Chicago's Denton Arnell Talks His New Album "Moods" And The Importance Of Education & Mentorship

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
We are back with another episode ofthough we'll disagree to disagree. Your head's
cut off? Is that better?So now we have to do thet all
over again? No, not really, pick from where you left. All
right? Five? What up?Man? What's going on with you?
I don't like being next to youagain? You know, usually we've been

(00:21):
on the opposite side. Yeah,you know why you have to be right
next to me. Ryan a veryspecial guest. Yes, today Chicago's very
own are now boy. First ofall, you swoll I'm just telling uh.

(00:45):
I was just telling Ryan, Ihave gained so much weight over the
last couple of months, and evenmy doctor was like, yeah, you're
not working now. I'm looking atyou like you me fam, look you
let me know like I've been.I've been trying to hit it during the
week. It's so funny because meknow when you when you're ready to get

(01:08):
in the gym, I'm ready,let's go. But Benson and I follow
each other on Instagram, and Isee instant stories in the gym working out
every day. I'm like, god, dog, I gotta go now too.
I love it, dude, youlook great and you sound Let's talk
about this new album move yeah,it's so good. It's R and B.

(01:29):
Thank you. It's a little bitof I don't know how you explain
the vibe of it. I lovethe R and B because okay, you
know I love R and B,but so uh the vision I had with
this project. So I'm like,you know what, I've seen my transitions
from album to album, and youknow, coming from you know, a

(01:51):
foundation of gospel, and it's likeyou kind of gradually got it, Like
you know, I love R andB now, y'all, I don't want
to do so much the first butthis project to me is like I'm grown.
It's like this, look y'all,I'm an adult, Like this is
what it is. And so Icame up the concept moves. Typically when

(02:14):
I write, I have all thesedifferent songs, I's time to put them
all in order because I want toknow how people feel from track one to
track eight. So literally, Ilike to take people on a journey.
And so with this project, it'sstarting off it's very celebratory. It's a
song called shot Town Celebrate, whichI need y'all to be in this video

(02:35):
for that so I could so wegot to have our Chicago gear on.
So but so it starts off withthe Chicago kind of like celebration and just
like how people, how family cometogether, how friends come together. They're
having their drinks, they're outside,you know, they're barbecuing or their home
playing spades. Like that's the visionI have with that. So then it

(02:57):
goes from that to like that thatgrumun r and b like we used to
have like kind of back in theday with the Kiki Wyatts and avant.
Yeah, so like from that totransition to getting a little sexy with kind
of giving little tang vibes. Yeah, there was one of them, and

(03:21):
you know people love to dance,so kind of twisted on over to like
you know, you have your timeswhere you might want to be more chill
and you might want to be subratory, but then sometimes you want to feel
sexy, and then sometimes you mightwant to be a little ratchet and have
a little fun and dance. Andthen there are oftentimes where you kind of
want to be mellow and at peace, and then there's also times where you

(03:43):
might be pissed. So it's likeand you want to get something off your
chest. So moods, it's justkind of like taking us through a journey
of different emotions that we all experienced. So that was kind of like my
vision when I came up with theconcept, like these are different moods that
people feel. So a lot ofmy music is either my experiences or stuff
that I've heard from other people,and I just kind of bring it to

(04:06):
life through songs. So yeah,that was my visit of a mood.
So I wanted to do something alittle more grown and sexy and just have
a little fun with it. I'mexcited to perform it. I can't wait
to do that, so I keepyou'll posted on that. I like this.
So it kind of reminds me oflike that old school nineties R and
B. I haven't had that ina while, you know what I'm saying.

(04:27):
And because of that, I kindof want to ask you who are
some of Who are some musical artistsor influencers or singers that you kind of
looked up to growing up? Man, it took me back to that nineties
R and B. It is somany influences. So growing up, I
love me some music. So childtang thing, it's always my thing,

(04:49):
is like just my favorite artist allhands down. But then of course there's
like a mixture of like Mario,like the one twelve jagged EDGs, like
they head back in the day justthey just sing because they love it and
it's coming from a certain place.So I always admire that. And of
course there's always that balance of likefemale artists who I love Brandy, I

(05:12):
love me some Jill Scott even gotto like Letacy you have Beyonce, Like
everybody has a thing, and it'slike it's like I'm the pot and it's
like all those different ingredients kind ofshaped my mindset, it shaped my style.
So yes, it's so many.I like, I can't even like

(05:36):
narrow down to my all. Usherdefinitely Usher. I was literally, uh,
just talking to a friend of mine. I'm like, I just saw
a tour online. I'm like,you know, let me go ahead and
say my money now. So I'mtrying to go if I gotta go with
no member or something. But butall of those artists, like these are

(05:56):
artists that paved the way, thathave inspired you know, independent young artists
like myself, and it's just like, you know, I admired them and
I see how their their transitions likeand they're still going like us should.
It's it's like it's never stopped record. Yeah, it's never stopped. Like
he still can be you can puthim next to any artist. It's like.

(06:18):
And the thing is, I likehis confidence. This is just who
I am and he does it likeit's nothing. And so I admire that
and that's something I inspired to havethat that that kind of that thing where
it's like, look, I'm anartist, I'm human, but this is
what I do. And so butyeah, the list is long. I

(06:39):
have some great influences, even downto jazz artists. I do play piano,
so I've been playing so I waslike four years old. So I
have jazz artists that that inspired me. To have musicians that are locally in
Chicago that have inspired me to havetaught me a lot in my foundation.
So yeah, I've been inspired andI give credit where it's due, you

(07:00):
know. So yeah, speaking ofinspiration, let's go a few years back.
You, of course were a contestanton the Voice and that was a
very special moment. I'm sure youwere coached by the great the great.
Yes, that experience being on theVoice inspire what you're doing now with this

(07:25):
album Moods and just your career ingeneral, because that was a huge platform.
I mean, you were on Nationalabsolutely absolutely the voice when I say
that was a life changing experience forme and it opens so many doors.
So a lot of times people seeit on TV they want to go on
these shows like their goal is towin, but when really you're winning just

(07:48):
from being on the show. Likeonce you get a presence and once you're
seen and you get that exposure,you just have to know how to work
it. So that's down to Sowhat I've I've taken from that experience is
be humble. You know, everybodyplay their roles, the camera crew,
the sound engineers, like, youhave to be genuine and nice to everybody.

(08:11):
And I notice even from when wewere doing like b Roll, I'll
be in the bathroom getting my clothestogether and one of the camera crew was
like, hey, keep that great, keep that attitude, and I'm like
you was watching me like oh man, wow. So that that opened my
eyes to say, you know what, you you have to treat people how
you want to be treated. Nobody'sbetter than anybody. You just just be

(08:33):
great at being who you are.And it also allowed me to build relationships.
I've gained so many great friends fromthe contestants are on the show,
even some of the talent scouts.They have reached out to me checking on
me John Legend as you know,saying he's so cool and laid back,
and you know, sometimes you meetcelebrities and you like they're not gonna say

(08:54):
nothing back, like this is justfor the show. But I have reached
out to him over the years,sending him tracks of my songs. I
have sent him music and he actuallyresponds. So like even recently with this
new project, I'm like, hey, you know, because he's a Capricorn,
so you know, I gotta shoutout my Capricorn people. So I
was like, man, you know, have you belated, And I sent
them the new music. He said, hey, I'm gonna check it out.

(09:16):
So just the fact that you evenresponded to have one check it out,
it just means a lot to me. And it shows it's just not
just that one experience, but alsofrom being on that show and having that
on my resume, I have gottenmany jobs from that, even in the
school system, so I work ineducation, so teaching music, and like

(09:37):
when people see that that voice onyour resume, it's like, what is
this coming from but that show allowedme to also pour into other artists and
younger artists that are inspiring to beon the show, I get on the
ins and outs what to do,what not to do. And I've gotten
at least two or three people onthat show since i've been there, and
a couple of them made it pastme. I gave him like, look

(09:58):
this what you're doing. You're there, that's what you're doing in a hotel.
You just what they watch them like, and they took heed to that,
and I watched their progression from theirepisode. I'm like, man,
they made it past me, youknow, but it felt good because it's
like, that's what it's all about. It's not I'm not trying to hold
the blessing to myself, you know, Like I want to be able to

(10:18):
share this blessing. So when Ipour it into you, you should pour
it into somebody else and just continuesto uplift other people. So like and
you know, like Beyonce, youknow, like I have like my mentorship
things. So I'm still kind ofgetting that off the ground. I've done
a program in schools, so theseare things that when people, especially my

(10:39):
students now, they'll be like,you was on a voice like what you're
doing here? Like why are youhere with us? I'm like, I
like kids, I love working withyou, Like this is what my heart
is. So they just kind ofhave this metally like you're supposed to be
famous somewhere else, like you ain'tgonna be dealing with kids. But it's
like, no, this is whatI know what I'm called to do.
I know what my purpose is.Yes, music and arts, but I'm
called to buyer and pour into youngpeople. So especially kids that are having

(11:03):
broken homes, you know, don'thave really parenting. Like those are the
students or the kids that I amconnected to, and those are the ones
I'm supposed to reach. And soyeah, that the voice, all that
experience is shaped me to be whoI am, is shaped my professionalism.

(11:24):
It showed me like the ins andouts of TV, just seeing them behind
the scenes and how they work,and it's like, man, what people
see on TV is not what reallyhappens. And also it's a peal swallower
because you gotta be okay what theyput on TV because you sign in that
contract, so then you gotta beokay with that. But it's it's a
lot of things that have happened onthe Voice that I remember, and I'm

(11:46):
like, that's not how it happened. This was the order it happening then,
And he said that to me,how did you get on this person's
audition? Like, so those arethings you kind of got to like,
you know, be okay with.But the voice is they will making an
impact now. And that was broughtonly like five six years ago, and
even now I'm still getting opportunities indifferent fields. It's not even just music

(12:11):
fields. It's even corporate. It'sin education, and like once people hear
like, man, you have madethis accomplishment, it's like they're more receptive,
they're more open, and they wantyou to be a part of whatever
they have going on because they wantthat inspiration to come into their organization.
So I am grateful for that opportunity. I do not have any regrets of

(12:33):
going on the show. Life happens. Life is what it is, and
I'm grateful that even now I canstand before you, knowing what I've been
through the last six years and stillfeel like I just went through like a
fire and came out like gold.Like that's how I feel now. So
this season that I'm in currently,and I just hope, like even when

(12:54):
people when they even watch this andthey're listening to this, that you know
what I'm saying, Like, lifeis gonna hit you, it's gonna throw
curve balls, but you are morethan capable of getting through it. This
is just all shape. So yeah, that's where I'm at. You had
briefly touched on it, But canyou talk about being in the educational system
and how you have incorporated music withyour students as well? Oh? Absolutely.

(13:15):
Let's say that you are dean ofstudents. Yeah, yes, at
high school. That in and ofitself is huge young man out here being
the dean of students and you're sopositive, you're so inspirational, and I
just think that that is amazing becausethese kids, especially our young boys,

(13:35):
get to look at a black man, someone who they can you know,
not idolized, but lack of abetter word, look up to someone that
can say, oh wow, that'sme. That's like my uncle, that's
like my father, that's like myyou know what I mean. So I'm
so proud of you in that regard, man, that that's huge. You

(13:56):
went up those ranks real fast,and thank you. So yeah, that
transition was It was pretty interesting becauseI started off as a teacher. I
was teaching for almost fourteen years inthe classroom, teaching music, music theory.
And but it's like, you knowhow you have the skill to do

(14:18):
certain things, but you didn't know, you never put the title to it.
Like, so I've been always connected. How I deal with my students
as a dean is how I dealtwith them in a classroom, so like,
I'll always try to make an impact. So now to go from teaching
music, I was at Chicago HighSchool for the Arts for a couple of
years, so I was teaching firsttransitioning to administration, and then from that

(14:41):
point from administration, I became adean in there, and it's like,
oh wow, this is what I'vebeen doing already. Now is just you
gotta add the paperwork too. Yougot to add the reports to it.
You gotta it's more of the technicalparts. And then from there, going
from a school that had maybe sixor seven hundred students to now being a

(15:03):
dean of students at taff High Schoolhas three thousand plus students. It is
just amazing how the elevation is happeningso quickly and so fast, but yet
I'm still here and able to doit because I feel like if it comes
my way, it's coming my wayfor a reason. So it's mean it
has to mean that I'm able todo it. So the transition from that

(15:26):
and now being a dean at TAFHigh School, which is very a very
diverse school. It's not even anart school, so it's very different and
you have to deal with all differenttypes of people and different types of students.
And I like the challenge because itshows that it doesn't matter your race,
it doesn't matter your ethnic background,it doesn't matter your religion, it

(15:46):
doesn't matter any that. It's likewhen you're loving and you're you're genuine,
it's the same. It's neutral.Being genuine and being loving person and being
nurturing is it's all the same,whether whatever the person is different from you.
So this experience now being at TAFHigh School, it's been amazing.

(16:07):
I work with some great people.My principal is pretty cool. He has
tattoos on his arms. I waslike, oh, finally I got I
got a prince a little bit,you know. I love look I love
tat SO. But but even myteam, like my bosses, the aps,
like they're so supportive and we're likein the process of creating a good

(16:29):
culture and climate for the school andbalance and teaching students how to deal with
each other, how to have howto have social and emotional skills. So
that's been something that has been astruggle these past few years since the pandemic,
because it's easy to get on Zoom, do your class, close your
computer. But now you're in theclassroom, you have to deal with those
students. You have to know howto work with others team building. So

(16:52):
now to be in a bigger platform, I spoke with the principal last semester
about implementing a music program at Task. So I'm going to be in the
works of working at working over orworking over the summer to kind of get
that together. And so I'm excitedabout that. I've already started recruiting.
I'm seeing students in the hallway rappingand they're in the lunch room they're making

(17:15):
beats, and it's like, man, this is gonna be so cool.
It is some talented kids in Chicago, and so like, I want them
to have hope and I want themto believe they can actually do it.
You know even just going to school, like you know, everybody's journey.
College is not for everybody, LikeI want you to be able to know

(17:37):
that you can still be successful,but you just got to know how to
go about it. So but Itry every day to kind of give them
the real one hundred. I don'tsugar coat well, these are the steps.
Once you graduate, you should goover to here, You're supposed to
do this. Nope, because Iwas in school for three years after I
got to college and it was like, oh, but this is not what

(17:57):
I want to do. I hateI waited my third year, but I
realized sometimes life will hits you like, no, you just know what you
want to do. I was atNorthern for three years as a business marketing
major. That is not what Iwanted to do. And I only went
to Norton because my cousin was this. I wanted to play for the choir.
I heard they was cold, theywas killing went to the concert,

(18:18):
so I was like, that's reallywhy I was there. But I ended
up transferring to Columbia College Downtown andthat was a great experience and opened my
eyes to a whole other world andI wanted it. Both sides My degree
at the time that I graduated fromColumbia was with music business, and that's
what I wanted. I want thatbalance of music in industry. I wanted

(18:40):
that knowledge of how to do contracts, how to look over contracts. If
I want to be an agent,how do you do that? So I
gained that experience there and I'm notand now here are these years later,
I'm back in school. So I'min school for my master yes, masters
there. Yeah, and I'm tryingto get my administration certification too as well.
I'm thinking in the future I might, you know, kind of go

(19:04):
into that road, maybe be anAP or something, maybe a principal.
I don't know. At least Ihad a credit under my belt and the
experience. But but yeah, soeducation, I love it. You know,
this is I'm officially part of CPS. I wasn't a CPS employee at

(19:26):
per Se. I worked in CPSschools, but it was more contracted.
So now to actually be officially apart of the CPS employment world, it's
pretty different. It's pretty cool.It's a lot of things. I'm like,
wait a minute, kids can dothis, They're allowed to do this.
They're not gonna get in trouble.They're not gonna get expelled. They're
like, welcome to CPS. I'mlike, okay, well, let me

(19:47):
go ahead and stay in this battlefield. Yeah. So that's kind of been
my experience with the educational world.So happy for that, Dent. And
again because you are a role modelto a lot of kids. Whether you
know that or I mean, I'mbig on mentoring, have been doing it
for many, many years. Andif you can just save one child,

(20:07):
that makes a difference. And trustme when i tell you, you get
in the trenches and you're working sohard, and you're doing all these speeches
and talking to kids and literally getin your car and going to their homes.
Sometimes I'm telling you, to thisday you will get calls from parents,
aunties, uncle saying thank you.Yeah. My child is now in

(20:29):
her third year in college. Youmentioned her when she was seven. She
still remembers the things you taught her. I'm telling you, dude, stay
on course. No mat can youthink it's getting rough and tough. It
is worth it. So I'm soproud of you, So happy for you.
Getting back to the album real quickbefore we let you know, how
can people get that album? Andhow can they get in touch with you?

(20:53):
Absolutely, So the album is onall digital platforms. Apple Music has
five five for my Android users.But it's also if anybody want to just
kind of take a journey and listento it, it's offso on YouTube.
So if you just even google thealbum, it's gonna come up. So
you can pick whatever platform you wouldlike to use. You can also connect

(21:14):
with me on Instagram or all mysocial media. It's on under Denton r
neil d e n t O nA r n e l L. So
follow me. I'll try to followback. I know Instagram has a little
cap on how many people you canfollow, but I'll lease be able to
even see see you come on mypage and you know, feel free to
look at my page, see someof my performances, check out some of

(21:38):
the music I put on my page. But yes, you can reach me
on all social media and my musicis on all digital platforms. I have
other albums. Take a journey andlook at the previous projects. A cruising
album. I still listen to thatnow. It's like I'll bump that in
the car, like man, thisis I forgot all about this. So
with being an independent artist, you'regonna come see promote old music. So

(22:03):
what's what's old to me? It'sgonna probably be new to you. So
but yeah, So you can followme on all social media platforms. I'm
on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,TikTok under the same name Denton or Nils.
Okay, man, congrats to you, though, congrats, Thank you
so much y'all to see the progress. Should congrats on what you're doing in
the schools. I love that you'renow about to be mixing the both of

(22:23):
them. Please keep going like absolutely, Yeah, that's a good look.
Oh we love you. Shot Denton. Ar now and let us know when
you're having your next performance, you'regonna be right there front and center.
Man, Yes, we'll dude,why not don't sing at it? Let
Denton do the singing, Okay,I guess I will. I'll let you

(22:45):
got I'm gonna have to call youup for a song. I'm gonna have
to come. No, I callyou up. I'll make it easy.
I'll give you argue you, Imake I make the line easy to say.
I'm trying to let your career goup. You're going down. Love
me, man, take care,love you too. Thank you? All

(23:06):
right, peace,