Tony winner Brandon Victor Dixon chatted about his new music, single “Maybe,” and he recalled his time in “Hell’s Kitchen” on Broadway.
‘Maybe’ single
On his new single “Maybe,” he said, “I am very excited to get this new music out there. The first single ‘Maybe’ dropped on May 16th and I am really looking forward to everybody hearing it.”
He continued, “This is a song that was written in hopes to get us, as a society, to recognize how we were once more united than we are now, and that the challenges and conflicts we are facing are cyclical, and we have the opportunity to step outside of that, and to unite together and put aside our former conflicts.
I really hope that the song projects that message and that the message resonates with everyone,” he added.
Music and songwriting
On his music and songwriting inspirations, he shared, “I am inspired by my own personal life experiences.”
“Also, a lot of relationships inspire my music,” he said. “This song, in particular, was inspired by the experiences I’ve been having dealing with people in community as we go through dramatic social changes right now. It is a song about human potential and about where we can go and where we can be as a society.”
The digital age
On being an artist in the digital age, he said, “On one hand, there is a liberation of access, but there is another level of manipulation from the standpoint of control, capitalism and monetization. It’s a double-edged sword.”
Starring in ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ on Broadway
He recalled starring in “Hell’s Kitchen” on Broadway. “The musical ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ was great,” he exclaimed. “We had a wonderful run. I just finished it a month ago. We have a very talented cast.”
“It was great that I got to sing the hits, and then, the twist we got to put on was really cool as well,” he noted.
Working with Maleah Joi Moon and Shoshanna Bean
On working with Maleah Joi Moon and Shoshanna Bean, he remarked, Shoshanna is exceptionally talented and a real sweetheart. We had a great time with one another.”
“Maleah is such a bright light,” he admitted. “She is an exceptionally talented young woman.”
‘It was really fantastic once they found her for the show because they were looking for quite a while for the right person to carry that mantle. They were very lucky when they found her. She was lovely,” he elaborated.
Working with Alicia Keys
On working with Alicia Keys, he said, “Working with Alicia was a real pleasure. She is a real artist, and I think Alicia did a wonderful job approaching this production on Broadway as a coming-of-age story about a young girl growing up in New York City with her mother, which was really what her adolescence was about.”
“By doing that, she made a wonderful choice that empowered her to put her music and her story on the best platform and it empowered her to bring in the unique creativity of the artists that she hired to portray these characters, and it allowed them to integrate their own artistic instincts into this great musical tapestry that she had already created,” he elaborated.
Working with choreographer Camille A. Brown in ‘Hell’s Kitchen’
He praised Tony-nominated choreographer Camille A. Brown for all the work she did in “Hell’s Kitchen.” “Camille A. Brown did a fantastic job with the choreography,” he said.
Grammy Award and Tony nomination
Dixon won a Grammy Award for “Best Musical Theatre Album” for his work in “Hell’s Kitchen,” and he was nominated for the Tony Award for “Best Featured Actor in a Musical.”
“It is really great that they’ve recognized the show, and the artists, and to celebrate theater as a whole during the Tony Awards time,” he said.
Career-defining moments
On his career-defining moments, he shared, “My first professional production was playing Simba in ‘The Lion King.’ I left college to go and do that. I really encountered some vocal challenges while doing that show, so I tried to overcome those, and I received a lot of support from my cast.”
“That was a turning point for me in my career, and it showed me that I had what it took to meet adversity and overcome it,” he added.
Future plans
Regarding his future plans, he stated, “Doing live dates promoting ‘Maybe’ and the rest of the album.”
“I hope it inspires people to sign up on my social media and my website, so that people can get notifications for when I’m performing live and promoting the album throughout the year,” he elaborated.
Advice for young and emerging actors
For young and aspiring actors, he said, “To keep going no matter what they are facing. Work with your colleagues and the people around you to create art and create space for art.”
“It can be a very challenging road with a lot of rejections, frustrations and obstacles, but I encourage everyone to keep going,” he added.
Stage of his life
On the title of the current chapter of his life, he said, “Maybe”
“Not only is it the title of my song, but it’s also the way I see society, and ‘maybe’ it’s going to be a hit,” he said.
Superpower of choice
When asked about his superpower of choice, he responded, “Mastery of languages (spoken and written), as well as to have an instant luxury bathroom.”
Success
On his definition of the word success, he revealed, “Control and options.”
Message for his fans and supporters
For his fans and supporters, he said, “Thank you. I would like to go on another ride with this music journey together.”
“I hope they saw the show, and that were inspired by my work in ‘Hell’s Kitchen,’ and I hope they are inspired to keep going with me wherever I go next,” he concluded.
“Maybe” is available on digital service providers by clicking here.
To learn more about multifaceted entertainer Brandon Victor Dixon, follow him on Instagram.
