Today we’d like to introduce you to Mindy Davey.
Hi Mindy, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m a singer-songwriter from Buffalo, NY. Growing up for me, I was a carefree kid and I had two brothers, so I loved being a tomboy. Our family was super close and loved the outdoors. I was different than other kids and because of that, I got picked on often which made it difficult for me to fit in and make friends. My mom was truly my best friend. If I had a bad day, she would be there waiting at home to cheer me up and wipe away those tears. Until one day she became ill and was hospitalized. They found out she had Endometriosis which had spread throughout her body. Seeing her in constant pain really took a toll on me emotionally. I was in my freshmen year of high school and I was invited to a house party after the homecoming dance. Which I went to because all I wanted at the time was to fit in. At that party, I was introduced to a drug called “Oxycontin”. That first time I tried it, I was instantly hooked. It became my escape away from all the pain that was happening in my life. I used daily throughout all of high school and eventually, I dropped out and drugs became my everyday thing. I was arrested for possession my first time in 2011 and placed on a 6-month probation. Throughout my probation I continued to get high using a fake drug called “Pump It” sold as a legal bath salt at the time. Once the probation ended, I went right back to using hard drugs again. I at this point in my life used anything I could get my hands on to escape reality. When I didn’t have money, I would steal from anyone around me to obtain only one thing, the high. I wanted to change my life and take back control, but the addiction kept pulling me back in. I ended up getting arrested my second time in 2012 and the judge this time had placed me in a 6-month treatment facility. A week in, I found out I was pregnant. I knew at that moment it wasn’t just me that would be hurting if I used, it was my baby as well. I vowed to stay clean for my child and completed my 6-month treatment. I went on to have my daughter Arianna. I truthfully really didn’t know what I wanted to do in life after treatment. I was fresh out of rehab, a first-time mom and trying to navigate myself on this unknown path. Music has always been a huge part of my family.
At a young age, we would always sing and play guitar with my grandma and mom. Music really helped me stay sober after rehab. When I was stressed or had an urge to use, music would be there to be my drug and be my high. I started realizing that being a singer-songwriter is what I wanted to pursue in life. So, I decided to audition for America’s Got Talent in 2016 in NYC and although I didn’t make the show, I ended up meeting a man who was homeless for the weekend due to a fire at his apartment. His wife and two kids got a spot in the shelter, but he didn’t. So, I helped him out by giving him a bag of things he could use on the street to keep warm and eat. The experience with him led me to write my first single called “Peace”. When I got back to Buffalo NY, I found a studio called GCR Audio- Owned by Robby Takac from The Goo Goo Dolls. I ended up recording “Peace” professionally and released it to all platforms. At the same time, I started live streaming on an app called “Periscope”. Which I used to perform my music live and promote the single to new fans across the world. We grew fast on the app reaching 14k followers. Eventually, the app led me to finding my manager Mike Letica. Mike had heard my story and wanted to bring me to Duluth, MN to speak about my addiction and struggles to teens in detention centers, rehabs and schools. I ended up speaking at five places in three days and the impact we made on those kids is something I truly won’t ever forget. I started doing speaking tours yearly and made it my mission to help as many as I can make it out of their dark place in life. The following year in 2017 we won The America’s Got Talent Front Of The Line Contest with 48,000 votes. Although we didn’t make it to the camera round the experience and new fans we gained was really amazing. In 2018 I wrote another single called “Morgan’s Song”, which is based on a true story about a girl from upstate NY who was bullied to the point of wanting to end her life. I met with Morgan at her home, sang her the song I wrote for her and celebrated her birthday.
As I performed the song live, I had kids asking where they could listen to it because they were victims of bullying as well. So, I decided to record the song in the studio and release it to the world. We shot a music video to raise awareness on the effects bullying has on kids. The video ended up getting 28k views and reached a Grammy Nominated Producer by the name of Nathan Walters, who wanted to work with me on a single. In 2019 Nathan brought us to Capitol Records in Hollywood where we recorded my single “Drifting Away”. Shortly after, we went to Nashville, TN and shot a music video for the song with Grammy Nominated Director Israel Anthem. In 2020 as everything came to a hault worldwide with Covid-19, I continued to find ways to perform and reach people virtually worldwide. I signed to my first label “Indie On Air Records” and released two singles during the pandemic one being my first collaboration with singer-songwriter Jeiris Cook. We were so distraught like many about the events taking place in 2020 and decided to write a song called “Enough Is Enough” with a message of hope, unity and issues at hand in humanity. Everything I do as an artist, I do it with a purpose and a message behind it. I always look to better myself and continue to evolve into the artist that I know I can be. I knew I couldn’t do it on my own, So I had a goal to reach out and to work with Jan Smith aka. “Mama Jan”. Vocal coach of Justin Bieber, Drake, Nicki Minaj and so many more. I started working with Mama Jan in March of 2021 and currently work with her still. My main goal working with MJ was to strengthen and condition my vocals and to also understand the fundamentals of music theory. I knew she could really help me elevate to the next step. Mama Jan isn’t just a vocal coach she’s a producer as well and has her own studio- Jan Smith Studios in Atlanta, GA.
Working with her virtually over the months, I really wanted to come to Atlanta and record with her in the studio. Which the opportunity presented itself and we ended up going to Atlanta in October to record my upcoming single “Destiny”. Which is all about my journey, my evolution as an artist and really about chasing after who you are in life. I truly am blessed to be in the position that I am. Mama Jan didn’t have to work with me when I applied to work with her. She chose to work with me. When I asked why she chose me she replied: “ I saw an artist who was determined to swim upstream no matter what the current of the music industry was — someone determined to succeed no matter what. The fact that you overcame addiction and one of the lowest parts of your life and found a way to help others because of it. That, and the fact that you have a “no excuses” mentality / meaning, you’re not sitting around waiting for someone to hand you something or thinking you’re entitled to it … you’re working every possible angle you can to build your career AND you’re doing all of it while taking care of a special needs child!”. This is truly only the beginning of our journey. I’m right where I’m meant to be and truly you can do it too. Never give up and believe in your goals, dreams and most importantly, believe in YOURSELF. You can do anything if you put your mind to it. New music is on the way. #Destiny
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The journey has been a bumpy road for sure. When I realized I wanted to do music full time, I was fighting an uphill battle. Some people in my life at the time believed what I was chasing and doing wasn’t a real job. That I should go to a 9-5 and work what they believed was a real profession. There would be nights where I would do live shows and feel so defeated because I didn’t have many viewers but that never stopped me. I fought everyday working through obstacles of life. Being a full-time mom to my daughter Arianna made it even more challenging at times, but we made it work. As I progressed in the industry, I started seeing even bigger bumps in the road. One was being very limited to the resources in the mainstream media. Without being signed to a label I was limited on certain things like radio play and promotions. So finding ways to get my music out there as an independent artist but making sure it maintains in the mainstream was really hard to navigate through. Truthfully the key to all the bumps in the road is never giving up. If you hit a bump, you can always find a way around it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a singer-songwriter and public speaker. I’m nine years sober and have dedicated my life to making a change, a difference and making music that others can relate to. That’s truthfully what I’m most proud of. I took my life, my pain and my problems and used them to create a life that I’ve always dreamed of. A life where I can do what I love, help others out of their dark times and show people that you truly can do anything you set your mind to. That’s also what sets me apart from others as well. There’s one Mindy Davey. I’m not afraid to be myself. In a world of billions, there’s one of you. Let you shine bright!!
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My first advice would be to not give up. You’ll encounter so many difficulties along the way and boy they will test your strength but there’s always a solution to every problem. So never give up. Secondly, many people will not take you seriously, they’ll think that what you’re doing is a hobby. You’ll find people along the way that will stand by you, believe in you and those people you always want to keep close and involved. Thirdly the industry is hard to understand and navigate through. Especially being an independent artist! Building relationships and taking risks are very important for growth. What I mean by risks: Are you willing to invest, spend countless hours and do what you need to to get to where you want to go? Others see risks and most stay away from them. To me, I see some as an opportunity for growth. So, if you get an opportunity that involves a risk, see if that risk is worth going for. Weigh out your options, create a plan and go for it.
Contact Info:
- Email: mindydaveymusic@gmail.com
- Website: www.mindydavey.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindydavey
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MindyDaveyMusic
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mindy_davey
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Mindydavey
- Other: https://sessionslive.com/mindydavey
Image Credits:
Jan Smith aka Mama Jan, Jesse Owen Astin
