A Q&A With Beloved Asheville Artist DNoRRi

DNoRRi is a rising artist/songwriter from the south side of Asheville, NC. Having shared stages with Outkast, Knovict, Ray Lavender and many more, DNoRRi is someone you need to be paying attention to. Now residing in the “QC” Charlotte, North Carolina, he is working on new music, building new relationships and making the best of his time in quarantine. Having been named the #1 unsigned artist via Soundclick and Reverbnation, DNoRRi is feeling positive about the future!

How has growing up in North Carolina influenced your music?

The influence started for me, growing up on the southside of Asheville, NC. I look back on how my family would be packed in an apartment kitchen in Erskine st projects on the southside, radio turned all way up and us singing along to some of the greatest hits on the radio back then. My grandma would also take me to see my grandpa that was a singer in a gospel band that would perform at Music programs around the city, there would be a ton of different bands. I remember hearing my grandpa and his band practicing in the basement for hours. I also would always end up down in the basement playing around with the microphones, drums, guitars, keyboards and etc. I learned a lot at an early age.

You say you’ve traveled a lot internationally; where were some of your favorite places and do you have any stories that stand out?

Some of my favorites spots are Hawaii, Van Couver Canada, Europe, I would say Budapest, Hungary one of the top. A story that stands out would have to be when I met a girl that lived in Germany over the internet, that I never met before in person and I actually flew to Germany solo. While living In Germany for 3 months, I wrote, hang with a DJ in a club during the nights he was djing and I got to pick up vibes from that scene and also was inspired by the sounds from the music scene and European artist while watching the European MTV music video channel, since I couldn’t watch America MTV while I was living there.

You’ve shared stages with some of the biggest names in the biz. Who were some of your favorite people to perform with?

I got to say opening up for Big Boi right in my home town was Big for me, especially being a fan of Outkast music. Nappy Roots for sure, crime Mobb and Akon’s Konvict artist Ray Lavender.

If you could tour anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

For me I have to say outside the USA is the best way to pick up new inspiration, sounds, and vibes, not saying that I couldn’t be inspired in the USA, but I like international inspiration. It’s common, some of the biggest artist in the game have sampled and used sounds from Europe and other parts of the World for inspiration and new sounds.

How do you feel Hip Hop has evolved over the past decade?

It’s evolved, it can go further in my opinion, we just have to say something other than the norm, that we often hear a lot in today’s Hip-hop. Hip hop is a part of me and you can hear the influence in my music, so I’m going to try to make sure I can reach and touch every listener rather its in the hood, suburb, or overseas.

Who are some artists you’re listening to right now and why do you like their music?

Some artists I’m listening to right now is myself DNORRi my New Single ”Everybody” along with The Weeknd album, Sofi Tukker ”Purple Hat”, Harry Styles latest album, Future ”life is good” Drake toosie slide, dababy rockstar, Uneekint “Dream” and whatever else that’s hot on radio and the playlist. I listen to it all.

What have you been up to during quarantine? Have you been feeling creative?

I’ve been writing, promoting on my social media pages with new content daily. Building new Relationships. During Quarantine I landed Management with Uneekints, got in an interview with you guys at HYPE magazine, One of the biggest Magazines in the World and I got signed to a 2 year Distribution Deal with Sony/Orchard. So I’ve been up to a lot and I’m aiming and grinding for a lot more.

What do you have in store for 2020? What can fans look forward to?

New Music and a whole lot more, time will show it!