CORE: Once you knew you wanted to become a professional musician did you share that with anyone?
Neville: I shared my dream with Georgia Francis and Francis Callwood. They were able to help me get scholarships for college and they made a point to put me and others in situations where our name could be made known. What also helped me was that it had other students in my class who were serious about pursuing music; people like Ruben Rogers. We had a bit of a camaraderie so we were definitely open to everyone with what we wanted to do.
CORE: Some musicians do not take the college route, how has being college educated shape your career?
Neville: Going to college definitely helped to shape my career. It provided a greater foundation and helped to fill in the gaps left by high school. I also took private lessons with Louis Taylor while I was in high school which gave me an edge. College afforded me a well-rounded base for what I wanted to do as a singer and arranger in music. The course work was very rigorous but I got to learn the other aspects of the industry apart from performing. Another cool thing about college is I got to meet so many great musicians who were going places and I was able to establish connections with some influential people. For instance, a friend of mine knew another friend who hooked me up with Gladys Knight which got me on a couple national tours across the country.
CORE: What messages do you try to articulate in you music?
Neville: Well I’m a Christian artist so my music is gospel music. I’m very passionate about the way I feel about my relationship with God. I try to make that very evident in my music. So the primary message is really that God loves you and he wants you to start a relationship with him because he already knows everything about you; and that relationship is a saving relationship and he wants to change your life.
CORE: Where do you get your inspiration?
Neville: I draw inspiration from my personal experience, whether it is a deep experience I’m having with the Lord or life in general. Sometimes it might be a cool phrase and I would think to myself, wow, I wonder if I can do something with that in a song. Also it might come from a sermon that I heard or a conversation I had.
CORE: What advice would you like to pass on to new artists?
Neville: The first thing you have to do is spend a lot of time at you craft. Secondly, make sure you have something to say and your message will impact a lot of people. Third you need avenues to display your talent; make sure you have a plan and stick to it. If you really got something, your talent will make a way for you. Lastly as a Christian artist, I would strongly say you have to make sure the calling came from God.
CORE: Tell us about one memorable experience in your career?
Neville: Meeting Donny McKurlkland was quite an experience. I have a lot of respect for how he overcame and I think he has one of the best vocals in gospel music. So I was a little awe struck but he was really down to earth and a real cool guy. He actually invited me to sing at the church he pastors. That was a real cool experience. It gave me a kind of feeling like I’m living my dream. Performing on the same stage as someone I look up to and meeting them made me feel like I’m getting there.
