To celebrate Black History Month, Donny Lloyd, the exceptionally talented guitarist of the bubblegum pink pop-punk duo Honey Revenge, immerses us in a reflection on the impactful Black musicians and artists who have played a pivotal role in shaping and enriching their artistic journey through the music industry.
From discovering a kindred spirit and fellow pink-guitar virtuoso in Marc Okubo, the guitarist of Veil Of Maya, to drawing inspiration from the musical legacy of their own flesh and blood within their mother’s musical repertoire, Donny has curated a soundscape that spans a diverse spectrum of Black musicians. These influences not only contribute to Donny’s own musical prowess but also shape the distinctive sound of Thriller Records signees Honey Revenge.
Read more: 10 Black Pop-Punk & Alt-Rock Acts Everyone Should Know
Donny graciously opens the door to their musical universe, revealing the impact of five Black musicians and their timeless compositions that have left an unforgettable mark on their personal and creative evolution. Through Donny’s selections, we gain insight into the mosaic of inspirations that have fueled their journey as a musician.
Check out the artists that helped to influence Donny as a creative—be it through guitar or as a songwriter—and join us in celebrating Black History Month.
Paul Jackson Jr. — “Never Too Much”
Paul Jackson Jr. was one of the first guitar players I became a fan of, although I didn’t know it at the time. He’s a great session musician who I first heard on Michael Jackson‘s Thriller [album]. His meticulous yet melodic approach to rhythm guitar on songs like “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” and “Beat It” caught my ear when I was younger and has been even more inspirational as I’ve gotten better at guitar and explored further into his discography.
Dinner Party — “From My Heart And My Soul”
Dinner Party is pretty much an R&B supergroup made of Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, Kamasi Washington, and 9th Wonder. I could make this list all of them individually, but their first Dinner Party record was my gateway out of listening to only metalcore all the time. Hearing their melodic and chord choices, as they don’t play guitar, was eye-opening for me and truly helped me level up not only as a guitarist but also as a musician and a songwriter.
Marc Okubo/Veil Of Maya — “Outsider”
This may sound silly, but I have a vivid memory of being on the bus in high school a few days after I got my first pink guitar and saying, “I think I found my brand. Surely I’m the only mixed guy that plays pink guitars!” So I googled it and found Marc’s playthrough for “Pool Spray.” It was really cool to see someone that looked like me rip gnarly riffs on a pink guitar, but I also got mad that he took my idea before I had it. We’ve actually talked it over and decided that we are long-lost siblings!
Victor Wooten — “U Can’t Hold No Groove”
Victor Wooten is an interesting case of inspiration for me. I heard him speak about his music philosophy before I heard him play. He explains that music is a language and that you’re not supposed to think about every technical detail. You’re supposed to speak freely with your instrument as you would with your words! His episode on Cory Wong’s podcast specifically was incredibly enlightening for me.
Nisha Nandez — “I’m Not Ready – VIP”
I feel like I’d be wrong to talk about music for Black History Month without talking about my mom. My mom has been a musician her whole life and has music out under her name, Nisha Nandez. She has a full catalog of music to listen to, but I think her best is soon to come! Her side of my family all come from musicians. So even though I was raised on my dad’s side, I definitely inherited at least a little bit of the music genes from her. [Laughs.] She’s super supportive of the band and me because she gets it. My mom also convinced me to move to California to pursue music. Without her, Honey Revenge as we know it wouldn’t exist.