An Inspired Chat with Don Doc of Little Rock to Atlanta

We recently had the chance to connect with Don Doc and have shared our conversation below.

Don, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. When was the last time you felt true joy?
My last performance was the last time I felt true joy. It felt freeing as if nothing else mattered in the world at that moment. The music had its own magic and took over. I found out a lot about myself within that performance, I guess that’s what the blues do to you.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I go by Don Doc — I’m an artist, producer, and engineer born in Little Rock and raised between there and Pine Bluff. Music has always been a part of my life, and over the years I’ve built my own lane through performing, producing, and creating. I spent about 4 years in Atlanta learning the craft/business side of music, got my degree in audio engineering and spent 2 semesters studying guitar at AIMM. About 2 years ago I moved back home to run my company called P.U.R.E. Soul Arts, which has three branches: music, media, and merch. It’s really about creating a full ecosystem where art can live, from the sound to the visuals to the culture around it.

Right now, I’m fronting my band, Don Doc & The Devine. We’re working on our first official project together, which feels like a big step because it brings all my worlds together — live instrumentation, my background in production, and the soul-driven sound that represents who we are. What makes what I do unique is that I’m hands-on in every part of the process — writing, producing, engineering, performing — but I also think about how to tell the story beyond the music. For me, it’s about building something that lasts, something people can feel connected to.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
My time in South Korea showed me how big and small the world really is. My first official duty station in the Army was Camp Casey, about 13 miles from the DMZ. During the year I spent there, I experienced a few life-changing moments, especially spiritually. Being there made me realize that the way we live in America isn’t the only way of life, and a lot of things we have are taken for granted. At the same time, I also learned to appreciate America because overall, we’re blessed to be able to live more freely than other countries. Overall, that moment in time made me question everything I was taught, which led to this beautiful life I’m experiencing now.

Is there something you miss that no one else knows about?
My locs. I felt a big relief when I cut them but also like I was missing part of myself. So it’s only right I start over.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
I look at whether it creates a real positive impact and pushes us to grow as people. If it’s just a hype it’s a fad. If it encourages evolution and adds value, it’s a shift. I feel the world is going through a major shift right now and many people aren’t aware that things will never be the same.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What will you regret not doing? 
Following my dreams and not having fun with life because sometimes I’m too serious. I’m working on it though.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.puresoularts.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dondocworld/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PURESoulArts

Image Credits
IG: T3CameraFuel
Facebook: JayHiatt