How Alanate De’shawn Is Bringing Emotion, Nostalgia, and Realness Back to Music
- Jae Monique
- May 7
- 4 min read
There’s something refreshing about an artist who isn’t trying to sound like everybody else. Alanate De’shawn is building his sound from a different place, one rooted in emotion, lived experience, and the musical DNA of Detroit itself. Inspired by legends from the Motown era while still pulling influence from artists like Beyoncé, Tank, Chris Brown, and Leon Thomas, Alanate describes his style as “if Ice Cube had a baby with Beyoncé, and Britney Spears was the babysitter.” Oddly enough, it makes perfect sense once you hear his music.
For Alanate, music is about making people feel something real. From singing along to Destiny’s Child as a kid to gaining recognition from R&B heavyweight Tank, the Detroit artist has spent years finding his voice and learning how to move with authenticity in an industry that often rewards imitation over originality.
Now, with a new album arriving May 16, plans for a city tour, and ambitions reaching into fashion and film, Alanate De’shawn is stepping into a new chapter with confidence, clarity, and a deeper understanding of who he is both as an artist and as a person.
Check out the interview below.
You’re coming out of Detroit, a city with a deep musical legacy. How has growing up there shaped your sound and your mindset as an artist?
Alanate De’shawn: Growing up in Detroit, the Motor City, I pull from many of the earlier artists from the Motown era, such as Michael Jackson, Smokie Robinson, Aretha Franklin, and many more. My mindset as an artist is to defy all odds, blur lines, and sing with emotion.
You describe your music as R&B hip pop. What does that blend look like for you in practice, and what sets your sound apart when someone presses play?
Alanate: Hip pop R&B sounds like if Ice Cube had a baby with Beyoncé, and Britney Spears was the babysitter (lol). Seriously, though, with my music I ultimately just want people to feel, whether that’s hip hop pop, or R&B, the goal is to get up and move. What sets my music apart is that my music is typically written and recorded in an unorthodox way, but still feels nostalgic. Many artists today create music based on trends. I prefer authenticity.
When did you realize music wasn’t just something you enjoyed, but something you wanted to pursue seriously?
Alanate: I’ve always sung throughout my life as long as I can remember. I remember being very young, and my aunt(Catina) bought me Destiny’s Child's first cassette tape and player, and I played it until it was broken. I knew then I wanted to entertain, but in 2016, with my best friend, we started a group called (allw3g0t), and I’ve been professionally singing since then.
What’s a moment in your journey so far that made you stop and think, “Okay, this is really happening”?
Alanate: There have been several times I’ve been reassured that I am doing what God wants for me. Tank reposted me in 2025, and to me, Tank is the pinnacle of R&B. So definitely then, or when my very first music video (One Mic) for Countin Checks got over 3,000 views
How would you describe your creative process when you’re building a song from scratch?
Alanate: I like to sit with the beat, maybe play it a few times, freestyle, and start with my hook, and build around that. I often like creating in a peaceful area. If I’m creating with another artist, I prefer to have conversations, have a therapeutic session, and most times the song will write itself.
A lot of artists struggle with finding their voice early on. Did that come naturally for you, or did it take time to really lock in who you are as an artist?
Alanate: Because I technically started in a group, yes, it took time to find my sound and exactly what I wanted to say. My first project outside of my group was Arguments, exclusively on YouTube. I wasn’t sure of my voice or what my brand was, so I created a project to give myself space to grow and make mistakes, but now I can be streamed everywhere.
What are you pulling from emotionally or personally when you’re writing your music right now? Who are some artists or influences that helped shape your sound, even indirectly?
Alanate: When writing, whether it’s emotionally or personally, it is always, of course, from a place of experience, so that whatever I’m trying to convey, I draw upon an actual experience I’ve had. Some influences that have shaped me as an artist, whether directly (Young Jeezy, Tank) or indirectly (Beyoncé, Michael Jackson, Ne-Yo, Keri Hilson, Chris brown), have all inspired me in different ways. Some newer artists also inspire me (Tate McRae, Coco Jones, Normani, Leon Thomas).
If someone is hearing Alanate De’shawn for the first time, what’s the one track you’d want them to start with and why?
Alanate: That’s a really hard question. I’ve built my catalog with all songs that could easily represent some of the fastest of myself, but I’m going to have to say “I Should” or “Good Enough would be the first songs to listen to.
What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far, and how did you work through it?
Alanate: The biggest challenge I have faced thus far would have to be collaborating and working with other people, because the music industry is such a risk, and not everybody is as committed or dedicated as I am
Looking ahead, what are you building toward this year, both musically and as a brand?
Alanate: This year, I will be dropping my second album (May 16th) to be exact. There is a local city tour coming very soon. As for my brand undefined. I plan on dropping more collections with fashion and doing more film.
For people just now discovering you through pvmmag.com, what do you want them to understand about you beyond the music?
Alanate: I want people to understand that I truly love music. I do this because I love it. I also do it because I’m not the only person going through the situations, and I know music is the biggest therapist. So with all they said, I would like new fans to know I am genuine. I am authentic to who I am, and I will always be a voice for those who feel unheard and unseen.
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