On January 15, 2008, Denine Wilson said good-bye to her nine-to-five ? forever.
“I left my full-time job,” the 25-year-old blues singer said. “I?ve been doing music full-time. And I can still pay my bills!”
The Baltimore songbird, who has earned the nickname “Lady D” from admirers, has been heating up Monday nights as host of “Mellow Out Mondays” ? a showcase of old soul, blues, and contemporary music at Eden?s Lounge.
Wilson was voted “People?s Choice” at the Billie Holiday Vocal Competition last year, her music was featured in Season 8 of “The Wire,” and she?s currently working on her debut release, set to drop in September.
When did you start your musical career?
My mom is a pastor, so I started singing in the church choir when I was about 6 or 7. When I was around 14, I was in an all-girls group called Unique, and we had the chance to open for Bryan McKnight and Erykah Badu. It was crazy, being in front of those huge crowds. After that, I was really hooked, but I found myself straying away from the group thing, trying to find my own identity. I started singing second soprano in the Morgan State Community Choir, which is where I received most of my training.
How did Mellow Out Mondays start? What can people expect?
I had a friend come up to me and ask me what we could do in Baltimore on a Monday night. Well, there was only one place that played jazz on Mondays, and it was really more like an open mic night with poetry and all that. I just felt like we needed a different type of twist. This is 1920s music meets hip hop, neo-soul 2008.
What?s in the future for Denine Wilson?
I?m excited about the future. I wake up every morning, and I say, “Denine, by this time next year you will have a Grammy,” or “Denine, you just sold out Carnegie Hall.” This is my every day thing, and I never miss a beat. I go to my mirror and say this every day. Nothing happens by chance. You draw people to you by way of your energy. Some people call me a dreamer, but I would consider myself a realist. If you can see it, dream it, and think it, it?s yours. And that?s what I?m doing.
IF YOU GO
Mellow Mondays with Denine Wilson
- Where: Eden?s Lounge, 15 W. Eager St., Baltimore
- When: 7 p.m. to midnight
- Tickets: Free
- Info : www.edenslounge.com
