March 31, 2026 • 32 mins
Songwriter Donna Deee joins Vigilantes Radio Live to discuss her psychedelic rock single “Ask alice” 🎶✨. Drawing from real-life experiences—love, loss, military service, and personal transformation—Donna turns poetry into powerful, relatable music. With a unique blend of storytelling and AI-assisted production, she’s redefining how songs are created and expressed. This episode dives into healing through creativity, embracing vulnerability, and finding your voice when words alone aren’t enough. If you’ve ever felt out of place in a chaotic world, this conversation will hit home. Tap in for truth, emotion, and artistic evolution. 🎤💫
“Ask alice” is available on all streaming platforms.
Make sure to stay connected to Donna Deee on all platforms for new music, videos, and social posts.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV9d5_j5R_33jorzmJZ1xxQ
https://open.spotify.com/artist/18i6CU1e4BPUADXbL9y8Eb?si=QBiKfbXaRwmpLTZP94VdhA
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/vigilantes-radio-live--2166168/support.
Vigilantes Radio Live! by The Only One Media Group ℗©2025
Episode Credits:
Produced, edited, mixed, and written by Demetrius "Whodini Blak" Reynolds, Sr.
Artwork designed by Demetrius "Whodini Blak" Reynolds, Sr.
Show Introduction by Kate
Segment jingles composed & produced by Demetrius "Whodini Blak" Reynolds, Sr.
Additional music licensed through 7th Sign Recordings
Links:
onlyonemediagroup.com
https://www.instagram.com/vigilantesradio/
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/966-vigilantes-radio-live-29999229/
https://www.instagram.com/whodiniblakin3d/
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26009230/
To support our show, please leave reviews, ratings, or you can help fuel the passion over at buymeacoffee.com/vigilantesradio
Email us at onlyonemgt@gmail.com or vradio@onlyonemediagroup.com
“Ask alice” is available on all streaming platforms.
Make sure to stay connected to Donna Deee on all platforms for new music, videos, and social posts.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV9d5_j5R_33jorzmJZ1xxQ
https://open.spotify.com/artist/18i6CU1e4BPUADXbL9y8Eb?si=QBiKfbXaRwmpLTZP94VdhA
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/vigilantes-radio-live--2166168/support.
Vigilantes Radio Live! by The Only One Media Group ℗©2025
Episode Credits:
Produced, edited, mixed, and written by Demetrius "Whodini Blak" Reynolds, Sr.
Artwork designed by Demetrius "Whodini Blak" Reynolds, Sr.
Show Introduction by Kate
Segment jingles composed & produced by Demetrius "Whodini Blak" Reynolds, Sr.
Additional music licensed through 7th Sign Recordings
Links:
onlyonemediagroup.com
https://www.instagram.com/vigilantesradio/
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/966-vigilantes-radio-live-29999229/
https://www.instagram.com/whodiniblakin3d/
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26009230/
To support our show, please leave reviews, ratings, or you can help fuel the passion over at buymeacoffee.com/vigilantesradio
Email us at onlyonemgt@gmail.com or vradio@onlyonemediagroup.com
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is an iHeart podcast guaranteed human.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
You are now listening to Vigilantes Radio, presented by the
only one media Group. This is the people's choice but
quality interviews celebrities and special guests hosted by Demitrius Danny Reynolds.
Call in to join the mix at seven oh one,
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(00:27):
shuls like us on Facebook at Vigilantes Radio. We welcome all.
Enjoy the show. Ladies and gentlemen. Please welcome your host
Demitrius who Demi Black Reynolds. Enjoy the show.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Hey, Hey, Hey, what's going on? Guys. Welcome to another
incredible episode of Vigilantes Radio live right here on iHeartRadio
and I am your host, Dini. We have a very
special guests for you, guys that could definitely want to
stick around for that and as a matter of fact,
text your buddies, your family members are even shared on
(01:08):
social media, rights now and let them know that we
are about to dive deep into another interview. Before I
bring my guests on, I do want to say, don't
lose fight. This is the frequency of the fearless. You know,
there comes a point in life when words aren't enough.
(01:34):
You know where conversations fall short, where emotions sit heavy,
and the only place left to put them is somewhere deeper.
That's where art is born, not from perfection, not from experience,
from lost, from love that didn't last and love that
(01:54):
still echoed. Tonight's guests didn't just write songs, survived them first.
Every lyric carries a memory, every melody carries a moment,
every word carries truth. And in a world that often
feels disconnected, chaotic, and misunderstood, she chose to create something
(02:17):
that says You're not alone in it her latest single,
Ask Alice. It's more than music. It's reflection, next rebellion.
It's reality wrapped in sound. You're not just here for
a talk show. And this isn't just radio. This is
revival for your mind, body, and spirit. This is Vigilantes
(02:40):
radio life. My name is Coach Dini, and change is possible.
Are you ready?
Speaker 4 (02:48):
You're listening to the Vigelanese podcast on iHeartRadio on mo
Founder and owner of Noahay Heating and air Conditioning.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
We're giving away twelve free HVAC systems.
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This year and if you are some many no needs
one apply now at noa guisvac dot com to go
this mission. We're also seeking sponsors and donations, so let's
change lives, one system at a time. This is Digit
Lanning's podcast on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 5 (03:16):
Are you ready?
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Are you ready?
Speaker 5 (03:28):
Are you ready?
Speaker 3 (03:33):
Well, let's go, Let's go. Today's episode is furnised by
Noah gui hvac dot com, turning pain into poetry Poetry
Hour Again. You're listening to vr L that is Vigilant
to Use radio live right here on iHeart Radio and
I am your host, Deni. Our interviews are designed to
(03:55):
go beyond music, news, books, art, acting, films, technology, education, entrepreneurship, entertainment, spirituality,
and sometimes even past the thing that we call the ego.
Our interviews are designed to go behind the scenes into
the minds of these brilliant people, you know, the ones
who are out here giving it. They're all for me,
(04:18):
for you, and for the world. Well, ladies and gentlemen.
Tonight's guest is Donna d She is an emerging songwriter
whose music transforms life experiences into deeply relatable, emotionally driven storytelling.
Raised in a musically inspired household. She developed a passion
(04:39):
for lyrics as a form of communication and healing after
navigating major life moments, including military service, personal loss, and transformation,
she began turning her poetry into songs, blending psychedelic rock
with AI assistant production. Her latest single, ask Out Capture,
(05:01):
is the chaos and complexity of modern life. Donna's music
is honest, it's reflective, and it's rooted in real emotions.
So please join me in saying welcome friend to Donna.
D Hey, hey, well.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Hi there, thank you so much.
Speaker 6 (05:21):
You have honored me with word. I am truly humbled.
Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
Absolutely, and we would like to thank you for your
service in our country. Much appreciated because people like me
get to do what I get to do with our
freedom of speech. I won't go into my conspiracy conspiracy theories,
but I'll say thank you for allowing us that privilege
in this country.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Absolutely, you are so welcome, You are so welcome.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
All right, all right, well, Donna, we are very excited
to have you here with us tonight. Before we really
just get into all things, Donna, d what's been on
your heart in mind lately?
Speaker 6 (06:05):
Well, it's a tip boy that's a pretty proad question.
In regardless to music. We are working on several new projects.
Just today we were working on First Time Feeling, which
is something that we're getting ready to take into the studio,
as well as ask Alice, which I am going to
(06:28):
actually be singing myself along with a local.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Band here in the Syracuse, New York area.
Speaker 6 (06:36):
And you know, always developing new songs writing in my
notebook in at any time that I hear.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
Anything, or feel or experience anything.
Speaker 6 (06:50):
I write it down and it it turns into a song.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
I love it. I love it, And so ask Alice
is beginning to connect with people who feel like they
don't quite fit in today's world. What put this song
on your mind?
Speaker 1 (07:10):
So I asked Alice. Was actually one of.
Speaker 6 (07:14):
My very first poems that I wrote years ago, and
as a person that was having a hard time fitting in,
I was very lonely and in a world that has
ever changed, where people are let's just you know, say,
(07:36):
either over medicated or self medicating, or doing whatever they
can to try to fit in anywhere and not doing
the greatest of jobs and feeling lonely.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
I put my.
Speaker 6 (07:51):
Feelings down on paper as a way of expressing myself.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
And what I did is I took the poem out
and I said, this would be a great song, and
I'm hoping that other people can relate to this song.
Speaker 6 (08:10):
And so I developed it as a song would go
and put the most beautiful, beautiful.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
Music to it.
Speaker 6 (08:21):
And I am so humbled that it has taken off
the way it has.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
Absolutely, So let's talk about the burst of Dunna. D
You do come from a musical background, but when did
you begin to pursue this passion on.
Speaker 6 (08:39):
Your own, to believe it or not, I did not
start pursuing this until just a few years ago.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
I started playing musical.
Speaker 6 (08:51):
Instruments when I was young and then got distracted and.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Set them aside. Life happened, the military.
Speaker 6 (09:02):
You know, I had a child's divorced parents unfortunately passed away,
and that really so many emotions just came out and
I thought, you know, my comfort in writing everything down,
(09:23):
and it just started to evolve from there. I ran
into a friend who loved music as much as I
did and just got me right back into playing again,
playing guitar, drums, anything.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
I just I love music. I just love it.
Speaker 6 (09:40):
I could do it twenty four to seven, and from
there it's soballd.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
Like more than I even imagined.
Speaker 6 (09:48):
My passion just it just radiated out of me. And
then I started to write things down so much. And
I also took inspiration from my nephew who also writes
his own music, and people around me encouraged me and
(10:10):
set me in the right direction, and all of a sudden,
here I am and it took off, and I'm inspiring
people around me who are enjoying it. And that made
me even more passionate about music and writing it and
(10:30):
getting it out there. And I just got excited.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
And and here I am now on a medio talk show.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
Yeah, here we are. That's amazing that, you know, you
had a community to not only inspire you, but to
you know, give you encouragement and keep rooting for you.
And one of those communities I believe was a songwriter circle.
Is that right?
Speaker 1 (10:57):
Absolutely?
Speaker 5 (10:59):
So?
Speaker 6 (11:00):
Right around November, late November early December is both my
parents' birthday, an incredibly emotional time for me, very lonely time.
So I saw an advertisement for a songwriters I had
two songs I had I had asked Alice and which
(11:23):
was just a poem at the time. No song at
all and I had Shot Country, which I needed help for.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
I just had one line. I just could not make it.
I was so brand new at this, so I went
to the songwriter circle.
Speaker 6 (11:41):
I could not sing and play my guitar at the
same time.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
I can sing or I can play, but I cannot.
Speaker 6 (11:48):
Do both, and they did not care. They were so
welcomed me, and they said, let's hear what you've got,
and they helped me finish scot Country and they said,
let's just hear ask Alice. Even though it's not a song,
they just wanted to hear it. And it was such
an emotional poem for me. And I was very reluctant,
(12:12):
you know, thinking, oh, you know, I don't want to
be judged, but there was no judgment. They were so
excited to hear those words, and they said, we cannot
wait to hear what you come up with for this
and from there that is where it all began for me.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
I love it.
Speaker 7 (12:32):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
So you were able to connect with this song write
a circle and you saw people connect with your work.
What did that moment feel like?
Speaker 1 (12:45):
It was so exciting, it felt so good. It was this.
Speaker 6 (12:53):
Just warm feeling inside that other people could connect with
my words.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
And that they felt they that I sound that you know,
that they had taken comfort from them. Or you know,
some of my songs are not They're not all like this.
Speaker 6 (13:09):
Some of them you can dance to and sing with,
and some of them are kind of funny. So anytime
that anybody came back and said I really loved this,
you know, would make me just smile so big, you know,
I would say, you know, I help. My mother and
father are looking at me and thinking, I'm so proud
of you for taking a step out of your comfort
zone and doing something that you can share with other people.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
And I believe you said. It's always the lyrics for me,
you know, when worries were hard to speak, How does
lyrics become your voice?
Speaker 6 (13:47):
So I do really good now, as you can tell,
But there was a time when I could not hold
a conversation very well.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
I you know.
Speaker 6 (13:59):
Had a lot of past trauma and just connecting with
people was really difficult. So if I couldn't figure out
a way to have a conversation with someone, I would
pick out song lyrics and kind of just repeat them.
Or if I wanted to express my feelings, I would
share a song with somebody you know, and use that
(14:21):
as a way of communication. And it really very much
helped me come out of my show.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
You know, when I say music was my therapy.
Speaker 6 (14:31):
And saved my life, I very much mean that music
really did bring me out of my shell and help.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
Me learn to communicate effectively.
Speaker 6 (14:44):
When I needed to do that in a way to
help someone understand how I might be feeling.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Yeah, I remember going through a period like that in
my life where I just couldn't express myself, and then
whenever I did it, it seemed like I would say to
wrong things or I don't know, weirdly.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
Yeah, I know, I get that. I totally understand.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
Yeah. So I would pick out a song and it
would be like, just listen to this, this is this
is what I'm trying to say.
Speaker 8 (15:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
Yeah, the lyrics definitely do it for me.
Speaker 6 (15:26):
And like I said, I wrote Asked Alice years ago
when I was going through a very hard, very lonely
time where I could walk into a room full of
people that I knew and still feel extremely lonely.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
Oh so yeah, I can't relate. How do you know
when it comes to your own music? How do you
know when a lyric is honest, honest enough to keep.
Speaker 6 (15:55):
So if it's when I hope this doesn't sound too cool.
Sometimes I if if it makes me cry, when I've
written it has really touched my heart, and if it
evokes an emotion out of me, then I know it's it.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
I've got it.
Speaker 6 (16:15):
That you know that it's gotten an honest emotion from me,
Like the first time feelings sometimes very hard for me
to sing because that's a song that deeply affected, right
down to the bottom of my heart. And and I
(16:37):
know that every lyric that I wrote is deep as
very deep meaning. So I know that if I have
that emotion come from me, then I've got it. Then
that's the that's the lyric, Then that's it.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
And I did it.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
I love it.
Speaker 7 (16:53):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
And you've lived through military service, divorced, the loss of
both parents. Yes, I'm very sure that these different moments
you know, shaped your your life and your insights. Was
there any moment where you realize music was becoming your
(17:15):
healing space.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
Absolutely?
Speaker 3 (17:18):
Yes.
Speaker 6 (17:20):
Just over the past few years, especially after my mother
passed away, I have used music as my therapy every
step of the way. There is a song for everything,
for I mean, I even wrote it. It's a song
about it, and it's called my song. We use music
(17:41):
for everything. We mark everything with music, whether you you
know the moment you found love, the moment you've lost love,
the moment you've lost you know.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
That you're grieving, You're going to.
Speaker 6 (17:55):
Get engaged, you're just driving down that road, you know
with the windows.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
Anything. It is your therapy, it is your healing.
Speaker 6 (18:07):
You know it can get you through any moment, happy, sad.
It doesn't matter what it is. You can use any
song to get you through the worst and basted up
every time.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
That you have absolutely all right, guys, are you ready
for some music? We have asked Alice by Donna Deeon
It would be right back, stay tuned.
Speaker 8 (19:00):
I'd like to visit Alice and I'll have what she's heaven?
Speaker 5 (19:07):
Will that be been?
Speaker 3 (19:09):
God?
Speaker 8 (19:09):
Will I be small?
Speaker 9 (19:13):
Maybe I should try them all right now?
Speaker 5 (19:20):
Don't feel good here.
Speaker 6 (19:24):
In the in between, So.
Speaker 8 (19:26):
I shall.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
To the.
Speaker 8 (19:33):
Alice seems still like him. I hope that she will
shall love play corsole. I didn't see will mind I
mean of me both on me godless galas.
Speaker 4 (19:51):
I know, I believe.
Speaker 9 (19:55):
She's not weak.
Speaker 7 (20:02):
lacZ see Quinn too, be bone off.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
G scallos, and.
Speaker 9 (20:14):
She's not leak, She's cold and gone one hundred times
maybe more.
Speaker 7 (20:26):
She is happy here, seems good, she's not bored.
Speaker 5 (20:33):
She has more.
Speaker 9 (20:34):
Friends than she can use, and all the help she
can refuse. She discounts that sometimes she still fusal.
Speaker 6 (20:45):
And sad.
Speaker 7 (20:46):
It's odd mutin lay card or I and see oh
eyed to meta be called off, but sign office after
Vander feelsome.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
Alright, alright, welcome back again. That was asked Alice by Donna.
D Wow. Such a powerful record. Oh, very inspirational as well,
very touching. I love it. I love it. Let's go
ahead and bring dunnap back. Hey, welcome back, welcome back,
(22:01):
Thank you, thank you so much. Absolutely absolutely so. You're
blending your poetry with AI generated music, which is a
unique approach. Even though you can play instruments, what drew
what what drew? You to use an AI as part
(22:23):
of your process.
Speaker 6 (22:25):
So this is just a temporary process because as I said,
I can play and I can sing, but at the
moment I cannot do them at the same time.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
But I am in the process of learning.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
To do that.
Speaker 1 (22:42):
It is not as easy as it seems, and I
have to tell you that there are some absolutely wonderfully
talented musicians out there that can do that.
Speaker 6 (22:54):
But as an older person just getting in, you know,
and I'm just a rissist at the moment.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
I'm still learning.
Speaker 6 (23:04):
So I am in the very beginning process of all this.
And I never imagined that I was going to turn
by poetry into songs, but.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
I'm loving this.
Speaker 6 (23:17):
So I am in the beginning process of learning what
everyone else did when they were younger. So it's a
bit of a challenge, but I'm getting there. So this
is just temporary for me, so that I could get
my foot in the door and get my lyrics.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
Heard, and that's it.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
Yeah, I fully understand it. I was an artists years ago,
touring studio ortis and studio performance is something new.
Speaker 7 (23:49):
You know.
Speaker 3 (23:49):
It's easy to sing out loud, Oh you have a
nice voice, but when you get on a mic and
it's a different stories like, wow, that's me, that's all.
So it took me a while. Yeah, it took me
a while to learn studio etiquette, you know, and how
to control the mic per se. But I'm a little
(24:11):
bit older now and I have people sending me music
all the time. Hey, get in the studio. We need
your and I tried it and it I feel so
it's like, wow, they have this AI stuff for me.
I may need to clone my voice or something.
Speaker 6 (24:27):
Yeah, so that's the next thing I plan on doing.
It's not it's not easy. So like I developed and
I produced your song. You know, I tell what I
wanted to do, female voice, male boys?
Speaker 1 (24:45):
Do I want this instrument? That instrument? How do I
want this to go? So it isn't that easy to
produce the song AI. It takes time.
Speaker 6 (24:54):
It took me hours and I mean hours.
Speaker 1 (24:57):
To get the sounds that I wanted. But I'm thinking
the next thing I'm going to do is get them
to use.
Speaker 6 (25:04):
My voice in an AI generated mode. So that because
like I said, I am still learning, but I personally
do go into the studio.
Speaker 3 (25:13):
I do have a studio.
Speaker 1 (25:15):
Recorded song on Spotify and all the other media platforms.
And yeah, I'm but I am brand new. So you know,
nothing is perfect right now, but we're working on it.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
I am.
Speaker 6 (25:30):
I am a work in progress.
Speaker 3 (25:32):
I heard that. Hey, yeah, you know, even even using AI,
you are still a composer because you have to tell
it what to do, what to play, you know, things
of that nature. So I look at it like your composer.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
Yeah, thank you, thank you very much. I appreciate that.
Speaker 6 (25:50):
And I'm and I don't use AI for any lyrics whatsoever.
Every lyrics has always been written by me. I have
never once used AI generated lyrics. My lyrics are all
in my notebook or somewhere on my phone, in my notes,
you know, like if I've been somewhere. I went to
get my car fixed and forgot my notebook. In my
(26:13):
little notepad was just filled with thoughts and things. So
I only myself write.
Speaker 1 (26:20):
I write from my heart.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
I love it. I love it. So before I let
you go, you've got singles, videos, and collaborations all in motion.
What's the bigger vision for Donnady?
Speaker 6 (26:35):
Huh? The bigger vision is to myself along with the
people that I'm working with, some really great, some great
folks in this area. I got to give a big
shout out to Joe Alta. He has been a great
mentor to me, My nephew, Chris, Lizzie, my bandmate. The
(26:56):
last line, we're getting together. We're all going into the
stud studio and we're going to do my music live
and we're gonna I'd like to put a little seat together.
Speaker 3 (27:09):
And get.
Speaker 6 (27:11):
Some of my similar songs on them because I do everything.
I have a rap song, I have Christian music, I
have country music. I have rock music, Southern rock. I
am very eclectic. Something I learned from my father to
never limit myself, so I am up and down the
spectrum with all of my musical taste.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
All of my lyrics are the same.
Speaker 3 (27:37):
Wow, I have to hear this rap song.
Speaker 6 (27:40):
Oh it's awesome, and I would love to get it
to you.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
I'll be looking for it, Donna. This is our mic
drop moment. Finish the sentence for me. Music saved me when.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
I was the lowest point in my life.
Speaker 3 (28:00):
Love it, Donna. Where can our listeners connect with you
on Internet and check out more in music?
Speaker 6 (28:07):
I am on all of the music platforms, so that Spotify, iTunes,
I'm Drama blank here but all of those.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
I'm also on YouTube.
Speaker 6 (28:19):
Under Donna d with the freee's lyrics.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
I'm on Facebook under my regular name, which is impossible
to sell.
Speaker 6 (28:29):
But it's Donna ja jakobl But I'm on Instagram under
Donna d lyrics and and I do put a lot
of my music out there and right now. Also, I
have three videos up on YouTube that I generated.
Speaker 3 (28:49):
All right listeners, just in case you need those links,
and I know you will, so no worries. I will
have them in the description of this episode and in
the show notes, So all you guys have to do
is just click the links. Donna Dee reminds us that
sometimes the things we can't say out loud become the
most powerful things we create. Her single ask Alice is
(29:10):
available now, so go experience the story, the emotion and
the message for yourself. Make sure to replay it, and
replay it and replay it. If this conversation connected with you,
share it with someone who needs to know that they
are not along and what they are feeling. Tell them
we've been there too, ask Alice, and remember you're not
(29:31):
just here for a talk show. This isn't just radio.
This is revival for your mind, body, and spirit. This
is Vigilantes Radio Live. Thank you so much, Donna, it
was a pleasure.
Speaker 1 (29:44):
Thank you. I really appreciate your time.
Speaker 3 (29:46):
I hope you have a great night you too. Thank you.
Peace to all.
Speaker 5 (29:53):
My name is Deanie and I am the host of
Vigilantes Radio live. I think that we are beyond just
asking cool questions and getting cool responses. I think that
we are here as creatives to provide an example that
(30:13):
you can do things different outside of expectations, because.
Speaker 3 (30:18):
Some of us.
Speaker 5 (30:20):
Simply were not born into the club. But there is
perhaps a door window or back.
Speaker 4 (30:27):
Gate that we can leave a clue for you to
get into.
Speaker 5 (30:32):
Life is short, but there are plenty of moments to
try and get it right. Pursuing your dreams and learning
from the sticks maybe tough, but regret it's tougher to
book your interview. Email us at v radio at only
one Media group dot com. That's a v as a
(30:53):
victorious or visit only one meet every dot com counting
or have we all are counting to step into your
purpose and your passion. You are listening to Vigilantes Radio
live on iHeartRadio, providing you with an opportunity to dives.
Speaker 2 (31:41):
You and now listening to vigil Lances Radio, the people's
choice for quality interviews, art, music and heart subics, hosted
by Demetrios Honzini Black Reynolds. All episodes of this podcast
are available for free download at www Dot's only one
Media greet dot com
This is an iHeart podcast guaranteed human.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
You are now listening to Vigilantes Radio, presented by the
only one media Group. This is the people's choice but
quality interviews celebrities and special guests hosted by Demitrius Danny Reynolds.
Call in to join the mix at seven oh one,
eight oh one, nine eight one three. For the complete
archive of episodes, visit only onemediagroup dot com and be
(00:27):
shuls like us on Facebook at Vigilantes Radio. We welcome all.
Enjoy the show. Ladies and gentlemen. Please welcome your host
Demitrius who Demi Black Reynolds. Enjoy the show.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Hey, Hey, Hey, what's going on? Guys. Welcome to another
incredible episode of Vigilantes Radio live right here on iHeartRadio
and I am your host, Dini. We have a very
special guests for you, guys that could definitely want to
stick around for that and as a matter of fact,
text your buddies, your family members are even shared on
(01:08):
social media, rights now and let them know that we
are about to dive deep into another interview. Before I
bring my guests on, I do want to say, don't
lose fight. This is the frequency of the fearless. You know,
there comes a point in life when words aren't enough.
(01:34):
You know where conversations fall short, where emotions sit heavy,
and the only place left to put them is somewhere deeper.
That's where art is born, not from perfection, not from experience,
from lost, from love that didn't last and love that
(01:54):
still echoed. Tonight's guests didn't just write songs, survived them first.
Every lyric carries a memory, every melody carries a moment,
every word carries truth. And in a world that often
feels disconnected, chaotic, and misunderstood, she chose to create something
(02:17):
that says You're not alone in it her latest single,
Ask Alice. It's more than music. It's reflection, next rebellion.
It's reality wrapped in sound. You're not just here for
a talk show. And this isn't just radio. This is
revival for your mind, body, and spirit. This is Vigilantes
(02:40):
radio life. My name is Coach Dini, and change is possible.
Are you ready?
Speaker 4 (02:48):
You're listening to the Vigelanese podcast on iHeartRadio on mo
Founder and owner of Noahay Heating and air Conditioning.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
We're giving away twelve free HVAC systems.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
This year and if you are some many no needs
one apply now at noa guisvac dot com to go
this mission. We're also seeking sponsors and donations, so let's
change lives, one system at a time. This is Digit
Lanning's podcast on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 5 (03:16):
Are you ready?
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Are you ready?
Speaker 5 (03:28):
Are you ready?
Speaker 3 (03:33):
Well, let's go, Let's go. Today's episode is furnised by
Noah gui hvac dot com, turning pain into poetry Poetry
Hour Again. You're listening to vr L that is Vigilant
to Use radio live right here on iHeart Radio and
I am your host, Deni. Our interviews are designed to
(03:55):
go beyond music, news, books, art, acting, films, technology, education, entrepreneurship, entertainment, spirituality,
and sometimes even past the thing that we call the ego.
Our interviews are designed to go behind the scenes into
the minds of these brilliant people, you know, the ones
who are out here giving it. They're all for me,
(04:18):
for you, and for the world. Well, ladies and gentlemen.
Tonight's guest is Donna d She is an emerging songwriter
whose music transforms life experiences into deeply relatable, emotionally driven storytelling.
Raised in a musically inspired household. She developed a passion
(04:39):
for lyrics as a form of communication and healing after
navigating major life moments, including military service, personal loss, and transformation,
she began turning her poetry into songs, blending psychedelic rock
with AI assistant production. Her latest single, ask Out Capture,
(05:01):
is the chaos and complexity of modern life. Donna's music
is honest, it's reflective, and it's rooted in real emotions.
So please join me in saying welcome friend to Donna.
D Hey, hey, well.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Hi there, thank you so much.
Speaker 6 (05:21):
You have honored me with word. I am truly humbled.
Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
Absolutely, and we would like to thank you for your
service in our country. Much appreciated because people like me
get to do what I get to do with our
freedom of speech. I won't go into my conspiracy conspiracy theories,
but I'll say thank you for allowing us that privilege
in this country.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Absolutely, you are so welcome, You are so welcome.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
All right, all right, well, Donna, we are very excited
to have you here with us tonight. Before we really
just get into all things, Donna, d what's been on
your heart in mind lately?
Speaker 6 (06:05):
Well, it's a tip boy that's a pretty proad question.
In regardless to music. We are working on several new projects.
Just today we were working on First Time Feeling, which
is something that we're getting ready to take into the studio,
as well as ask Alice, which I am going to
(06:28):
actually be singing myself along with a local.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Band here in the Syracuse, New York area.
Speaker 6 (06:36):
And you know, always developing new songs writing in my
notebook in at any time that I hear.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
Anything, or feel or experience anything.
Speaker 6 (06:50):
I write it down and it it turns into a song.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
I love it. I love it, And so ask Alice
is beginning to connect with people who feel like they
don't quite fit in today's world. What put this song
on your mind?
Speaker 1 (07:10):
So I asked Alice. Was actually one of.
Speaker 6 (07:14):
My very first poems that I wrote years ago, and
as a person that was having a hard time fitting in,
I was very lonely and in a world that has
ever changed, where people are let's just you know, say,
(07:36):
either over medicated or self medicating, or doing whatever they
can to try to fit in anywhere and not doing
the greatest of jobs and feeling lonely.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
I put my.
Speaker 6 (07:51):
Feelings down on paper as a way of expressing myself.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
And what I did is I took the poem out
and I said, this would be a great song, and
I'm hoping that other people can relate to this song.
Speaker 6 (08:10):
And so I developed it as a song would go
and put the most beautiful, beautiful.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
Music to it.
Speaker 6 (08:21):
And I am so humbled that it has taken off
the way it has.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
Absolutely, So let's talk about the burst of Dunna. D
You do come from a musical background, but when did
you begin to pursue this passion on.
Speaker 6 (08:39):
Your own, to believe it or not, I did not
start pursuing this until just a few years ago.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
I started playing musical.
Speaker 6 (08:51):
Instruments when I was young and then got distracted and.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Set them aside. Life happened, the military.
Speaker 6 (09:02):
You know, I had a child's divorced parents unfortunately passed away,
and that really so many emotions just came out and
I thought, you know, my comfort in writing everything down,
(09:23):
and it just started to evolve from there. I ran
into a friend who loved music as much as I
did and just got me right back into playing again,
playing guitar, drums, anything.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
I just I love music. I just love it.
Speaker 6 (09:40):
I could do it twenty four to seven, and from
there it's soballd.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
Like more than I even imagined.
Speaker 6 (09:48):
My passion just it just radiated out of me. And
then I started to write things down so much. And
I also took inspiration from my nephew who also writes
his own music, and people around me encouraged me and
(10:10):
set me in the right direction, and all of a sudden,
here I am and it took off, and I'm inspiring
people around me who are enjoying it. And that made
me even more passionate about music and writing it and
(10:30):
getting it out there. And I just got excited.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
And and here I am now on a medio talk show.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
Yeah, here we are. That's amazing that, you know, you
had a community to not only inspire you, but to
you know, give you encouragement and keep rooting for you.
And one of those communities I believe was a songwriter circle.
Is that right?
Speaker 1 (10:57):
Absolutely?
Speaker 5 (10:59):
So?
Speaker 6 (11:00):
Right around November, late November early December is both my
parents' birthday, an incredibly emotional time for me, very lonely time.
So I saw an advertisement for a songwriters I had
two songs I had I had asked Alice and which
(11:23):
was just a poem at the time. No song at
all and I had Shot Country, which I needed help for.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
I just had one line. I just could not make it.
I was so brand new at this, so I went
to the songwriter circle.
Speaker 6 (11:41):
I could not sing and play my guitar at the
same time.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
I can sing or I can play, but I cannot.
Speaker 6 (11:48):
Do both, and they did not care. They were so
welcomed me, and they said, let's hear what you've got,
and they helped me finish scot Country and they said,
let's just hear ask Alice. Even though it's not a song,
they just wanted to hear it. And it was such
an emotional poem for me. And I was very reluctant,
(12:12):
you know, thinking, oh, you know, I don't want to
be judged, but there was no judgment. They were so
excited to hear those words, and they said, we cannot
wait to hear what you come up with for this
and from there that is where it all began for me.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
I love it.
Speaker 7 (12:32):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
So you were able to connect with this song write
a circle and you saw people connect with your work.
What did that moment feel like?
Speaker 1 (12:45):
It was so exciting, it felt so good. It was this.
Speaker 6 (12:53):
Just warm feeling inside that other people could connect with
my words.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
And that they felt they that I sound that you know,
that they had taken comfort from them. Or you know,
some of my songs are not They're not all like this.
Speaker 6 (13:09):
Some of them you can dance to and sing with,
and some of them are kind of funny. So anytime
that anybody came back and said I really loved this,
you know, would make me just smile so big, you know,
I would say, you know, I help. My mother and
father are looking at me and thinking, I'm so proud
of you for taking a step out of your comfort
zone and doing something that you can share with other people.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
And I believe you said. It's always the lyrics for me,
you know, when worries were hard to speak, How does
lyrics become your voice?
Speaker 6 (13:47):
So I do really good now, as you can tell,
But there was a time when I could not hold
a conversation very well.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
I you know.
Speaker 6 (13:59):
Had a lot of past trauma and just connecting with
people was really difficult. So if I couldn't figure out
a way to have a conversation with someone, I would
pick out song lyrics and kind of just repeat them.
Or if I wanted to express my feelings, I would
share a song with somebody you know, and use that
(14:21):
as a way of communication. And it really very much
helped me come out of my show.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
You know, when I say music was my therapy.
Speaker 6 (14:31):
And saved my life, I very much mean that music
really did bring me out of my shell and help.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
Me learn to communicate effectively.
Speaker 6 (14:44):
When I needed to do that in a way to
help someone understand how I might be feeling.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Yeah, I remember going through a period like that in
my life where I just couldn't express myself, and then
whenever I did it, it seemed like I would say to
wrong things or I don't know, weirdly.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
Yeah, I know, I get that. I totally understand.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
Yeah. So I would pick out a song and it
would be like, just listen to this, this is this
is what I'm trying to say.
Speaker 8 (15:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
Yeah, the lyrics definitely do it for me.
Speaker 6 (15:26):
And like I said, I wrote Asked Alice years ago
when I was going through a very hard, very lonely
time where I could walk into a room full of
people that I knew and still feel extremely lonely.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
Oh so yeah, I can't relate. How do you know
when it comes to your own music? How do you
know when a lyric is honest, honest enough to keep.
Speaker 6 (15:55):
So if it's when I hope this doesn't sound too cool.
Sometimes I if if it makes me cry, when I've
written it has really touched my heart, and if it
evokes an emotion out of me, then I know it's it.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
I've got it.
Speaker 6 (16:15):
That you know that it's gotten an honest emotion from me,
Like the first time feelings sometimes very hard for me
to sing because that's a song that deeply affected, right
down to the bottom of my heart. And and I
(16:37):
know that every lyric that I wrote is deep as
very deep meaning. So I know that if I have
that emotion come from me, then I've got it. Then
that's the that's the lyric, Then that's it.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
And I did it.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
I love it.
Speaker 7 (16:53):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
And you've lived through military service, divorced, the loss of
both parents. Yes, I'm very sure that these different moments
you know, shaped your your life and your insights. Was
there any moment where you realize music was becoming your
(17:15):
healing space.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
Absolutely?
Speaker 3 (17:18):
Yes.
Speaker 6 (17:20):
Just over the past few years, especially after my mother
passed away, I have used music as my therapy every
step of the way. There is a song for everything,
for I mean, I even wrote it. It's a song
about it, and it's called my song. We use music
(17:41):
for everything. We mark everything with music, whether you you
know the moment you found love, the moment you've lost love,
the moment you've lost you know.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
That you're grieving, You're going to.
Speaker 6 (17:55):
Get engaged, you're just driving down that road, you know
with the windows.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
Anything. It is your therapy, it is your healing.
Speaker 6 (18:07):
You know it can get you through any moment, happy, sad.
It doesn't matter what it is. You can use any
song to get you through the worst and basted up
every time.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
That you have absolutely all right, guys, are you ready
for some music? We have asked Alice by Donna Deeon
It would be right back, stay tuned.
Speaker 8 (19:00):
I'd like to visit Alice and I'll have what she's heaven?
Speaker 5 (19:07):
Will that be been?
Speaker 3 (19:09):
God?
Speaker 8 (19:09):
Will I be small?
Speaker 9 (19:13):
Maybe I should try them all right now?
Speaker 5 (19:20):
Don't feel good here.
Speaker 6 (19:24):
In the in between, So.
Speaker 8 (19:26):
I shall.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
To the.
Speaker 8 (19:33):
Alice seems still like him. I hope that she will
shall love play corsole. I didn't see will mind I
mean of me both on me godless galas.
Speaker 4 (19:51):
I know, I believe.
Speaker 9 (19:55):
She's not weak.
Speaker 7 (20:02):
lacZ see Quinn too, be bone off.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
G scallos, and.
Speaker 9 (20:14):
She's not leak, She's cold and gone one hundred times
maybe more.
Speaker 7 (20:26):
She is happy here, seems good, she's not bored.
Speaker 5 (20:33):
She has more.
Speaker 9 (20:34):
Friends than she can use, and all the help she
can refuse. She discounts that sometimes she still fusal.
Speaker 6 (20:45):
And sad.
Speaker 7 (20:46):
It's odd mutin lay card or I and see oh
eyed to meta be called off, but sign office after
Vander feelsome.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
Alright, alright, welcome back again. That was asked Alice by Donna.
D Wow. Such a powerful record. Oh, very inspirational as well,
very touching. I love it. I love it. Let's go
ahead and bring dunnap back. Hey, welcome back, welcome back,
(22:01):
Thank you, thank you so much. Absolutely absolutely so. You're
blending your poetry with AI generated music, which is a
unique approach. Even though you can play instruments, what drew
what what drew? You to use an AI as part
(22:23):
of your process.
Speaker 6 (22:25):
So this is just a temporary process because as I said,
I can play and I can sing, but at the
moment I cannot do them at the same time.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
But I am in the process of learning.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
To do that.
Speaker 1 (22:42):
It is not as easy as it seems, and I
have to tell you that there are some absolutely wonderfully
talented musicians out there that can do that.
Speaker 6 (22:54):
But as an older person just getting in, you know,
and I'm just a rissist at the moment.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
I'm still learning.
Speaker 6 (23:04):
So I am in the very beginning process of all this.
And I never imagined that I was going to turn
by poetry into songs, but.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
I'm loving this.
Speaker 6 (23:17):
So I am in the beginning process of learning what
everyone else did when they were younger. So it's a
bit of a challenge, but I'm getting there. So this
is just temporary for me, so that I could get
my foot in the door and get my lyrics.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
Heard, and that's it.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
Yeah, I fully understand it. I was an artists years ago,
touring studio ortis and studio performance is something new.
Speaker 7 (23:49):
You know.
Speaker 3 (23:49):
It's easy to sing out loud, Oh you have a
nice voice, but when you get on a mic and
it's a different stories like, wow, that's me, that's all.
So it took me a while. Yeah, it took me
a while to learn studio etiquette, you know, and how
to control the mic per se. But I'm a little
(24:11):
bit older now and I have people sending me music
all the time. Hey, get in the studio. We need
your and I tried it and it I feel so
it's like, wow, they have this AI stuff for me.
I may need to clone my voice or something.
Speaker 6 (24:27):
Yeah, so that's the next thing I plan on doing.
It's not it's not easy. So like I developed and
I produced your song. You know, I tell what I
wanted to do, female voice, male boys?
Speaker 1 (24:45):
Do I want this instrument? That instrument? How do I
want this to go? So it isn't that easy to
produce the song AI. It takes time.
Speaker 6 (24:54):
It took me hours and I mean hours.
Speaker 1 (24:57):
To get the sounds that I wanted. But I'm thinking
the next thing I'm going to do is get them
to use.
Speaker 6 (25:04):
My voice in an AI generated mode. So that because
like I said, I am still learning, but I personally
do go into the studio.
Speaker 3 (25:13):
I do have a studio.
Speaker 1 (25:15):
Recorded song on Spotify and all the other media platforms.
And yeah, I'm but I am brand new. So you know,
nothing is perfect right now, but we're working on it.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
I am.
Speaker 6 (25:30):
I am a work in progress.
Speaker 3 (25:32):
I heard that. Hey, yeah, you know, even even using AI,
you are still a composer because you have to tell
it what to do, what to play, you know, things
of that nature. So I look at it like your composer.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
Yeah, thank you, thank you very much. I appreciate that.
Speaker 6 (25:50):
And I'm and I don't use AI for any lyrics whatsoever.
Every lyrics has always been written by me. I have
never once used AI generated lyrics. My lyrics are all
in my notebook or somewhere on my phone, in my notes,
you know, like if I've been somewhere. I went to
get my car fixed and forgot my notebook. In my
(26:13):
little notepad was just filled with thoughts and things. So
I only myself write.
Speaker 1 (26:20):
I write from my heart.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
I love it. I love it. So before I let
you go, you've got singles, videos, and collaborations all in motion.
What's the bigger vision for Donnady?
Speaker 6 (26:35):
Huh? The bigger vision is to myself along with the
people that I'm working with, some really great, some great
folks in this area. I got to give a big
shout out to Joe Alta. He has been a great
mentor to me, My nephew, Chris, Lizzie, my bandmate. The
(26:56):
last line, we're getting together. We're all going into the
stud studio and we're going to do my music live
and we're gonna I'd like to put a little seat together.
Speaker 3 (27:09):
And get.
Speaker 6 (27:11):
Some of my similar songs on them because I do everything.
I have a rap song, I have Christian music, I
have country music. I have rock music, Southern rock. I
am very eclectic. Something I learned from my father to
never limit myself, so I am up and down the
spectrum with all of my musical taste.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
All of my lyrics are the same.
Speaker 3 (27:37):
Wow, I have to hear this rap song.
Speaker 6 (27:40):
Oh it's awesome, and I would love to get it
to you.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
I'll be looking for it, Donna. This is our mic
drop moment. Finish the sentence for me. Music saved me when.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
I was the lowest point in my life.
Speaker 3 (28:00):
Love it, Donna. Where can our listeners connect with you
on Internet and check out more in music?
Speaker 6 (28:07):
I am on all of the music platforms, so that Spotify, iTunes,
I'm Drama blank here but all of those.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
I'm also on YouTube.
Speaker 6 (28:19):
Under Donna d with the freee's lyrics.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
I'm on Facebook under my regular name, which is impossible
to sell.
Speaker 6 (28:29):
But it's Donna ja jakobl But I'm on Instagram under
Donna d lyrics and and I do put a lot
of my music out there and right now. Also, I
have three videos up on YouTube that I generated.
Speaker 3 (28:49):
All right listeners, just in case you need those links,
and I know you will, so no worries. I will
have them in the description of this episode and in
the show notes, So all you guys have to do
is just click the links. Donna Dee reminds us that
sometimes the things we can't say out loud become the
most powerful things we create. Her single ask Alice is
(29:10):
available now, so go experience the story, the emotion and
the message for yourself. Make sure to replay it, and
replay it and replay it. If this conversation connected with you,
share it with someone who needs to know that they
are not along and what they are feeling. Tell them
we've been there too, ask Alice, and remember you're not
(29:31):
just here for a talk show. This isn't just radio.
This is revival for your mind, body, and spirit. This
is Vigilantes Radio Live. Thank you so much, Donna, it
was a pleasure.
Speaker 1 (29:44):
Thank you. I really appreciate your time.
Speaker 3 (29:46):
I hope you have a great night you too. Thank you.
Peace to all.
Speaker 5 (29:53):
My name is Deanie and I am the host of
Vigilantes Radio live. I think that we are beyond just
asking cool questions and getting cool responses. I think that
we are here as creatives to provide an example that
(30:13):
you can do things different outside of expectations, because.
Speaker 3 (30:18):
Some of us.
Speaker 5 (30:20):
Simply were not born into the club. But there is
perhaps a door window or back.
Speaker 4 (30:27):
Gate that we can leave a clue for you to
get into.
Speaker 5 (30:32):
Life is short, but there are plenty of moments to
try and get it right. Pursuing your dreams and learning
from the sticks maybe tough, but regret it's tougher to
book your interview. Email us at v radio at only
one Media group dot com. That's a v as a
(30:53):
victorious or visit only one meet every dot com counting
or have we all are counting to step into your
purpose and your passion. You are listening to Vigilantes Radio
live on iHeartRadio, providing you with an opportunity to dives.
Speaker 2 (31:41):
You and now listening to vigil Lances Radio, the people's
choice for quality interviews, art, music and heart subics, hosted
by Demetrios Honzini Black Reynolds. All episodes of this podcast
are available for free download at www Dot's only one
Media greet dot com
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