With a life spent in the church, singing and worshiping, Autumn D wanted to incorporate that into her music as she got older and did just that. Her debut EP was inspired by the whirlwind that took the world by storm in 2020, and now she’s back with another, ‘Equinox.’ We talked about the new EP, her fusion of country and hip-hop, and more like who her perfect “Southern Gentleman” would be.
Kendra: A big commonality for a lot of singers is finding their voice growing up in the church. However, not many of them keep that element going as they embark on their careers. What made you want to keep your faith in your music?
Autumn D: My music often reflects an emotion or situation I’ve experienced. I’ve been inspired on several occasions to write lyrics highlighting my faith because my faith is such a huge part of my life, especially in moments of doubt or difficulty. So my music becomes like a source of comfort to me which I hope it can be for my listeners as well.
Kendra: You also found a way to marry to genres that on the surface are vastly different, and that’s country and hip hop but as someone who dips their toes into both sides and swirls them together, what do you think are their greatest similarities?
Autumn D: At their core, both genres are deeply rooted in storytelling, reflecting personal experiences, struggles, and triumphs. Also, the rhythms in both genres carry a unique emotional resonance, whether it’s the heartfelt twang of a country guitar or the pulsating beats of hip-hop drums. I think that’s what makes them similar.
Kendra: Faith, country, hip hop, it can all be found on your 2023 EP, ‘Equinox.’ It’s an album that definitely packs a punch on a multitude of levels, but thinking back – what do you feel was the biggest lesson learned while writing and recording this EP that’ll stick with you as you continue to move onward and upward?
Autumn D: The biggest lesson I learned was to experiment and have fun with my music. Typically an artist or an album will be rooted in one genre, one sound. I wrote whatever made me happy in whatever genre I wanted. For me, that was eye-opening because it gave me the motivation to continue to sound and be different while also being true to myself. And that’s why I’m doing country/hip-hop.
Kendra: Again, a lot of great music on this record, including “Southern Gentleman,” and since I have a podcast all about crushes, I gotta know who is the celebrity Southern Gentleman of your dreams?
Autumn D: Hard to say who my celebrity crush is today, but I had a crush on The Rock for a very long time growing up.
Kendra: Another song that grabbed my attention and wouldn’t let go was “Perfectly Imperfect.” It’s one of those songs that goes above and beyond genre because of the subject matter. In a world where we’re constantly bombarded with “perfect” imagery on social media and in entertainment, how do you personally try and stay grounded in that regard?
Autumn D: If I do a certain makeup look or wear a certain style of clothing, I do it for myself because I like it and not to please someone else. That’s what the song “Perfectly Imperfect” is all about, embracing your so-called “flaws” and being happy with who you are, because at the end of the day, none of us are perfect and everyone has an opinion that we witness all the time on social media. You can’t please everyone, just worry about pleasing yourself.
Kendra: So you have ‘Equinox’ out now, but you’re not done with the new music. You have another hot single coming out at the end of September. Was this a song that you were working on before that just wasn’t ready to go on the EP, or was this a new one that just came to you in recent months?
Autumn D: It’s a new one and it’s called “Carolina Reaper.” It’s in the same vein as “Southern Gentleman”, country/hip-hop so I’m very excited about it coming out. So many people love “Southern Gentleman” so they should look forward to this new single as well.
Kendra: Now it’s time for a side note – with it being September AKA Self Improvement Month, I’m asking everyone to give us a song they like to put on when they are in self-care mode…
Autumn D: Jesse J “Who You Are.” I used to blast this all the time when I was having moments of insecurities or felt pressured by my peers. It’s really a beautiful song with an uplifting message.
Kendra: And lastly, with ‘Equinox’ out now and “Carolina Reaper” out on September 22nd, what else do y’all have planned as we head into fall?
Autumn D: I plan to release more singles and do more shows. So stay tuned to learn when you can get more of my music and where I’ll be performing next through either my Instagram or website. And of course, you can always find me, Autumn D, and my music on all music streaming platforms
