Review Fix Exclusive: DawgGoneDavis Talks ‘Darkest Hour’ And More

Review Fix chats with rapper DawgGoneDavis, who discusses her creative process aid COVID and her new track, “Darkest Hour.”

Review Fix: What inspired Darkest Hour?     

DawgGoneDavis: When the mass deaths in the 90’s daily started in Italy I immediately felt past pain for Sandy Hook Elementary, CT  parents. I support their Sandy Hook Promise effort. We had a personal loss and family tragedy about 10 years ago; and grief does not leave one. It is a song for Every human’s suffering. The poet in me is very empathetic.

Review Fix: This is your first track to include live drums. How do you think that changes your sound?    

DawgGoneDavis: The sound changed greatly.  I played concert percussion and marching band drums, so I love it.  Jack T Perry in NC is Awesome and creative.  Jack’s intuition for the “right” beat or hesitation gives us all more to bob our head and tap our feet with, hard.

Review Fix: What was it like to work with Chago G Williams?     

DawgGoneDavis: WOW, what a blessing!  It was seamless and cool.  Chago G recognized the pain and Darkness and his lyrics are perfect in Hellmut and my opinions.  Hellmut Wolf is my manager and producer. With Chago, it was true simpatico with his great voice and heartfelt lyrics. A reviewer of the song, Darkest Hour, said it is “magic” the way Chago and I blend.   I agree.   hee  hee

Review Fix: You’ve been pumping out tunes during the COVID pandemic. What’s your advice to creators trying to find a groove during these tough times?   

DawgGoneDavis: I think for writers and lyricists, when an idea or an emotion hits, write it down immediately, of course (and do not push it).  Be open about real, personal events or topics. For me, most of our songs are about direct and specific things and people in my life; years ago and currently.  I will say: “don’t stop yourself.”

Review Fix: How do you want this song to affect people?    

DawgGoneDavis: I hope folks can identify with  the realness of it (which is unfortunate for our country and the World in these months). I try to create visual lyrics with the Don McLean references.  Also, that one day we can all get “a blessing of reprieve” from dark grief.  

Review Fix: What does this track do that your others don’t?     

DawgGoneDavis: I believe that the song reaches many, many, many folks.  What sets it apart is the severe seriousness blended with some creative lightness.   I knock/ding my own ego with:  “My brilliant Bravado Tis a rotten Avocado.”   I do love to have fun somehow.

Review Fix: What’s next?    

DawgGoneDavis: Hellmut is producing/composing another song with Chago G Williams and me.   I am super excited about that – it is underway, but not completely “there” yet.   I have to say it has a blast of funny in it (from my youth).

Review Fix: Anything else you’d like to add?  

DawgGoneDavis: I must call out Romain Duchein, our guitarist in France. He is clever and extremely refreshing in a few of our songs. He rocks the rock, baby. Again Jack T. Perry and the incomparable Chago. Also, Hellmut Wolf and I have very unique and cool songs for a new CD in the Fall of this year.   What a treat it has been to collaborate with the Best!   A huge Thank You to fans and listeners!!!!

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About Patrick Hickey Jr. 13889 Articles
Patrick Hickey Jr. is a full-time Assistant Professor of Communication & Performing Arts and Director of the Journalism program at Kingsborough Community College and is the chairman of the City University of New York Journalism Council. He is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of ReviewFix.com. He's also a former News Editor at NBC Local Integrated Media and National Video Games Writer at Examiner.com where his work was mentioned in National Ad campaigns by Disney, Nintendo and EA Sports. Hickey was also the Editor-In-Chief of two College Newspapers before he received his BA in Journalism from Brooklyn College. Hickey's work has been published in The New York Daily News, The New York Times, Complex, The Hockey Writers, Yahoo!, Broadway World, Examiner, NYSportScene Magazine, ProHockeyNews.com, GothamBaseball.com, The Syracuse Post-Standard, Scout.com and the official sites of the Brooklyn Aces and New York Islanders. His first book, The Minds Behind the Games: Interviews With Cult And Classic Video Game Developers was released in April 2018 and is chock full of interviews with legendary developers. His second book in the series, The Minds Behind Adventures Games, was released in December 2019. His third book, The Minds Behind Sports Games, was released in September 2020. His fourth book, The Minds Behind Shooter Games, was released in March 2021. The Minds Behind Sega Genesis Games and The Minds Behind PlayStation Games were released in 2022 and The Minds Behind PlayStation 2 was published in January 2023. Hickey is also a contracted comic book writer, currently penning his original series, "Condrey," as well as "The Job," "Brooklyn Bleeds" "Dem Gulls" and "KROOM" for Legacy Comix, where he serves as founder, owner and Editor-in-Chief. Hickey Jr. is also a voice actor, having starred in the 2018 indie hit and 2019 Switch, PS4 and Xbox One release, The Padre (also serving as English language Story Editor), from Shotgun With Glitters. The sequel, The Padre: One Shell Straight to Hell was released in February 2021- Hickey also served as a Story Editor and Lead Voiceover performer. He has also done narration and trailers for several other titles including The Kaiju Offensive, Relentless Rex and Roniu’s Tale. Hickey is also the lead voiceover performer on Mega Cat Studios’ upcoming title WrestleQuest, responsible for nearly 90 characters in the game, as well as Skybound's Renfield: Bring Your Own Blood, where he voices both Dracula and Renfield, as well as several other characters. He also stars in Ziggurat Interactive’s World Championship Boxing Manager 2, where he performs the VO of nearly every male character in the game. He also worked on the Atari VCS’s BPM Boy.

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