’ve also lived in England.
KW: What influenced you to love music as deeply as you do?
DW: When I was younger there was always music playing in my house — jazz, R&B, and gospel, mostly. My dad is a deep audiophile and him and my mom forced me to play piano for almost 13 years (even though I wanted to play the guitar), so those years spent learning the piano taught me discipline. I was also a dancer in school and my mom would haul me around town to dance practice and shows, so I understand music as a language that can be told with your body and how it makes you feel physically. You hear it and you are supposed to move. It is a way to tell stories, and it connects us all. I felt very connected to music from a very young age, so for me music is spiritual.
KW: That’s good.
KW: Who are some of the artists / groups you listened to while growing up?
DW: I was a big R&B kid. It was the neutral point because my parents love jazz and sometimes I would voice my opinion about their music being too slow so R&B was the compromise. Some of my favorite artists to listen to while growing up were Amy Winehouse, Brandy, Tamia, Joe, Brian McKnight, Carl Thomas, Jill Scott, Jojo, Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys, Usher, TLC, Christina Aguilara, Boyz II Men, Monica, D’Angelo, Angie Stone, Destiny’s Child, Mya and Jazmine Sullivan.
KW: So can you define what it means to be a music curator? Music curation is a fancy term for “pass me the aux and let me play my jams,” ha! There is also a full story of my relationship with a playlist. I love a lot of different types of music, and I was a musician for many of my formative years so understanding how to make an amazing playlist that blends seamlessly is my lane. My love for making playlists has a lot to do with my ear too. I love lyrics that tell a story. I love strong vocals. So I fully "geek” out when I hear a song I love.
KW: What have you worked on as a music curator?
DW: As music curator, I’ve hosted multiple parties, made all the playlists for company benefits and events, and been featured in publications and radio shows for my playlists and music journalism pieces. My podcast, The Intersection, centered around music thoughts and critiques.
KW: Please share your Spotify story about how you ran out of library storage because you hit 10,000 songs. (I always think of this when I still see I have only hit like 4K songs.)
DW: On January 18, 2018, I found out there was a song limit on Spotify. I was actually shocked because I had no idea that was even a thing. But I was trying to add some songs, and I got an error message saying “You’ve reached your limit, you have to delete songs.” I immediately texted my dad, the other music lover in the family, and told him. He responded and was like “What's the limit, 2000?” My response: “10,000,” and he was shocked. So I googled it. I thought there could be absolutely no way that Spotify had a song limit for users’ libraries, but it was true. Until 2020, there was a song limit of 10,000 songs, and only 1% of people ever reached that many songs. That really is the only 1% I want to be a part of.
*Spotify users can add an unlimited amount of songs to their libraries. (Billboard.com)
KW: Dominique, what is an ideal concert experience for you?
DW: At my big age, standing for hours is just not as fun as it once was, but I still do it because I love a small intimate venue where the artist can really connect with the audience in an authentic way.
“God shows His vastness through music. The older I get the bigger God is to me, and the fuller the story becomes.”
KW: In your opinion who puts on the best live shows?
DW: If I love you, I’ll go see you multiple times. So in terms of folks that consistently put on good shows, I would say, Jazmine Sullvian, Kevin Garrett, Jojo, Allen Stone, Syd, and Jacob Banks.
KW: What has been your most favorite concert to date?
DW: Moses Sumney hands down was one of the most amazing concerts I’ve ever been to in my life. I saw him on my golden birthday this year and it was just transcendent. I do not care if you’ve never heard of Moses Sumney, if he’s in your town, GO!
KW: Speaking of concerts, what is your favorite venue / concert space? I think in NYC/BK I’d say Kings Theater. I’ve been to a ton of amazing music venues and there are only a few I genuinely cannot do. To be fair, I have a theory that the crowd and artist make a show what it is just as much as the venue. NYC is a hard crowd to impress so when you have an amazing show you should be proud.
KW: What has been your favorite music festival to attend regularly?
DW: Beale Street Music Festival. I went to college at the University of Memphis, and every summer we would go. I have some great memories there. I don’t do music festivals any more though. My body truly cannot handle it.
KW: I feel the same way. The only festival I make space for is AfroPunk Brooklyn.
KW: Tell us more about how you plan to implement your love of music in your new publication, "Multitudes."
DW: Music will have a significant role in Multitudes Magazine. I love talking with people who love music deeply or are artists and musicians themselves, so many of the magazine’s articles will feature these creatives. No matter who the person is, the stories all discuss how music shaped the person and how it keeps them inspired on their journey. There will be a playlist with each feature, so people can find their new favorites.
KW: Tell me more about this publication. What is the purpose of Multitudes?
DW: Multitudes Magazine is a digital zine space, for the many versions of our humanity and expression of Black, Indigenous, Latine/X, Asian, and Pacific Islander storytellers, curators, and creators. I wanted to create a space where we could just exist and didn't have to be perfect or put together, but could share how we got to where we are. We talk about the real stuff, the vulnerable stuff, and experience all the feelings that come with it and music is the web that holds the stories together.
I am also hoping to have some folks guest feature and share their love and stories about life and music. The site will launch in Spring 2023.
KW: What artist / music creative would you love to have write for Multitudes?
DW: Oh wow, solid question. I actually have a few.
There is a writer named Yoh Phillips and I absolutely love his music journalism and deep dives on albums. He also has a great ear for first-listen reviews.
Hanif Abdurrabqib, a novelist and essayist who writes for everyone on music would also be a dream of mine.
From across the pond, I would love to have Natty Kasambala who is a culture writer and has a focus on music. I love her profiles on artists.
KW: Well I definitely hope each of these people come to write for Multitudes.
KW: One of the things I love about music is the infinite ways songs can sound. I think it paints a picture of or reflects God’s creativity. How do you think God uses music to show His love for us or His creativity?
DW: God shows His vastness through music. The older I get, the bigger God is to me, and the fuller the story becomes. And music has different genres and languages, but they are reflections of people's lives and stories so if you listen truly, you can connect to something bigger than the song. The connection is something that God uses to bring us together in ways we will never know. Music has the ability to make us cry or dance or sing at the top of our lungs. That feeling of being moved to another action is God blessing us to create beyond what is already there.
KW: Can you share a bit on what your faith means to you?
DW: Faith for me is trusting in the unseen and believing God is putting things together for my good. That’s super cliche, but honestly it’s that straight forward. It’s not easy when stuff gets hard and you want to give up or know why, but it’s knowing it’s not over until I’m through it. With faith in God, I know I will make it through.
KW: How does God speak to you through music?
DW: I had some very low seasons at various points in my twenties, even now, and in those times I always seek to listen to something to uplift my spirits. Sometimes though, I just start feeling low and a song will pop in my head, and it will be about what I'm going through. Other times I will be out somewhere and hear something that speaks to my situation. In those random moments, I know that's God. A lot of these songs will get saved to playlists so if something comes up like that again, I just lean back into that playlist. I think God speaks both to comfort me when I'm down but also to give me hope for things to come.
KW: Who is your favorite praise and workshop artist/group? How do their lyrics speak to you?
DW: I grew up on Kierra “Kiki” Sheard, and she has been getting me through since I was a kid. Her voice is just everything. I think I really identify with her as a person in being a bigger girl growing up, and her song “Flaws” and many others have got me through my insecure seasons.
KW: What is your favorite Netflix guilty pleasure?
DW: Goodness do I feel guilty about anything? Not really, but the amount of times I’ve watched both Gilmore Girls and Sweet Magnolias seems a little absurd.
KW: Who are two of your favorite artists currently?
DW: I will always say my all-time favorite artists are Little Simz and Fana Hues. I listen to them the minute I get on a plane.
Kendolyn Walker is a creative based in Harlem who serves as producer and founder of The City Love Collective: City Love on the Radio, City Love NYC and the City Love Picnic.