Diversity Rules Magazine

5 Diversity Rules Magazine May 2017 had a 10 year reunion this fall and 4 of us (Stephen, Tyrie, Colie & myself ) got together in Denver. It was my first time there since we finished filming in 2006. When I lived in NYC from 2011-2013 I saw cast mem- bers a lot more often than I do living in Nashville. e only other ones who live here are Brooke from my sea- son and Kimberly from Real World Hollywood lived here the first year I lived here. She's moved away. JRK: In addition to your reality TV past, you are a singer and songwriter. When did you start to focus solely on your songwriting career? DM: I grew up in a musical family and sang in my church choir starting at the age of 5. My uncle John Mallory is a songwriter who has written songs recorded by Sixpence None the Richer and Wynona Judd. My uncle Chaz Corzine is an artist manager who man- aged recording artists Amy Grant, e Civil Wars' Joy Williams and Michael W. Smith. During high school I sang in an a cappella group in my church which in- cluded Dove-award winning artist Kristian Stanfill, singer-songwriter Sean Mc- Connell (who has written songs by Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw) and recording artist Ryan Horne (whose music has been fea- tured on ABC's Nashville TV series & Sons of Anar- chy). When I finished film- ing the Real World I spoke to the Producer of the show and asked him what I should do next. His advice was whatever I wanted to do be- fore I did the show - for me that was to work in music. I went on to become a music news correspondent for the MTV owned website NewNowNext.com and then became a Marketing Coordinator for Universal Music Group's Astralwerks Records (dance label home to Da- vid Guetta, Halsey, Swedish House Mafia, Empire of the Sun, Kylie Minogue, e B-52s). It was during my time at Astralwerks that I took Dj classes and began spinning around NYC nightclubs. I also began writing songs over instrumentals given to me by producers and co-writing. I started writing with artist Parson James in 2013 (who is on Kygo's "Stole the Show") and I moved to Nashville that same year as my dad had just moved here too. From 2013-2017 I have written over 178 songs in co-writes, highlights include writing with Grammy winning songwriter Scot Sax, BMI Song- writer of the Decade Roger Murrah, 3-time Grammy nominated songwriter Matraca Berg, Bonnie Bishop (Chris Stapleton's Grammy-winning album is pro- duced by Dave Cobb and Cobb just produced Bon- nie's new critically acclaimed album Ain't Who I Was), among countless others. I have been able to write with the people who have written some of my favorite songs and in 2016 I began to record with topnotch produc- ers my favorite material to put together on a debut EP titled LOUD which will be out 7/7/17. RK: You have said that you channel your emotions into your songs. What do you seem to write about the most or is it more dependent upon what you happen to be dealing with at a particular moment in time? DM: A lot of the times I am writing about either a specific person/experience that I'm going through - sometimes it's about love lost or found - sometimes it's about something spiritual I want to communicate through music like spreading love or a belief in God of afterlife, I aim to spread positive message in my mu- sic and hope that the music I release and others experienc- es causes peace or healing. I do aim to write fun dance songs because I am a DJ and I want to make music that I can play and people enjoy which is why I team up with EDM producers and get re- mixes made of my songs. JRK: Your newest EP "LOUD" was released on April 25th. Can you tell us a bit about that as well as the first track that is being promoted? DM: So the single "Loud" is out on April 25, however the entire EP will be out on 7/7. e first song we released off the EP was "Under Your Spell" on Valen- tine's Day which was a love song I wrote over a beat produced by Nashville pop producer KELLR. e song is about falling in love and under someone's spell through the process. I've fallen for many guys in my life and each time have felt that power that love feel- ing creates. e second song which is out April 25 is Mallory - Con't on page 6

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