Huntsville Magazine
  • WHERE TO FIND THE MAGAZINE
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • ADVERTISE
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
ABOUT US
  • WHERE TO FIND THE MAGAZINE
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • ADVERTISE
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
Categories
  • Art + Entertainment
  • Bar & Lounge
  • Business
  • Children's Event
  • Comedy
  • Community
  • Contest
  • Editor's Pick
  • Events
  • Family + Kids
  • Featured
  • Food + Drink
  • Guide
  • Health + Fitness
  • Home + Real Estate
  • Huntsville Attractions
  • Huntsville Museum of Art
  • Live Music
  • Local Artist
  • Local Band
  • Love and Marriage Huntsville
  • Music
  • Orion Amphitheater
  • People
  • Photoshoot
  • Print Magazine
  • Printed Story
  • Recurring
  • Rocket City
  • School
  • Small Business Spotlight
  • Sponsored
  • Sports
  • Stovehouse
  • Style + Shopping
  • The Camp
  • Things to Do
  • Travel + Outdoors
  • Uncategorized
  • Video
  • Weekly
  • Weekly Roundup
Meta
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
  • WHERE TO FIND THE MAGAZINE
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • ADVERTISE
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
Huntsville Magazine
SUBSCRIBE
Huntsville Magazine
  • Entertainment
  • Family + Kids
  • Food + Drink
  • Health + Fitness
  • Home + Real Estate
  • Sports
  • Shopping
  • Travel
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • Art + Entertainment
  • Editor's Pick

Deqn Sue, Rocket City’s Queen of Quirk

  • March 6, 2023
  • 3 minute read
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0
written by reginald allen

photos by dokk savage

Huntsville is home to a lot of musical talent, but non are quite as unique as Deqn Sue, an alternative pop artist with a sharp lyrical edge often bursting with message and humor.

Her music has been featured with T-Mobile and in the TV series, ‘Orange is the New Black’ to name a few. Time Magazine dubbed her the ‘Queen of Quirk’ and with hints of Funk, R&B, Pop and even vaudeville, she transcends style, spinning words and sounds purely engaged in the now.

We recently enjoyed a chat about her music career, what follows is our conversation:

Q: “Time Magazine” infamously dubbed you the Queen of Quirk. What is the process for your creative and quirky music videos and lyrics?

DS: I think it’s just my brain. That’s just my brain and Kelvin’s [Wooten] brain. That’s just like people with numbers. You have an accountant, and they see numbers all the time. My brain just sees things the way I see it. I guess it’s interpreted as quirk, and I like color. It’s like asking a Beethoven or asking an artist how you see things the way you see things. I just see them this way. I have a very short attention span. When I create content, I ask myself “Would I want to watch this for more than 30 seconds?” If I can watch it for more than 30 seconds, I’m happy with it.”

Q: You come from a family of entertainers. How did you find own path as a performer?

DS: My parents are really cool that way. They gave me the freedom to explore what I wanted to do. My dad wasn’t terribly on board with me pursuing the entertainment business for a career because he had been in it for such a long time. He was always supportive of whatever made me happy. I’m blessed my family was really behind me being creative and fostering whatever loves and passions that I had.

Q: Have you always been a full-time artist?

DS: I’ve never had a 9-5. I’ve only had part-time jobs. I’ve never had anything that had me away for 40 hours a week. I would work two or three days at most. It’s hard, you know. If I’m being honest, there have been years that I’ve eaten like a king. I’m not worrying about money. Then there are years where I’m like “Well, we eating Ramen. Okay, cool, we are going to have to make it work.” It’s this whole battle of saving up for the winter and make everything balance. I’m, like, the Queen of Balance at this point. You just never know what’s going to happen. It’s just balance.

Q: You’ve had a lot of wins in your career. From your NPR Tiny Desk performance to having your music featured on “Orange is the New Black,” was there ever an “I made it” moment?

DS: Oh, no, absolutely not. I have so long, so far to go. There are so many things that I want to do. If anything, I feel incredibly grateful and blessed to have been given the opportunity. But, no, I don’t think I will ever be the person that will say “I made it” because I’m always like “I want more.” There is more I aspire to.

Q: In 2019, you and a handful of the professionals joined the Huntsville Music Initiative Board. What is the importance of having something like that in the Rocket City?

DS: It’s a cool initiative they brought to the city to try and implement for music and make Huntsville more music centric. As an artist, it’s awesome that a city is making a priority to give artists more opportunities and make their lives a little bit easier, especially with pay and being able to perform at different places. It’s cool that the Mayor thinks that the arts are so important that he would have this initiative.

Q: Technically, you’re based out of Los Angeles. What is it about Huntsville that keeps you coming back?

DS: I was born and raised in LA. People will ask me “Why would you leave LA to go to Huntsville?” My musical partner/producer is here. It makes creating so much easier and so much more fluid. A lot of collaborators I work with are here as well. I just left a photoshoot with Dapper dude. He’s here. He does a lot of my styling. It just makes things easier. If I need to go home or to New York to take meetings, I just get on a plane.

this story first appeared in the fall ’22 print issue of huntsville magazine.
SUBSCRIBE NOW! | ONE YEAR SUBSCRIPTION (4 ISSUES) $24.99
Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Related Topics
  • featured
Takara Swoopes

Takara Swoopes is Publisher, Editor in Chief of Huntsville Magazine. A Decatur, Alabama native, Takara recently returned to North Alabama after twenty years of living in Washington, DC, San Diego, Tokyo, Japan and most recently Honolulu, Hawaii. She is a graduate of Howard University, a Fulbrighter, and mom of four and is happy to call Huntsville, Alabama home.

Previous Article
  • Events
  • Family + Kids

Hubert Family Farms You Pick Tulips Opening, 2023

  • March 5, 2023
View
Next Article
  • Health + Fitness

Huntsville Yoga Week, March 20-26, 2023 with Light on Yoga Fitness

  • March 11, 2023
View
You May Also Like
View
  • 1 min
  • Art + Entertainment
  • Events

Saint Heels Dance Class | March 25, 2023 at Campus 805

  • Takara Swoopes
  • March 15, 2023
View
  • 4 min
  • Editor's Pick
  • Events
  • Style + Shopping

Enjoy Travel Pattern’s Brim Bar Workshops, March 23rd & 30th

  • Takara Swoopes
  • March 12, 2023
View
  • 5 min
  • Art + Entertainment
  • Editor's Pick
  • Style + Shopping

Jordyn Brummett Pottery, Motherhood, Passion and Rerooting Through Art

  • Takara Swoopes
  • March 11, 2023
View
  • 1 min
  • Editor's Pick
  • Events

Taste of Soul Family Festival at the Orion Amphitheater, March 25, 2023

  • Takara Swoopes
  • March 2, 2023
View
  • 3 min
  • Art + Entertainment
  • Family + Kids

Behind the Curtain with Fantasy Playhouse Theater

  • Takara Swoopes
  • February 27, 2023
View
  • 4 min
  • Editor's Pick
  • Style + Shopping

8 Top Makeup Artists in Huntsville to Know

  • Takara Swoopes
  • February 26, 2023
View
  • 8 min
  • Editor's Pick
  • Food + Drink

Chef James Boyce Feels at Home in Downtown Huntsville’s Cotton Row

  • Takara Swoopes
  • February 26, 2023
View
  • 2 min
  • Editor's Pick
  • Food + Drink

The Wine Cellar of Huntsville

  • Takara Swoopes
  • February 22, 2023

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

about
Subscribe to Huntsville Magazine
One-Year Subscription (4 Issues) $24.99
Buy Now
Featured Posts
  • 1
    Easter Jubilee 2023 at Burritt on the Mountain April 8th at 11AM
    • March 15, 2023
  • 2
    Anthony Hamilton to Perform at the Orion Ampitheater, April 8th
    • March 15, 2023
  • 3
    MAR 30, 2023 | Enjoy a Four-Course Dinner with Wine at The Wine Cellar
    • March 15, 2023
  • 4
    MAR 20-26, 2023 | Huntsville Yoga Week
    • March 15, 2023
  • 5
    Huntsville FC Game Watch Party | March 26th at 2PM Yellowhammer Brewing
    • March 15, 2023
Recent Posts
  • Saint Heels Dance Class | March 25, 2023 at Campus 805
    • March 15, 2023
  • Enjoy Travel Pattern’s Brim Bar Workshops, March 23rd & 30th
    • March 12, 2023
  • Jordyn Brummett Pottery, Motherhood, Passion and Rerooting Through Art
    • March 11, 2023
About
    🌱 L O C A L - B U S I N E S S / / Meet Jordyn Brummett, mother, creative, small batch pottery creator, and owner of The Vessel located at @stovehouse 🌿💛 Gaslight Alley. Jordyn is crafting a life filled with passion and purpose one piece of pottery at a time. 124 16
    ✨ B E H I N D - T H E - S H O O T ✨ / / North Alabama’s Florence is home to iconic luxury Brand, Billy Reid @billy_reid . Known for its classic American style and high-quality fabrics, Billy Reid’s flagship store is located an hour and a half’s drive from Huntsville. Learn more about this “Lived-in Luxury” brand and its gorgeous store in our upcoming spring issue. #huntsvillealabama #florencealabama #billyreid #citymagazine #luxurystore #luxurystoredesign #fashion #ihearthsv 112 14
    🥳 🫶 💥 THANK YOU HUNTSVILLE! We're excited to share that come April 2023, Huntsville Magazine will be on the shelves and sold in 100+ stores across the Huntsville Metro Area! We are BEYOND excited with this news of distribution, but even more so inspired to keep going, sharing, and showcasing all of the amazing people, businesses, organizations, that make Huntsville special! 344 75
    ❤️ C O M M U N I T Y + C O N N E C T I O N / / Huntsville Magazine is proud to announce the nominees and winner of our First-Responders HomeTown Heroes Contest!   132 5
    🛸🚀❤️ B E H I N D - T H E - I S S U E - R E C A P / / The Winter Issue 2022 155 23
    💄Spring is upon us and the Huntsville Metro Area is buzzing with events and happenings. If you’re looking for makeup artists in Huntsville, here’s a great list to bookmark ❤️ Check out these eight talented artists who are sure to make you look your best. From glamorous looks to natural beauty, they have you covered. Get ready to be inspired!  Who did we miss? Who’s your go-to? Tag your favorite MUA! 347 90
    Huntsville Magazine

    Input your search keywords and press Enter.