Meet DJ Williams | Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter, & Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with DJ Williams and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi DJ, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
The social impact of music may be my favorite thing about what I do!
The simple fact that we bring people of all walks of life; race, sexual orientation, political opinions, & age groups into a single room to escape the dust of real life and for a few hours. All those aforementioned details seem to be left at the door. Not too many people can say that about their career. What we do serves as a common language that can bridge cultural gaps, fostering understanding and inclusivity.
Music can also be a powerful tool for advocating social change and awareness. I personally am involved with two non profit organizations. ACE Liberia provides funding for my mother’s school in her home community of Liberia in West Africa. We just finished performing a benefit concert which raises money to keep this school for underprivileged kids operational. Projekt Music is the other non profit, in which we provide funding and musical instruments for music programs domestically across the country.
All of these diverse roles make music a vital part of a not just a thriving & cohesive community, but the world as a whole.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a first generation African American musician, songwriter, singer, and producer, I’ve been lucky enough to traverse the globe performing in clubs, theaters, festivals, and some of the most beautiful places in the world. The road here was definitely not an easy one. After studying classical piano from age 4 until high school i turned my sites to the drums playing in local bands and drum line in the marching band. It was only by chance I found the guitar and it very much felt like my own voice unlike any other instrument in my arsenal. After high school I attended Middle Tennessee State University for a short while to learn that college life just wasnt for me. I made my way back to my hometown of Richmond, VA and put together my own band with a small list of original material and we got a weekly gig in a small bar that started to get a lot of attention around town. This weekly gig is where I learned to cut my teeth as not just a guitar player but a band leader and performer.

This band, DJ Williams Projekt, continued to start to tour the east coast and then start gaining national attention through relentless touring and the school of trial and error. In 2011, I got a call from the manager of a well known band from San Diego called Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe and joined the group which led to performing with some of musics biggest names like John Oates, Sharon Jones, Warren Haynes, John Legend, Phil Lesh, Robert Randolph, and many more. Karl Denson now performs full time with the Rolling Stones. I decided to resign from this band last August after touring the world with them for 12 years to fully pursue my own thing but was called by a comedian named Hannibal Burress to join him on tour as he was beginning a rap career and needed a band, This only lasted a few months as I was in the middle of finishing my new record and pursuing my own music career fully without being annyones hired gun.

It was tough to leave the steady pay, travel, & work of these established artists but nothing good ever comes without change and I had been putting my work into other people’s dreams and leaving mine on the backburner until now. I’ve written 4 solo records and the last 3 years and I’m gearing to hit the road this summer on my biggest headlinging tour to date. I’ve taken everything I’ve learned through the last decade and putting the effort into my own music and show. I’m 42 year old right now and so i decided it’s now or never, It’s never too late to switch things up. It’s never too late to rebrand and follow your heart. This is where I’m at and I’ve never been more driven and excited than I am right now!

I’ve been truly lucky to be where I’m at but it’s also taking a lot of hard work to prove myself in a very competitive industry.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live in Five Points and a lot of my favorite spots are all right here. I really love this neighborhood and the history it holds. The first trip would be to catch a show at Cervantes. This has to be one of the best music venues in Denver! Shout out to Scott Morrill and crew! Dont forget those amazing bagels across the street at Rosenbergs or some late night pizza at Original J’s (Closest thing to NY style in my opinion). I dont drink alcohol anymore but I still love going to Death & Co and they’ll make me a mocktail that would rival any cocktail in town. Little Bodega is an amazing new market and deli that has some of the best curated items. I highly recommend this spot. Love biking the Cherry Creek bike trail, hanging out in our many parks, and def love the botanical gardens.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to shoutout my “4 Fs” & all those who believe me. The music industry is one that isn’t always the kindest and there’s been many times when I’ve questioned whether or not I’ve dived into the right thing. The consistent positive feedback, nuturing, grounding, and love I’ve received from my family, friends, fans, & fellow musicians (The 4 Fs) has reminded me to keep my head up and my eye on the prize.

Website: https://www.djwilliamsmusic.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djwmusic/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/d-j-williams-7220b41b/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/djwilliamsmusic

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5MBYjOajpL7BwHNA85ZKAA

Image Credits
Courtney Scout
Peter McElhinney
Charla Harvey