WASHINGTON, D.C. – Da’Shawn Covington is a Washington D.C. based Music Producer who discovered her talent at 14 years old. Breaking barriers in the music industry day by day, producing unique beats for music artists around the D.C., Maryland and Virginia surrounding areas.
According to Johns Hopkins University, research suggests the brain of musicians, even a young one, works differently than that of a non-musician. This research holds true for Da’Shawn Covington who was introduced to music at just three years old. She remembers being with her father “just about” every weekend at a local music studio as he would be creating music with Platinum World music group.
“Somethings happening with my ears… [there is] something about this place.” Covington says, as she reflects on the atmosphere of the music studio that started all. Music was ingrained in her family, from her grandmother singing in the church choir to her grandfather’s Disc Jockey career in Washington D.C.
It was not until she was 14 years old, when she knew she wanted to produce music. A teacher prompted her class with the question “what do want to do?” when she had an epiphany that music was her calling.
She is a self-taught pianist. Covington explains the social media platform, YouTube, was her best friend when learning how to play the keyboard her grandmother bought for her and “exploring” how to make beats with her Korg M3 Keyboard curtesy of her father. During that time, she created approximately 600 beats not realizing that exploratory period would be the conception of her career as she knows it today.
When people are exposed to music in such a way as she has, some would assume they would pursue a career as a singer or rapper. Where their talents can take center stage, yet Covington decided music production is where her true talent rests. She’s reserved in her demeanor but producing music is where she comes alive, “[I]t’s something about music production” she expressed with deep gratitude.
In some ways, she looks at music production as a challenge. She has heard “Girls can’t do this” it goes without saying Covington will continue breaking any misconceptions of this notion. She does not want people to be fooled by her shy disposition. She wants the world to know she is becoming a master at her craft within her own right.
Covington, coined herself as Brown’Sugar Productions in 2013 considering her, now, late great-aunt affectionally referring to her as Brown Sugar throughout her childhood. She expanded her repertoire in music by earning her bachelor’s degree in music with a concentration in music business and technology from thee illustrious HBCU Johnson C Smith University, “If I really want to do this. . . I want to go and understand the business side.”
Being exposed to different people during her at Johnson C Smith University propelled her music taste even further. She had the ability to observe people as her muse making her creative process even more intricate.
Since her industry is male dominated, she expresses some of the fallacies people have had about being a music producer who just so happens to be a woman. She, in fact, has been embraced by her peers “I’ve mainly got a lot of love.”
She refers to her creation process as a spiritual experience. Covington says God told her “Clear as day you’re going to make it” from that point forward she has used that to give her further direction on her journey.
Upon the release of her debut album, Trapped In The Dayz, Vol. 2, you can hear a compilation of DMV artists through melodic sound and downright storytelling. Most importantly she insists thee integrity of her brand is most important to her, she is a musician first, just because the people she works with may want what is trending for right now, does not mean she is willing to compromise on what feels good to her and her creative process. She is a force to be reckoned with.
Brown’Sugar Productions has influences of Neo Soul, Jazz and modern style music within her beats. You can hear influences of the world around her but most importantly Northeast D.C. Brookland area, where she was raised, in her music. Coincidently, this area was merely fertile soil for her to grow. The Brookland area is an Arts District. From its theater, live music and popular Arts Walk many D.C creatives call it home.
Not only does she have an ample amount of support from her community, but Covington also inspires children through her love of music. Recently, she visited Coolidge High School in Northwest D.C. teaching them how to make beats alongside local rapper LB199X.
By Valencia Harris
With contributions from:
National Institutes of Health
Photo, Brown’Sugar Productions
Video, Youtube Her’d
Audio, Valencia Harris
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