After a long three-year wait, award-winning artist and songwriter Dante Bowe has released his second album, circlesMarch 26. The 13-song collection features some of Dante’s most personal work to date, exploring themes of gratitude, forgiveness, perseverance and understanding. “Joyful,” the lead single from his highly anticipated new album, recently debuted at No. 2 on Billboard Gospel Digital Song Sales and No. 22 on the Hot Gospel Songs chart, making it the highest-charting solo debut of his career. From the pulsating soul of “joyful” to the R&B-influenced “real kind of love,” Circles embodies everything that makes Dante who he is while also wanting to inspire others. In this TCB exclusive, Dante shares what inspired the album title, his definition of success for the record and the impact of early listenership.
Congratulations on the recent release of your album titled cercles! Can you share the inspiration behind the title and cover art?
The title was inspired by the song “circles” that are on the record. I wrote that song because I felt like last year, and a little bit this year, people felt like they were spinning in circles, dizzy and out of control. The message of the song is that he is the God of Circles, which is pretty much the inspiration for the album title. I just felt like that represented the whole project.
The photo though I worked with Donté Maurice. He’s just a visionary. I wanted it to be in a field somewhere, standing on a white block. But Donté suggested we go into the studio with a trampoline and make me jump like I’m jumping in the sky.
Looking back on the process of creating Circles, is there a moment that stands out the most to you, perhaps one that solidified your determination to release this music?
I think it was more who I was working with. His name is Lael. When we got in the studio and were creating, I felt a difference in my sound and my voice. He was the one helping to bring that out. I think after that first session, I knew this was music I wanted to continue to make and release.
Did you approach the creation of this album differently than Son of a Father, given that Circles is your debut on the label?
With Son of a Father, I gave it 110%, but it was an independent project, so I had limits on my vision and my money. So I feel like with my label debut, my vision came to fruition a lot more. I think I worked as hard as my [independent] project, but I had access to different things for my new project. I think it’s different for that reason.
How do you seek to define the success of this project?
I guess I’ve already defined it. For me, it’s the album of the year. I feel like it’s something that I’m personally very proud of, so it’s a success in my eyes. And I think that’s how I’ve envisioned success, that’s how I feel about it, so I’m obsessed with the album, so I’m already successful.
With the full album being out for a few days now, have there been any impact stories shared with you that have stood out?
There was someone who told me about them [family member] passed away, and how hard it was for them. They were going through depression and they heard ‘Love Is In The Air’ and it helped them get out of the rut they were in and see a new perspective. It changed that for themselves.
You did a live release event for new music. How have you embraced streaming events over the past year to maintain interactions with listeners of your music?
So I’m obsessed with Chance The Rapper, and he’s done so many virtual concerts in the last year. I was just inspired by that, so I really embraced it when I was watching him do all this cool stuff. He’s done virtual concerts for everything. So I knew for sure that I wanted to do a virtual circles concert. And I’m actually about to come out with another one that’s more of a stripped-down virtual concert.
You frequently share co-writing credits on your music. Is it important to you to have that personal connection to the songs from their inception?
I would say it’s pretty important to me because connection is the foundation of my writing. So it’s important to me.
What are you most looking forward to in 2021?
I’m really looking forward to being nominated for a GRAMMY.
The post office Exclusive: Dante Bowe Shares His Inspiration Behind “Circles” Album first appeared on TCB.
Author: Jessie Clarks
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