David Michael Wyatt is making waves with his soulful voice and authentic approach to music.
Recognized for his soft and sultry vocals and music covers, the Texarkana native has spent years perfecting his craft, from his early days singing in the church to gracing stages nationwide.
Raised in a musical family, Wyatt embraced a full-time career in music. Despite facing the challenges of auditions for popular singing shows and the hurdles of being an independent artist, Wyatt remains resilient. His music has been featured in NBA 2K, aired during the 2020 NBA finals Apple commercial, earned him appearances on Jimmy Kimmel’s Late Night TV, and has worked alongside Houston’s very own Tobe Nwigwe.
The Defender spoke with Wyatt to learn more about his journey as a musical artist in Houston.
Defender: What inspired you to get into music?
David Michael Wyatt: My roots are definitely in the church. That’s where I first discovered music and the power of music sitting in services. And I was just completely in awe of what was going on. I don’t know that even then, I can articulate what was happening in the services and wherever I was, just listening to it. Um, I come from a family of singers, and so my great aunts, my great uncles, my mom, she sings too, which you can never get her to do. My dad is a singer too, so I come from a great line of singers, and my family has been great. It’s been around. So that’s what introduced me to it.
I fell in love with it for myself when I went to Berkeley College of Music and saw how my gift worked. I saw how the songs affected people, not necessarily just my songs. And I was the one behind the power, I controlled it. I had the range to just choose whatever song meant something to me. And I could convey that message to so many people, and it changed lives. And just seeing the power and how it affected people, man, just made me fall in love with it and made me just want to do it and pursue it on a completely different level.
Defender: How has your formal education shaped your music-making approach?
Wyatt: It taught me the technical side of it. I’m not even gonna lie, it was a rough patch-matching feel. What I grew up saying, oh, we just sing, you know, you, you just flatfoot sing. But matching the technical side with it to be able to make that same experience was a little difficult. But once I got over that hump and I was able to articulate how I wanted it to sound, how I wanted it to feel, even in technical terms, it, it, it helped a lot. And it really aided in putting me in spaces, doors, stages, and all that stuff to effectively communicate what I’m trying to do.
Defender: How has Houston’s music landscape impacted your way of doing music?
Wyatt: I’m from Texarkana, Texas, but I’ve been in Houston for 14 years. 100%. Houston has some of the greatest singers in the world, and that’s just the truth. Some of the greatest entertainers and singers come out of Houston. I’m blessed to be able to call some of them friends now. I always tell people anywhere you’re never going to find raw talent. In Houston, it’s the rawness, how real they are, and how they connect to their delivery. It’s beautiful, man. Shout out to Houston. I love it.
Defender: What would you describe your sound to be?
Wyatt: Velvet. the truth is, it took me a long time to own that. But that’s really what it is. It’s smooth. I feel like it creates a space of just reflection and healing. When I’m singing, I always try to visualize these words that I’m saying are washing over people.
Defender: What challenges and rewards come with being an independent artist?
Wyatt: It’s not easy. The rewards are very noticeable. I own what I put out as an artist. But the difficulties that come with that are it’s from the dirt. Sometimes you’ve got to figure out how to bend to the trends. The hard part is taking what you deem valuable to the next level and putting it in front of the right people. So that’s the thing that we miss as independent artists.
We miss the machine. We miss the push. We missed when the records drop automatically. Social media helps a lot, but there’s still that board of people that you don’t have that same access to that can skyrocket your career. Going city to city, now I have to pay for my tour. I want to perform in arenas and stadiums. Those are the dreams, but I can’t afford that. So, I’ve got to start down here where I’m at and just build it. So, you’re just planting and growing and planting and growing and planting and growing. And that’s the work of it.
Defender: What does music mean to you?
Wyatt: Music is everything. Music is a love language for me. As an introverted person, it is my way to connect, communicate, and say what I feel in the safest way possible. It allows me to connect with people who love what I do.
