The Vinyl Exclusive: An Interview with White Dave!

 

We got to sit down and pick the brain of White Dave. White Dave (proper name: Noah David Coogler), is gearing up to release his fourth full length album called LOVE HURTS CASH RULES, which will be a two-part drop (Friday, 10/15 and Friday, 10/22). The highly anticipated record features Grammy Award-winning artist, Raphael Saadiq, on the track “Love Hurts.”

The Vinyl: To those who aren’t quite familiar with you, mind introducing yourself and give us a cool/random fact no one may know about you?
White Dave: What’s goin’ on? I’m White Dave, born Noah David Coogler. I’m a hip-hop artist from the San Francisco Bay Area, and I’ve be recording my own music since i was 12 years old. Also, my favorite band is Hall & Oates.

TV: How long have you been producing and recording your own music?
WD: For a while – I recorded my first song in fall of 2003. The software I was using at the time was FL Studios and Hip Hop eJay 5.

TV: You’re gearing up to releasing your fourth studio album, LOVE HURTS CASH RULES, what are some experiences you’ve have encountered while working on this project that might have had some influence on the writing/recording process?
WD: The majority of this double album was written smack dab in the middle of quarantine, so hearing the songs now and knowing where I was mentally when i made them is a real trip. I’m hella excited for people to hear what i come up with in a room all by myself.

TV: Do you have a particular writing/recording process? What gets your mind going to create such songs?
WD: I always start with production. I can’t even write bars without some type beat or metronome. This is most likely because I’m a producer first by nature. Once I hear some production that moves me, the lyrics practically write themselves. The majority of my time is spent picking beats usually, haha.

TV: If there was something you’d do different on this record, what would it be and why? Whether it’s some new techniques you’ve learned or just anything in general?
WD: More singing, more bridges, and more outros. I’ve become more comfortable with my voice and I want to sing more. I feel that my singing voice adds a layer of seasoning to records and makes them pop and sound more polished. I love that rap music is in a place where you don’t have to be an amazing singer for people to feel you and connect with your work.

TV: If there was one artist in particular that you would love to collaborate with who would it be and what influence do, they have on your style of music?
WD: I have to get in the studio with Toro Y Moi. I love the band’s sound and Chaz is a genius. Their music is funky, jazzy, and synth-y all rolled into one, and it really connects to me and what I love about music. I would also love to sesh with Men I Trust and TOPS. Those are also bands whose sound I absolutely love and think we’d make some beautiful music together. I’ve actually been wanting to venture into the alternative / indie-rock scene and I’m certain we would all make some music that would blow people’s minds.

TV: You just recently teamed up with a slew of other talented musicians and released a song, “About That Time,” for the soundtrack of Space Jam: A New Legacy. What was that like?
WD: It’s the biggest single of my life so far, and I’m so honored to even be mentioned in the same breath as these artists. I’ve been a fan of G-Eazy and P-Lo for years, and I’ve watched Dame mature into a top 10 player in the NBA, so I’m grateful to be in the mix. The song turned out spectacular and the love and support for it has been something special. I can’t wait to hopefully cook more tunes with these guys

TV: With a lot of downtime during the lockdown of Covid, what did you do in that time to stay busy? Were you focused on any projects that came your way?
WD: I spent the majority of the pandemic meditating, writing, recording, and mixing. I’m super passionate about all aspects of music and creating, so I took that time to really dig in and try to push myself out of my comfort zone artistically. When you listen to the double album, you can really hear the growth. I wanted to emerge from quarantine as a better all-around rapper, and I think I show that off on my new releases.

TV: What are some plans for the rest of 2021 and the start of 2022?
WD: I’m very focused on the current album rollout, and I want to continue to making quality records. I want to collaborate with more artists and capture more content as well. I’m really just building and expanding my brand, and doing everything I can to make sure I keep reaching my fanbase and making new fans in the process as well.

TV: Anything you’d like to say to your fans?
WD: My most important message to my fans is to love and respect one another. If we start with love, imagine where we would end. And share your favorite artists’ music. I love the fact that you can see the growth in content quality, views, and streams nowadays. Nothing is bought, and every play means the world to me, so sharing the art is one if the best things you can do to support musicians.