1 00:00:06,095 --> 00:00:06,755 Jay Ray: What's up y'all? 2 00:00:06,755 --> 00:00:09,580 It is Jay Ray, co-host of Queue Points, the podcast, dropping the 3 00:00:09,580 --> 00:00:12,515 needle on black music history. 4 00:00:12,905 --> 00:00:14,375 And I am. 5 00:00:14,735 --> 00:00:18,665 So excited, thrilled, honored that. 6 00:00:18,665 --> 00:00:23,165 On June 7th, an event is gonna be happening in Wilmington, Delaware, 7 00:00:23,705 --> 00:00:29,615 hosted by the amazing Darnell Miller, and it's called Pride @ The Loft, and 8 00:00:29,615 --> 00:00:31,565 it's part of his Live @ The Loft series. 9 00:00:31,605 --> 00:00:35,765 And right here on Queue Points right now, Darnell Miller is here. 10 00:00:35,765 --> 00:00:36,905 What's up man? 11 00:00:37,055 --> 00:00:37,535 Darnell Miller: I'm good. 12 00:00:37,535 --> 00:00:38,045 I'm good. 13 00:00:38,075 --> 00:00:38,440 I'm glad. 14 00:00:38,495 --> 00:00:41,225 I'm glad to be in my space doing this. 15 00:00:41,570 --> 00:00:42,050 Jay Ray: Yes. 16 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:46,340 Darnell Miller: And, uh, you know, I'm excited about Live @ The Loft in general. 17 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:46,460 Yeah. 18 00:00:46,850 --> 00:00:49,920 But, uh, I, I guess more so Pride @ The Loft, 19 00:00:50,270 --> 00:00:50,810 Jay Ray: man. 20 00:00:50,810 --> 00:00:50,870 Yeah. 21 00:00:51,230 --> 00:00:58,010 So first of all, thank you so much for inviting me to be part of the experience. 22 00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:01,970 So for those of you who are coming through, uh, I will be here hosting 23 00:01:01,970 --> 00:01:04,100 the event that night hosting. 24 00:01:04,130 --> 00:01:05,570 And, um, I'm so grateful. 25 00:01:05,570 --> 00:01:06,830 So thank you for that. 26 00:01:07,725 --> 00:01:11,095 What, why Pride @ The Loft now? 27 00:01:11,595 --> 00:01:12,605 Darnell Miller: Well, um. 28 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:18,230 I felt like the time was right in the Live @ The Loft series because 29 00:01:18,230 --> 00:01:21,530 I had been doing it for some time and I kind of got a rhythm. 30 00:01:21,530 --> 00:01:25,160 I'm not where I want to be, but I kind of got a rhythm and it was a idea I've 31 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:30,770 always had because just based on my research, excuse me, a lot of the. 32 00:01:31,550 --> 00:01:35,270 Um, a lot of the black queer population in Wilmington, Delaware 33 00:01:35,270 --> 00:01:39,980 specifically are always saying like, well, we don't have anywhere to go. 34 00:01:39,980 --> 00:01:40,850 Where can we go? 35 00:01:40,850 --> 00:01:42,080 Where can we go to hang out? 36 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:43,640 And then not be crazy? 37 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:47,330 Or not be like, you know, and it could just be about music or just to be about 38 00:01:47,330 --> 00:01:49,040 fun, or just to be about whatever. 39 00:01:49,430 --> 00:01:53,900 And so I figured, you know what, why not do something? 40 00:01:55,205 --> 00:01:55,715 About it. 41 00:01:55,715 --> 00:01:55,775 Yeah. 42 00:01:56,105 --> 00:02:00,395 And I know in this area that hasn't happened and people could debate 43 00:02:00,395 --> 00:02:04,265 me if they want to, but I, I'm old enough to remember, or to even know. 44 00:02:04,325 --> 00:02:07,745 Um, but something like that hasn't really happened around 45 00:02:07,745 --> 00:02:10,445 here in probably 30 plus years. 46 00:02:10,505 --> 00:02:11,075 Wow. 47 00:02:11,285 --> 00:02:14,255 You know, when there were multiple places for people to go and in 48 00:02:14,255 --> 00:02:16,295 Delaware now there's only one. 49 00:02:16,295 --> 00:02:19,295 And it's, you know, defined by one thing. 50 00:02:19,295 --> 00:02:20,945 And if you're not into that one thing. 51 00:02:21,515 --> 00:02:22,535 And then, you know. 52 00:02:23,555 --> 00:02:25,935 Jay Ray: From your perspective. 53 00:02:26,435 --> 00:02:33,575 Why is it important that we have spaces where folks can go to be themselves? 54 00:02:34,146 --> 00:02:37,206 Darnell Miller: I, I think that with, especially my, my main 55 00:02:37,206 --> 00:02:40,866 thing is music, and it's the music industry and the artists in general. 56 00:02:41,166 --> 00:02:46,776 Um, I think that because the music industry is so crazy right now. 57 00:02:47,286 --> 00:02:48,486 It's insane. 58 00:02:48,546 --> 00:02:55,026 And we don't get to be, we don't get to hear like real, authentic live music. 59 00:02:55,026 --> 00:02:55,116 Yes. 60 00:02:55,116 --> 00:02:58,716 And then a lot of times artists are not in a space where they could be 61 00:02:58,716 --> 00:03:01,326 vulnerable and powerful at the same time. 62 00:03:01,416 --> 00:03:01,476 Yeah. 63 00:03:01,536 --> 00:03:03,666 And people forget that artists are. 64 00:03:04,556 --> 00:03:07,586 Out there on stage, night after night, or getting night after night, 65 00:03:07,586 --> 00:03:12,086 whatever they're doing, and they're walking outta that thing sometimes 66 00:03:12,086 --> 00:03:14,066 broke, not even breaking even. 67 00:03:14,306 --> 00:03:17,636 And they're tired, they're mentally drained, but there's not their, there's 68 00:03:17,636 --> 00:03:21,566 not a moment where they can get everything that they, that they poured out to people. 69 00:03:21,566 --> 00:03:21,626 Yeah. 70 00:03:21,756 --> 00:03:26,186 And so I Live @ The Loft is like, I wanted to make it a space where the artist 71 00:03:26,186 --> 00:03:32,096 is heard and the audience is engaged and, but also the artist gets fed too. 72 00:03:32,526 --> 00:03:33,246 Jay Ray: Yes. 73 00:03:33,306 --> 00:03:35,106 Darnell Miller: You know, it's, it's an interesting thing. 74 00:03:35,106 --> 00:03:38,826 Every time an artist comes here, they say, wow, this was great. 75 00:03:38,826 --> 00:03:38,886 Yeah. 76 00:03:39,456 --> 00:03:41,436 You know, I feel a whole lot better. 77 00:03:41,436 --> 00:03:43,476 Or, I didn't know it was going to be like this. 78 00:03:43,476 --> 00:03:46,686 And, you know, it's just a great night of engagement. 79 00:03:46,716 --> 00:03:48,966 It's a, it's a, it's a two way street. 80 00:03:49,026 --> 00:03:51,306 It's not just gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme. 81 00:03:51,906 --> 00:03:54,426 But it's really a give and take the whole night. 82 00:03:54,696 --> 00:03:55,176 Jay Ray: Yeah. 83 00:03:55,956 --> 00:03:56,616 Um. 84 00:03:57,486 --> 00:04:01,206 So we're gonna have, Janay Keys is gonna be here performing 85 00:04:01,206 --> 00:04:02,376 Janay Keys, 86 00:04:02,406 --> 00:04:03,426 Marcus G 87 00:04:03,486 --> 00:04:04,536 Darnell Miller: Marcus G. 88 00:04:04,626 --> 00:04:05,206 Jay Ray: Big Grizz. 89 00:04:05,436 --> 00:04:06,236 And Big Grizz. 90 00:04:06,301 --> 00:04:06,521 Darnell Miller: Yes. 91 00:04:06,526 --> 00:04:10,416 And I didn't know that Big Grizz and Marcus G did a song together. 92 00:04:11,376 --> 00:04:12,186 You see how spirit 93 00:04:12,186 --> 00:04:13,836 Jay Ray: comes together, just work itself out. 94 00:04:13,836 --> 00:04:14,046 Yeah. 95 00:04:14,046 --> 00:04:18,356 Darnell Miller: And my thing with this whole, just these past few Live @ The 96 00:04:18,356 --> 00:04:23,496 Lofts, that specifically this one, you have a vision, but it's not necessarily 97 00:04:23,496 --> 00:04:24,966 the vision that's supposed to happen. 98 00:04:25,527 --> 00:04:25,587 Yeah. 99 00:04:25,587 --> 00:04:29,097 But like the universe said, no, you need what's needed in there. 100 00:04:29,997 --> 00:04:30,777 You know what I'm saying? 101 00:04:30,837 --> 00:04:30,957 Yes. 102 00:04:30,957 --> 00:04:36,057 And so that's how I just, after a while, I just let those pieces fall into play. 103 00:04:36,147 --> 00:04:37,257 I let 'em fall into play. 104 00:04:37,302 --> 00:04:37,362 Yeah. 105 00:04:37,902 --> 00:04:40,242 You know, I was like, well, who can I get the hostess? 106 00:04:40,242 --> 00:04:41,292 I don't know what to do. 107 00:04:41,982 --> 00:04:47,532 And a little birdie spoke to my ear and said, that's 108 00:04:47,532 --> 00:04:47,922 Johnnie. 109 00:04:48,942 --> 00:04:49,422 Hey. 110 00:04:49,422 --> 00:04:49,482 Hey. 111 00:04:51,132 --> 00:04:51,522 Yeah. 112 00:04:52,039 --> 00:04:54,809 So let's talk a bit about. 113 00:04:55,169 --> 00:04:58,109 Live @ The Loft in general. 114 00:04:58,249 --> 00:05:02,809 When did the idea come to you to do this? 115 00:05:02,899 --> 00:05:07,729 Well, I don't know if I should say this, but what, uh, so, um, 116 00:05:07,789 --> 00:05:10,849 I was doing like a run of shows. 117 00:05:11,149 --> 00:05:14,209 First of all, I'm gonna back it up 'cause I didn't really just get it from 118 00:05:14,209 --> 00:05:16,639 this situation, but I grew up in a. 119 00:05:16,814 --> 00:05:21,134 Church where when artists would come to town, you would host the artist and the 120 00:05:21,134 --> 00:05:23,444 artist would sometimes do a house concert. 121 00:05:23,564 --> 00:05:23,714 Yes. 122 00:05:23,714 --> 00:05:30,374 So I grew up on the house concert, uh, philosophy, and I've always done stuff 123 00:05:30,374 --> 00:05:34,274 like that, but informal, like I've had friends over, I cook and we just play. 124 00:05:34,309 --> 00:05:34,369 Yeah. 125 00:05:34,909 --> 00:05:35,779 You know what I mean? 126 00:05:35,779 --> 00:05:36,559 Just a night. 127 00:05:37,039 --> 00:05:41,689 So, but me and my drummer at the time, we were doing this run of acoustic 128 00:05:41,689 --> 00:05:46,219 shows and we were doing these so far events and up until that point, 129 00:05:46,219 --> 00:05:47,959 and again, it was the universe. 130 00:05:48,109 --> 00:05:52,159 I refuse to play where anyone is talking over me anymore. 131 00:05:52,189 --> 00:05:54,409 I don't work too hard and I done, 132 00:05:55,219 --> 00:05:57,859 Jay Ray: don't come up and Live @ The Loft talking over the artist. 133 00:05:57,859 --> 00:05:58,639 That's a rule though. 134 00:05:58,819 --> 00:06:00,679 Darnell Miller: That's a rule when the artist is playing. 135 00:06:01,174 --> 00:06:03,664 You don't move around, you don't talk, you listen. 136 00:06:03,874 --> 00:06:08,644 So I refuse now at this point in my life to to play a room where I 137 00:06:08,644 --> 00:06:10,504 gotta battle with conversations. 138 00:06:10,774 --> 00:06:16,324 And so we were doing this run of shows and uh, you know, I was like, 139 00:06:16,774 --> 00:06:18,274 Wayne, they're listening to us. 140 00:06:18,604 --> 00:06:18,664 Yeah. 141 00:06:20,074 --> 00:06:24,634 Like they li they listening and they're like engaged and they're, they're, 142 00:06:24,814 --> 00:06:28,054 you know, they're laughing, you know, they're laughing at my corny jokes and 143 00:06:28,774 --> 00:06:35,344 all that kind of stuff, and, and, and, and we would leave and like, no kidding. 144 00:06:35,434 --> 00:06:40,834 I mean, we would leave as we're packing up to leave like our igs, we get like, 145 00:06:41,014 --> 00:06:43,474 like 80 to 90 followers in that night. 146 00:06:43,594 --> 00:06:43,804 Jay Ray: Yeah. 147 00:06:44,389 --> 00:06:46,279 Darnell Miller: And then the next night, same thing. 148 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:47,689 And I was like, okay. 149 00:06:48,229 --> 00:06:49,969 I was like, let me investigate this. 150 00:06:49,999 --> 00:06:53,779 I was like, okay, so these are like elevated house concerts. 151 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:54,109 Yeah. 152 00:06:54,139 --> 00:06:58,309 So I was like, I, you know, I, I wanna do that. 153 00:06:58,369 --> 00:06:58,489 Yeah. 154 00:06:58,699 --> 00:06:59,719 I love that idea. 155 00:06:59,719 --> 00:07:01,999 I love a intimate space, you know what I mean? 156 00:07:01,999 --> 00:07:04,819 Because you get to know the artist in a more intimate setting 157 00:07:05,029 --> 00:07:09,469 without, you know, all the pro tools and the stems and everything. 158 00:07:09,649 --> 00:07:11,089 It's just them and maybe another. 159 00:07:11,374 --> 00:07:13,504 Musician or whatever, you know? 160 00:07:13,744 --> 00:07:15,724 And I was like, you know what, I wanna do that. 161 00:07:15,724 --> 00:07:19,384 'cause I like that and maybe I could get a little coin off of it. 162 00:07:19,384 --> 00:07:19,924 Amen. 163 00:07:19,924 --> 00:07:20,314 Amen. 164 00:07:20,314 --> 00:07:21,874 Jay Ray: Yes, yes. 165 00:07:21,964 --> 00:07:22,234 Darnell Miller: You know? 166 00:07:22,234 --> 00:07:22,624 Well that's 167 00:07:22,624 --> 00:07:23,044 Jay Ray: important. 168 00:07:23,044 --> 00:07:23,854 'cause you know what? 169 00:07:23,944 --> 00:07:26,824 When we, we have to keep spaces like this a alive. 170 00:07:26,854 --> 00:07:27,064 Darnell Miller: Yeah. 171 00:07:27,094 --> 00:07:28,234 It's needed right now. 172 00:07:28,294 --> 00:07:28,804 Absolutely. 173 00:07:29,044 --> 00:07:30,304 My prediction is like. 174 00:07:30,994 --> 00:07:35,254 I mean, I don't claim to be no guru, no wisdom, but I predicted that, you know, 175 00:07:35,464 --> 00:07:37,654 ticket prices go higher and they will. 176 00:07:38,074 --> 00:07:38,794 You know what I mean? 177 00:07:38,794 --> 00:07:39,994 Venues are closing. 178 00:07:40,354 --> 00:07:40,444 Yep. 179 00:07:40,444 --> 00:07:44,554 Artists and independent artists need to start thinking about alternative venues. 180 00:07:44,584 --> 00:07:45,034 Yes. 181 00:07:45,094 --> 00:07:49,174 And the smaller venue, the more intimate venue is gonna be the 182 00:07:49,174 --> 00:07:50,794 way that you win your audience. 183 00:07:51,724 --> 00:07:52,864 It's like evangelism. 184 00:07:52,864 --> 00:07:52,954 Yes. 185 00:07:53,164 --> 00:07:56,014 I go from town to town proselytizing. 186 00:07:56,194 --> 00:07:56,314 Yes. 187 00:07:56,374 --> 00:07:57,064 You know what I mean? 188 00:07:57,274 --> 00:07:58,564 And that's how it's gonna be. 189 00:07:58,564 --> 00:08:01,924 Now as an indie artist, it's gonna be a little rougher 'cause it's all on you. 190 00:08:02,014 --> 00:08:02,284 Yeah. 191 00:08:02,584 --> 00:08:03,424 You know what I'm saying? 192 00:08:03,424 --> 00:08:06,904 But that's the, that's the way you're gonna build your fan base or 193 00:08:06,904 --> 00:08:10,774 when your audience is that smaller venues like this or things like this. 194 00:08:11,494 --> 00:08:12,484 Jay Ray: Mm. So. 195 00:08:13,994 --> 00:08:19,184 In speaking to, if you could speak to folks out there in the world, in 196 00:08:19,184 --> 00:08:22,824 Wilmington, Delaware about why they need to be in this room for Pride @ The Loft 197 00:08:22,824 --> 00:08:24,884 on June 7th, what would you tell them? 198 00:08:25,334 --> 00:08:28,934 Darnell Miller: I would say that because it needs to happen in light 199 00:08:28,964 --> 00:08:32,969 of whatever things I've been hearing from that's been happening around 200 00:08:33,044 --> 00:08:35,264 in the area, it needs to happen. 201 00:08:35,294 --> 00:08:40,574 You need to support these spaces, not only independent artist spaces, but other. 202 00:08:40,969 --> 00:08:45,589 Queer spaces, like, you know, and I'm, I'm gonna make that call to 203 00:08:45,589 --> 00:08:48,169 all my church folk and my believers. 204 00:08:48,439 --> 00:08:50,509 'cause my question is, what Bible are you reading? 205 00:08:50,509 --> 00:08:52,879 Are you reading the same Bible that I'm reading? 206 00:08:52,879 --> 00:08:55,639 Because like Jesus always. 207 00:08:56,159 --> 00:08:58,619 Went to the non, the 208 00:08:58,619 --> 00:08:58,649 Jay Ray: nons. 209 00:08:58,709 --> 00:08:59,069 Yes. 210 00:08:59,069 --> 00:09:01,139 Darnell Miller: His disciples were made up of nons. 211 00:09:01,199 --> 00:09:01,529 Yes. 212 00:09:01,529 --> 00:09:03,989 He talked to women in public when women weren't supposed 213 00:09:03,989 --> 00:09:05,099 to be addressed in public. 214 00:09:05,519 --> 00:09:09,689 So like, you know, I'm put in a call to just this area in general. 215 00:09:09,689 --> 00:09:11,429 Number one, Wilmington, free yourself. 216 00:09:12,409 --> 00:09:13,309 That's the problem. 217 00:09:13,309 --> 00:09:15,559 This is a repressed, oppressed area. 218 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:16,789 You can feel the cloud. 219 00:09:16,909 --> 00:09:17,269 Yes. 220 00:09:17,299 --> 00:09:18,049 You know what I mean? 221 00:09:18,319 --> 00:09:20,719 You know, free yourself and open up your mind. 222 00:09:20,719 --> 00:09:21,619 Open up your opinion. 223 00:09:21,859 --> 00:09:22,969 Come out and celebrate. 224 00:09:23,119 --> 00:09:25,789 It's not gonna be what you think about, it's not gonna be what you think. 225 00:09:25,789 --> 00:09:25,879 Mm-hmm. 226 00:09:26,179 --> 00:09:27,079 When you get here. 227 00:09:27,169 --> 00:09:29,269 So don't be coming in here and thinking like jokers is gonna be 228 00:09:29,299 --> 00:09:30,649 vogueing the house down and stuff. 229 00:09:30,649 --> 00:09:30,739 Mm-hmm. 230 00:09:30,979 --> 00:09:32,629 That's all stereotypical. 231 00:09:32,659 --> 00:09:32,749 Mm-hmm. 232 00:09:33,019 --> 00:09:34,039 It's music. 233 00:09:34,129 --> 00:09:34,399 Jay Ray: Yeah. 234 00:09:34,459 --> 00:09:35,419 Darnell Miller: It's music. 235 00:09:35,749 --> 00:09:36,679 It's music. 236 00:09:37,459 --> 00:09:38,689 Come enjoy this music. 237 00:09:38,929 --> 00:09:39,799 Jay Ray: Absolutely. 238 00:09:40,159 --> 00:09:40,789 So. 239 00:09:41,519 --> 00:09:47,929 Come out Pride @ The Loft, we're gonna have, uh, Janay Keys, Marcus G Janay Keys. 240 00:09:48,019 --> 00:09:48,949 Darnell Miller: She can sing, man. 241 00:09:48,979 --> 00:09:49,129 My 242 00:09:49,129 --> 00:09:49,699 Jay Ray: God. 243 00:09:49,999 --> 00:09:51,739 So she can say opera. 244 00:09:52,099 --> 00:09:58,009 Oh, my funny Janay Keys story is I went to a Juneteenth event 245 00:09:58,009 --> 00:09:59,569 with my mom two years ago. 246 00:09:59,659 --> 00:10:00,229 Oh, wow. 247 00:10:00,709 --> 00:10:03,409 Jena Keys was singing, and of course I have to meet the 248 00:10:03,409 --> 00:10:04,399 performers like, who's singing? 249 00:10:04,399 --> 00:10:04,459 Yeah. 250 00:10:04,459 --> 00:10:05,959 I was like, oh my God, girl, you killed it. 251 00:10:06,199 --> 00:10:07,399 She met my mom. 252 00:10:07,399 --> 00:10:09,469 We had the best conversation. 253 00:10:09,469 --> 00:10:10,129 She's the sweetie lady. 254 00:10:10,129 --> 00:10:12,949 And so she, we remembered each other, so this is like, oh, 255 00:10:13,954 --> 00:10:15,529 that we get to be in this space. 256 00:10:15,859 --> 00:10:18,919 Marcus G met randomly as I was, uh, shooting 257 00:10:18,919 --> 00:10:22,279 my brother was spending that, uh, Queerapalooza last year. 258 00:10:22,999 --> 00:10:25,579 Ended up meeting Marcus G 'cause I was shooting pictures. 259 00:10:25,609 --> 00:10:25,699 Mm-hmm. 260 00:10:25,939 --> 00:10:28,399 Big Grizz is the only one I haven't met and I haven't met Eddie. 261 00:10:28,459 --> 00:10:29,869 Eddie is going to be here. 262 00:10:29,929 --> 00:10:31,069 Eddie doing the, he's the bartender. 263 00:10:31,069 --> 00:10:33,979 He kind of looks like, you know what Eddie? 264 00:10:33,979 --> 00:10:34,699 Eddie does? 265 00:10:34,699 --> 00:10:34,939 Look. 266 00:10:35,269 --> 00:10:35,959 Zo is here. 267 00:10:35,959 --> 00:10:36,349 Y'all is. 268 00:10:36,349 --> 00:10:37,299 Shout out to Zo. 269 00:10:37,579 --> 00:10:39,709 I could not do this without Zo. 270 00:10:39,709 --> 00:10:40,699 He, it is like, I was like, 271 00:10:40,759 --> 00:10:40,909 Darnell Miller: he 272 00:10:40,939 --> 00:10:41,629 Jay Ray: looks like Eddie. 273 00:10:41,659 --> 00:10:42,829 Yeah, that is true. 274 00:10:43,309 --> 00:10:43,879 Um, 275 00:10:43,879 --> 00:10:46,459 Darnell Miller: my only question is like, what is Eddie gonna wear? 276 00:10:46,824 --> 00:10:51,204 But Eddie has a, he created, he did exactly my normal bartender. 277 00:10:51,414 --> 00:10:52,284 Her name is Danita. 278 00:10:52,314 --> 00:10:53,319 We call her Danita Jo. 279 00:10:53,369 --> 00:10:55,344 Yeah after Janet Damita Jo, I love. 280 00:10:55,344 --> 00:10:58,584 But um, you know, I was like, Danita, like I got a vision. 281 00:10:58,969 --> 00:11:01,849 You can, you don't have to come to, you don't have to work at this one. 282 00:11:02,089 --> 00:11:05,179 But my vision was to have an all queer team from the 283 00:11:05,179 --> 00:11:07,159 door person to the bartender. 284 00:11:07,339 --> 00:11:10,279 'cause I just want people to feel, you know, comfortable. 285 00:11:10,399 --> 00:11:13,069 And so I was like, Eddie, who can I get? 286 00:11:13,549 --> 00:11:16,579 You know, at first I was going, I was, I talked to your brother, Eddie 287 00:11:16,819 --> 00:11:16,849 Jay Ray: Uhhuh. 288 00:11:16,909 --> 00:11:17,209 Yes. 289 00:11:17,209 --> 00:11:18,679 Darnell Miller: And I was like, no, no, no, no. 290 00:11:18,679 --> 00:11:19,609 He was like, I don't know if I can make it. 291 00:11:19,609 --> 00:11:20,959 But I was like, no, Eddie. 292 00:11:21,439 --> 00:11:25,039 The next day Eddie sent me the drink menu and I was like, he did 293 00:11:25,039 --> 00:11:26,659 exactly what needed to be done. 294 00:11:27,474 --> 00:11:29,814 So it's gonna be yes, colorful. 295 00:11:29,874 --> 00:11:32,844 And if you need to get there, he gonna get you there quick. 296 00:11:34,434 --> 00:11:39,924 Jay Ray: Yo, please be here, Live @ The Loft, June 7th, Wilmington, Delaware. 297 00:11:40,464 --> 00:11:44,154 Check Darnell's page, check, uh, my page. 298 00:11:44,154 --> 00:11:45,744 All the information will be there. 299 00:11:46,044 --> 00:11:47,874 But more importantly, y'all. 300 00:11:48,414 --> 00:11:52,164 Support these kinds of events. 301 00:11:52,404 --> 00:11:53,724 We will, we need them. 302 00:11:54,054 --> 00:11:57,744 Like the thing I love about the Loft before we get outta here too, 303 00:11:57,834 --> 00:12:00,984 uh, Darnell is, well y'all talk about the radio show now, right? 304 00:12:01,009 --> 00:12:02,784 Oh, we, we cannot go anywhere. 305 00:12:03,084 --> 00:12:03,174 Ain't 306 00:12:03,174 --> 00:12:04,644 Darnell Miller: nobody right. 307 00:12:04,674 --> 00:12:04,764 We 308 00:12:04,764 --> 00:12:07,944 Jay Ray: gonna definitely talk about the radio show and, um, 309 00:12:08,484 --> 00:12:14,184 this space has such energy in it. 310 00:12:14,724 --> 00:12:16,614 And that's also the thing too. 311 00:12:16,614 --> 00:12:20,814 The loft is, is part of the fa part of the family that is 312 00:12:21,294 --> 00:12:21,564 Darnell Miller: happening here? 313 00:12:21,564 --> 00:12:21,654 Mm-hmm. 314 00:12:21,894 --> 00:12:26,694 Well, you know, I remember when I first moved in here, I was in the 315 00:12:26,694 --> 00:12:30,924 middle of like being on the road, so I didn't spend a lot of time in here. 316 00:12:30,924 --> 00:12:35,184 But after I got settled, um, all I did was just have friends over. 317 00:12:35,994 --> 00:12:39,624 And I would cook and we would jam, or I would, we would just hang out. 318 00:12:39,714 --> 00:12:45,264 And even now, like I have a, a, a buddy of mine that's in from la, you know, who's in 319 00:12:45,264 --> 00:12:47,454 the middle of like, working on his album. 320 00:12:47,454 --> 00:12:52,344 He just came to this side of the world to, you know, hang out. 321 00:12:52,434 --> 00:12:56,994 And, uh, it's always, I've always wanted to make it an inviting space. 322 00:12:57,204 --> 00:13:00,474 Now it's a work in progress because now it's, uh. 323 00:13:01,149 --> 00:13:04,389 It's, I know what I want this to be, you know? 324 00:13:04,419 --> 00:13:06,619 'cause I, I teach here, I record here. 325 00:13:06,619 --> 00:13:08,529 We do Live @ The Loft here. 326 00:13:08,529 --> 00:13:09,969 You know, all those things. 327 00:13:09,969 --> 00:13:12,009 And, um, so it's a work in progress. 328 00:13:12,009 --> 00:13:15,759 Like I'm, you know, I'm trying to work, I'm, I'm trying to get funding Yeah. 329 00:13:15,789 --> 00:13:17,709 To make it exactly how I want it. 330 00:13:18,729 --> 00:13:20,289 Uh, money cometh now. 331 00:13:20,529 --> 00:13:21,339 Jay Ray: Absolutely. 332 00:13:21,339 --> 00:13:23,529 And the fact that you put that out mm-hmm. 333 00:13:23,799 --> 00:13:25,179 In this format is important. 334 00:13:25,419 --> 00:13:27,489 Before we get outta here, we must talk about your radio show. 335 00:13:28,659 --> 00:13:31,869 Darnell Miller: Yes, indie Planet, uh, I am. 336 00:13:31,929 --> 00:13:32,799 It's Indie Planet. 337 00:13:32,799 --> 00:13:38,119 It, it airs every Monday night on wjvsradio.com. 338 00:13:38,659 --> 00:13:42,059 You can log on, and we have our own app, WJVS Radio. 339 00:13:42,299 --> 00:13:44,859 WJVS Radio is a black owned station. 340 00:13:46,194 --> 00:13:46,704 Jay Ray: Period. 341 00:13:47,304 --> 00:13:49,104 Darnell Miller: And that's, that's the first thing I want to say. 342 00:13:49,284 --> 00:13:51,294 It's a black owned radio station. 343 00:13:51,294 --> 00:13:55,374 And, um, they had approached me, you know, like, do you wanna be on radio? 344 00:13:55,374 --> 00:13:56,604 And I was like, no, I don't. 345 00:13:56,664 --> 00:14:02,664 You know, but secretly, but secretly, secretly, I was like, well, you know, I 346 00:14:02,664 --> 00:14:05,794 could, I could be, I could play Questlove. 347 00:14:05,814 --> 00:14:09,084 I could be that guy because I've always had ambitions to like. 348 00:14:09,504 --> 00:14:10,374 Do that kind of stuff. 349 00:14:10,374 --> 00:14:10,434 Yeah. 350 00:14:10,464 --> 00:14:13,704 But I'm the type of person, like I have the ambition, but if you bring 351 00:14:13,704 --> 00:14:15,504 it to me, I'll be like, no, I'm okay. 352 00:14:15,504 --> 00:14:18,474 But like, I really want, I'm that guy, I'm that guy. 353 00:14:19,044 --> 00:14:22,674 So he came to me and uh, I was like, well, let me think about it. 354 00:14:22,704 --> 00:14:26,094 And, you know, about a couple weeks later I was like, well, I'll do something. 355 00:14:26,274 --> 00:14:28,224 I want to be, I wanna play independent music. 356 00:14:28,254 --> 00:14:28,374 Yeah. 357 00:14:28,374 --> 00:14:30,894 Independent artists, independent black artists. 358 00:14:30,894 --> 00:14:34,584 Now, I, I love all genres and I'm all for, listen, I love everything 359 00:14:34,584 --> 00:14:37,794 from death metal to hair metal to country, to, I love it all. 360 00:14:38,489 --> 00:14:43,439 This particular show, I wanted to focus on the black indie artist because 361 00:14:43,559 --> 00:14:47,039 whenever you look, when you, whenever you go to the, uh, DSPs mm-hmm. 362 00:14:47,549 --> 00:14:50,789 And you say you type in indie, it's like all these, you 363 00:14:50,789 --> 00:14:52,979 know, alternative type bands. 364 00:14:53,069 --> 00:14:56,369 So no one thinks that a black artist is, can be a independent 365 00:14:56,369 --> 00:15:01,619 artist, but to me, the ultimate independent artist is Eric Robeson 366 00:15:01,829 --> 00:15:02,159 Jay Ray: Abs. 367 00:15:03,239 --> 00:15:03,839 Yes. 368 00:15:04,164 --> 00:15:05,304 Darnell Miller: And still independent. 369 00:15:05,424 --> 00:15:06,054 Absolutely. 370 00:15:06,054 --> 00:15:11,094 So it's like I wanna lift up all these wonderful black indie artists, 371 00:15:11,094 --> 00:15:14,544 and we're in a great age, a great space now where there's so many, 372 00:15:14,544 --> 00:15:16,224 you have Kevin Ross, you have. 373 00:15:17,334 --> 00:15:21,414 People like El mean you have people like Cleo Soul, you still have your 374 00:15:21,414 --> 00:15:22,104 Jay Ray: font foreign exchange. 375 00:15:22,134 --> 00:15:22,584 Yeah. 376 00:15:22,644 --> 00:15:23,604 Darnell Miller: You know, yes. 377 00:15:23,604 --> 00:15:24,684 I play the heck out of font. 378 00:15:24,714 --> 00:15:26,544 Like I love, I'm a FTE fan. 379 00:15:26,544 --> 00:15:28,344 Like for Real Little Brother. 380 00:15:28,464 --> 00:15:28,644 Yes. 381 00:15:28,704 --> 00:15:29,184 I'm sorry. 382 00:15:29,184 --> 00:15:30,624 They, this is their farewell tour. 383 00:15:30,624 --> 00:15:32,994 But, uh, so I wanted to lift up those. 384 00:15:32,994 --> 00:15:35,094 And now you have people like Ann Nesbe. 385 00:15:35,244 --> 00:15:35,334 Yes. 386 00:15:35,364 --> 00:15:37,284 Jagged Edge Brownstone. 387 00:15:37,284 --> 00:15:39,234 They're also now independent artists. 388 00:15:39,264 --> 00:15:39,384 Yep. 389 00:15:39,384 --> 00:15:40,464 You know, and so. 390 00:15:41,109 --> 00:15:45,429 I just wanna lift all of them up and to show that it's not just rock and 391 00:15:45,429 --> 00:15:47,949 alternative rock, but it's some good soul. 392 00:15:48,159 --> 00:15:51,309 And the thing I like about Black and the artists is that it's not monolithic. 393 00:15:51,459 --> 00:15:51,639 Yes. 394 00:15:51,639 --> 00:15:53,319 It's, it runs the gamut. 395 00:15:53,499 --> 00:15:55,449 So I'll play the Sheela who I love. 396 00:15:55,629 --> 00:15:56,259 Jay Ray: Oh my God. 397 00:15:56,259 --> 00:15:56,799 Shout out to you. 398 00:15:56,799 --> 00:15:57,099 Yeah. 399 00:15:57,099 --> 00:15:58,239 Darnell Miller: I'll play all of that. 400 00:15:58,299 --> 00:16:00,129 And, and, and some in between. 401 00:16:00,189 --> 00:16:00,249 Yeah. 402 00:16:01,089 --> 00:16:05,439 So every Monday night, 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM w JVs radio.com. 403 00:16:05,799 --> 00:16:06,129 You heard it? 404 00:16:06,429 --> 00:16:10,239 Jay Ray: Yo, thank you for continuing to do all the work that you do. 405 00:16:11,724 --> 00:16:14,904 For what you do here in the community in Wilmington, it 406 00:16:14,904 --> 00:16:16,914 is necessary and appreciated. 407 00:16:16,914 --> 00:16:20,544 I know you, I mean, you are a legend, so not 408 00:16:20,544 --> 00:16:20,874 Darnell Miller: really. 409 00:16:20,874 --> 00:16:21,144 You 410 00:16:21,144 --> 00:16:22,704 Jay Ray: are okay, but you are. 411 00:16:22,734 --> 00:16:22,974 Listen, 412 00:16:24,984 --> 00:16:25,228 Darnell Miller: he been, I knew your music. 413 00:16:25,228 --> 00:16:26,484 He been doing some good heroin right now. 414 00:16:26,484 --> 00:16:27,414 So 415 00:16:27,419 --> 00:16:30,924 Jay Ray: I knew Darnell's music before I knew you. 416 00:16:32,784 --> 00:16:33,654 So, mm-hmm. 417 00:16:33,894 --> 00:16:35,394 Listen, you out here doing your thing. 418 00:16:35,814 --> 00:16:38,154 Um, so definitely check out the radio show. 419 00:16:38,214 --> 00:16:40,414 Definitely be here for Pride @ The Loft on June 7th. 420 00:16:40,434 --> 00:16:41,454 Gotta be here for that. 421 00:16:41,454 --> 00:16:42,084 You gotta be here. 422 00:16:42,084 --> 00:16:45,624 And, um, thank you man for inviting me to be part of this journey. 423 00:16:45,774 --> 00:16:46,404 It's my pleasure. 424 00:16:46,404 --> 00:16:46,644 Appreciate 425 00:16:46,644 --> 00:16:49,134 Darnell Miller: you and I hope this will not be the last No. 426 00:16:49,134 --> 00:16:50,424 That last thing that we do together. 427 00:16:50,484 --> 00:16:53,574 Jay Ray: Listen, we cooking, you know what I'm saying? 428 00:16:53,574 --> 00:16:55,584 We gonna get this pot that, that kitchen back there. 429 00:16:55,584 --> 00:16:56,274 We gum be cooking. 430 00:16:56,279 --> 00:16:56,459 Darnell Miller: Gumbo. 431 00:16:56,464 --> 00:16:56,694 Gumbo. 432 00:16:56,694 --> 00:16:57,564 Yes. 433 00:16:57,744 --> 00:16:58,434 Fish and grits. 434 00:16:58,494 --> 00:16:59,364 Yes. 435 00:17:00,024 --> 00:17:01,134 All that except everything. 436 00:17:01,134 --> 00:17:01,854 Except for okra. 437 00:17:02,754 --> 00:17:03,834 Jay Ray: No okra. 438 00:17:03,984 --> 00:17:05,484 Oh, we gotta have a conversation offline. 439 00:17:06,054 --> 00:17:06,564 Oh my God. 440 00:17:06,564 --> 00:17:07,374 Darnell Miller: I love okra. 441 00:17:07,584 --> 00:17:07,944 Anyway. 442 00:17:08,904 --> 00:17:09,027 I knew something y'all. 443 00:17:09,032 --> 00:17:10,644 I knew something was wrong with I knew Okra. 444 00:17:11,664 --> 00:17:14,634 Jay Ray: Y'all, thank y'all so much for tuning in for 445 00:17:14,634 --> 00:17:16,704 this episode of Queue Points. 446 00:17:17,074 --> 00:17:18,534 Definitely follow Queue Points. 447 00:17:18,534 --> 00:17:21,924 Definitely follow Darnell Miller and be here on June 7th. 448 00:17:21,924 --> 00:17:22,674 We appreciate y'all. 449 00:17:22,674 --> 00:17:23,244 We love y'all. 450 00:17:23,484 --> 00:17:24,054 Peace.