Q&A: Dezelle Dives Into the Kaleidoscope of Love in Single “you make me feel so loved”
AT THE INTERSECTION OF ART AND POETRY — is where Dezelle’s musical talent lies. An awe-inspiring combination of effortless lyricism and deep-founded artistic complexity, her mesmerizing stand-alone single “you make me feel so loved” is an evocation of human warmth in its purest form. Intertangled with an expertly crafted acoustic charm and the quality of honest songwriting, the stripped-back track is a resonant treat. It calls to anyone looking to find consolation through lyrics that touch upon the core of what it’s like to be human.
Based in Los Angeles, the genre-bending singer-songwriter has written an impressive catalog of songs in a variety of genres. Best known for her lyrical storytelling, Dezelle’s work transcends the limits of modern pop, electronica, Americana, indie folk, and R&B. Recently featured in the Lyrics as Poetry project, she’s no stranger to journaling the narratives that have shaped her heart and soul. And that commitment to cross-experimentation in genres and writing styles is the basis for her raw, expansive content and intense emotionality interlaced in her music.
Dezelle explores a wide expanse of gorgeous instruments to journey through her thoughts and feelings. In her songs, especially “you make me feel so loved,” she chooses acceptance of the very imperfections that make her human. It’s the timelessness of her sweet and authentic sound that makes her tracks empowering, spiritual, and tuned-in. Covering themes of social issues, sobriety, relationships, grief, and self-love, her art evokes a window into renewal and self-discovery.
In its review of her recent releases, American Songwriter wrote, “She’s been everywhere,” and the sentiment couldn’t be more true. From moving over eight times in a seven-year span to booking music venues in Hollywood and New York and landing song placements in numerous films, TV shows, and trailers, Dezelle’s discography is a story that keeps on writing itself. Each time a new chapter comes around, it adds another deeply intriguing page to her already vibrant songbook.
Stream Dezelle’s single “you make me feel so loved” wherever you get your music and follow her across social media to be the first to know when she releases new music.
Read below to learn more about her songwriting process, inspirations, and more.
LUNA: What would you say if you could give yourself an encouraging talk before writing your song “you make me feel so loved”?
DEZELLE: I wrote this one in quarantine in 2020, during the exact stretch of time the world as we knew it fell apart and fell silent and we were in early lockdown. I hadn’t seen a single person in weeks. So I probably would have told myself something like, “One day, sooner than you think, you will play the song you are about to write at a music venue that feels sacred to you, in front of a room packed with people you love. A choir of people you cherish will sing along to the chorus with beautiful harmonies and vocal textures and together you will [fill] the room with this song. You’ll record it with one of your best friends (Gavyn Bailey) in the desert and then look up at the stars together in the stillness and silence of Pioneertown. And then another friend (Jesse MacLeod) is going to write a beat that elevates it and makes it more danceable and vibey.
In about 24 months, mom and dad will fly to LA and see you play it at Hotel Cafe. and mom will call you a week after she flies home to tell you how singing ‘you make me feel so loved’ at the show made her think about her girlfriends from high school that she still has weekly Zoom calls with; she will tell them all about the song and how it reminds her of them and they will be touched by her love for them. You’ll email it to a music exec you respect and become friends with [him] in 2021, and he will tell you how much he likes it and this will make you feel both humbled and proud and be the start of a friendship you cherish.
This song is going to bring a lot of magical, meaningful moments to you and the people you love, so even though no one knows how long it will be until the world starts again and you are full of panic and uncertainty and want to lie in bed all day because, in the eeriest of ways, there is really nothing to do and you feel so powerless and directionless, you should really pick up your guitar and see what happens. Because a song that will mean something to you in ways you can’t imagine now is going to find you today if you just start writing.”
LUNA: Was there a moment in the songwriting process for the single when you felt completely and utterly loved?
DEZELLE: Yes. The song isn’t about any one person … it’s sort of like a kaleidoscope of the ways love shows up in different people in my life.
LUNA: You wrote this song in 2020 during quarantine. How has your relationship with it changed since then?
DEZELLE: It was a lifeline in 2020, an escape and a reminder to myself that love is everywhere, even in isolating moments. Now it has a history in my life, so my relationship with it is deeper and full of meaning.
LUNA: Your songs have been lent to media in the past. If this track were to be placed in a film or a TV show, what type of storyline do you imagine it popping up in?
DEZELLE: What a lovely thought. I imagine a joyful, bright moment. Someone walking through a city the morning after meeting someone new. Or a montage of affectionate moments. Something optimistic.
LUNA: Ultimately, you talk about the power of intentionally showing up and appreciating the people around you with this release. How do you practice intentionality in your own relationships?
DEZELLE: Imperfectly. There are two practices that help me with intentionality, though: meditating in the morning and reviewing my day every night. Bookending the day this way helps me catch myself … where I may be out of alignment with my intention and gives me a chance to course correct. I also try to remember to pause until I’m clear. When it feels urgent, I’m probably not being intentional. I’m learning more about this all the time and the song is sort of like a vision of how I aspire to be.
LUNA: Can you tell us a little bit about the Lyrics as Poetry project, how you got involved in that, and how readers can find your work?
DEZELLE: Lyrics as Poetry is the brainchild of singer-songwriter Sara Noelle and journalist Eric Hayden. They have featured so many lyricists I admire in the four volumes that celebrate the intersection of literary and sonic mediums. Gregory Alan Isakov, Rachael Yamagata, and Alexi Murdoch, to name a few. I felt honored to be included. It was a lifelong dream of mine to see something I’ve written in print in bookstores and to see my name next to writers I have looked up to for so long felt surreal. I was grateful to Sara and Eric for making that dream come true.
LUNA: Over the past few years, you've collaborated with a handful of talented and accomplished musicians. What has been the most exciting part of this cross-genre experimentation for you?
DEZELLE: This is my favorite part of being an artist — collaborating with great creative minds. Everyone I’ve worked with teaches me something and brings out a side of myself as an artist I hadn’t discovered yet. [“You make me feel so loved”]This song was a collaboration that included my dear friend, singer-songwriter Gavyn Bailey, who produced this song, Jesse MacLeod, who co-produced it and wrote the beat, Jake Moses, who plays guitar, and Osar del Amor, who mixed and mastered it. I felt lucky to work with all of them. And cross-genre experimentation is like traveling: it’s expansive and fun and you discover more of who you are by stepping foot into new territory.
LUNA: If you were asked by a kindergartener how you would describe your job, what would you tell them?
DEZELLE: (Laughs) Love this question. It’s fun, creative, and I get to share who I am and meet a lot of wonderful people. My favorite part is making people sing or dance and that I get to keep learning and making mistakes and then learning again!
LUNA: What's something about your songwriting process that people wouldn't expect?
DEZELLE: I have hundreds of half-written songs on my phone. If I don’t finish a song within a couple of weeks, I likely won’t return to it. Sometimes I book weekends away alone to try to finish these. Those weekends are sacred to me.
LUNA: Are there any social organizations or causes that you like to share?
DEZELLE: I have met so many wonderful people doing such beautiful things for communities in LA and beyond. To shout out a few CBOs and companies I admire: iHeartIMPACT, MoCaFi, Revolt TV, SoLa Impact’s The Beehive, ThinkWatts, Homeboy Industries, Alexandria House. [I’m] passionate about a lot of causes but some that are especially dear to my heart are education, financial empowerment, rehabilitation and recovery, mental health and treatment for substance abuse, diversity and inclusion, and anything to provide children and youth with care and opportunities they need to thrive.
LUNA: What is one thing that excites you about getting up in the morning and one thing that keeps you awake at night dreaming?
DEZELLE: What excites me: I love the work I do. And I’m excited to keep learning. What keeps me dreaming and keeps me up… I think a lot about all the possible futures and where we are headed. Sometimes in an anxious way, sometimes in an excited, dreamy way, depending on the day.
LUNA: Beyond your musical talents, what is your favorite thing about who you are?
DEZELLE: Once a character in a TV show said that the essence of someone or something is how they always are regardless of their environment or circumstance. I think in essence I am very resilient, and that gives me confidence. I always get back up. I like that about myself. I also care about people, probably more than they know, and want them to feel supported and accepted as exactly who they are.
LUNA: Who is one lyricist you've always wanted to meet, dead or alive, and why?
DEZELLE: Jason Isbell. His lyrics really speak to me.
LUNA: In your perspective, what makes a powerful song powerful?
DEZELLE: When it offers someone healing, connection, escape, or joy. When it comes from a place that is honest and real, people will feel that. Music can be a lifeline, offering escape and connection, and that is powerful.
LUNA: What is one song you wish you wrote?
DEZELLE: “Sonnet” by The Verve.
LUNA: Is there anything else you’d like to add that hasn’t already been asked?
DEZELLE: I loved your questions! Just that I’m grateful for all of it and for getting to speak to you, so thank you.
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