Meet DAVENCHY | Artist & Creative Director

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

Hi DAVENCHY, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I was born in Evansville, IN and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are both smaller cities (compared to majors like Atlanta) and encompass a small-town feel where sports are #1 and blue-collar industry is heavy (Cincinnati is HQ for Proctor & Gamble, which most likely make up at least half products in your household!) I wear my REDS gear proudly, and often include workwear in my fashion choices to reflect the culture of where I come from. There was a grit I was able to develop in these conditions, where the colder weather and lack of creative opportunities created a tenacity to achieve something greater outside of the city.

I had the conventional household – Lighthearted, full of jokes, but backed by stern teaching. My mom and dad fully supported my brother and I’s exploration. Upon recognizing my passion to create at a very early age, my parents often bought me drawing books and things I could build with. My dad is an extrovert. He is always on the go, in and out of town, and the life of the party. Of course, being the center of attention requires a good wardrobe – My dad’s wardrobe is probably 90 percent Ralph Lauren. It was also here where I was introduced to high-fashion and style. Music was constantly playing in our home and car, ranging from the soul of the past up to the rap and hip-hop of the then current 90’s and early 2000’s. I grew an affinity for music, fashion and travel relatively quickly. My mom was excellent at teaching me the golden values of life, and to instill them in everything I do. She also would bring us Disney cassette tapes regularly. Cartoons and animation made up a large part of my youth, and is the main reason why illustration is one of my top mediums.

These qualities from both of them directly reflect who I am today. I love the “big city”, traveling, socializing and listening to music. I am a style connoisseur and love to dress, something that I gathered directly from my father and the many GQ’s we had around the house. I moved to Atlanta because of its liberal creative arts culture, something I was not able to express how I wanted to at home. A lot of my subject matter is derivative of what’s going on in music and entertainment. The motivation behind it all my creativity is Love, which is probably the biggest lesson my mother taught me. Nothing created will be pure unless I do it with a humble, open and loving heart.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I always knew I wanted to be a creative – whether it was art or working with my hands. Upon coming home from college, I started the mundane process of reaching out to companies and developing resumes to start my traditional “career”. Those companies included Nike, Nickelodeon and Pixar, where competition is fierce. I was putting out art I was creating during those application processes and was finding immediate work doing commissions. Eventually the commissions outweighed the applications, and it clicked that I should be independent.

The beginning was tough! Creating was easy but developing business acumen was more tedious. Many projects went unpaid, and commissions were done for “exposure”. One commission struck gold – a piece of artwork for TM88, who is a member of one of Atlanta’s premiere production groups 808 MAFIA. This one propelled me into the music and entertainment business as an initial means to make a living. I began to work feverishly after that placement, going to a factory job for 10+ hours and coming directly home to put in more hours creatively. That period of 16HR workdays turned “exposure” into financial gains and better opportunities. The key was finding the right person to expose my work to a larger community. More importantly, to the community I wanted offer my contributions.

Along the way, I learned that you must know the value of yourself and work, or someone else will determine it for you. One of the worst feelings I’ve experienced is being devalued. All money is not good money, and sometimes you should say “No” if it compromises your brand identity or mental health. Also, there is no textbook for this. You have to do what works for you. Free project? Take it, if it’s good for business. Charge high? Do it, because you know your customer base and the value you bring.

The most important thing people need to know about me and my brand, is that I actually care. The art is in the detail. Money does not motivate me. Telling people’s story, giving them a voice, hope, and inspiration is what matters. There’s a level of vulnerability that is required with being a creative leader. Leading with your true creative voice is what separates you and wins in the end.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
One of my kick-it spots is Boogalou on Ponce. I usually hit their happy hour for a quick bite, drink and vibes during the day, or we have to hit Big Dave’s Cheesesteak for a Philly Egg Roll and fries. If you want a quick hit of culture, we can hit the Krog Street Market and Beltline where you can find numerous shopping, restaurants and bars, skatepark, and the infamous Krog Street Tunnel where there is an open paint policy (you are free to add graffiti to the wall).

Atlanta is home to streetwear kings WISH, VERSUS, Social Status and A Ma Maniere. So if you need that drip before we hit the town, these are our first stops!

For the creatives, you’ll mostly be directed to Little Five Points, which is a very concentrated area of niche boutiques, record stores and show spaces. A lot of interesting things are always going on over there.

Lastly, I’d love to take them to a recording studio. I create a lot for those in the music industry here and often work alongside the artist in the creation process. From Future’s to Mike WiLL Made It’s studio, it’s amazing to see some of the processes that these artists go through to bring us some of our favorite tunes. It’s truly magic and I’d love for anyone coming here to experience that. Club Digital (Sonny Digital’s Studio) doubles as a club, so that’s a dope place to meet up, vibe, and connect with your fellow creatives.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My best friend and fiancé – Adrian

I wouldn’t be as far as I am without her. We have been friends almost 20 years (together 6). Whether it was finding resources to throw an event, money to fund a project, product to pick up or ship when I wasn’t available, getting me into doors I didn’t have keys to, making a pitch & sale, introducing me to good people and more – she was there to accomplish it. She is my better half and my balance. When it comes to home and children, she is an excellent mother and home builder, which greatly helps when I have to balance the home and work life. On top of that, she is a Creative herself, which is essential in what we build individually, and together as a couple and household.

Instagram: @d_starks / @gdmrngworld

Image Credits
J Maul