UCA alumni Brie Boyce and Dazzmin Murry shared their journey from students to music artists during “Networking with a Pro: ‘Music Edition’,” hosted by the Students for the Propagation of Black Culture on Feb. 10.
Boyce and Murry, whose band is called Dazz & Brie, met at UCA from being in Alpha Kappa Alpha together. The two graduated in 2012, Boyce with a degree in mass communication and Murry with a degree in public relations.
Dazz & Brie is a rock ‘n soul band, according to their website. The two said they write and produce their music themselves but bring in three other members for live shows. Boyce does vocals for their music while Murry plays the drums and guitar.
“I came from a very small town, so I didn’t get the opportunity to form deep connections with other black women,” Boyce said, adding that arriving at UCA allowed her to see many others, who looked like her, doing amazing things.
Murry said that she didn’t want to be limited in the genres she performed as people often asked her if she played rhythm and blues or rap, even though other popular genres like rock and country were pioneered by black artists. Murry said asking a black artist if they play rock or country should be just as normal as asking about R&B or rap.
Boyce described her and Murry’s music as rock but with soul, adding that they put soul into everything they do. “It’s who we are,” Boyce said.
Dazz & Brie have had their music featured in Tyler Perry’s movie “Nobody’s Fool” and a Kit Kat commercial after winning a jingle competition. “We would take Kit Kats to our shows and get people to sing the jingle with us,” Boyce said.
Sophomore Jeromy Hunt Jr. enjoyed hearing Boyce and Murry speak. “The knowledge that I received during the program was wonderful and impactful! I learned about some opportunities that I can use to better my career and got an insight of what old-school UCA was like,” Hunt said.
Murry said if she could advise a student, she would suggest putting oneself out there more as college is a good time to engage and network.
Boyce said students should be sure to use their resources while in college. “UCA does a great job of giving its students resources,” Boyce said.
The event, held over Zoom, was a part of the SPBC and the UCA Office of Diversity and Community’s Black History Month programs. Associate Dean and Director of the Office of Diversity and Community Angela Jackson introduced Boyce and Murry, asking questions with Tajaro Hudson, advisor of the National Pan-Hellenic Council.
Boyce can be found on Instagram @bois_boyce and Murry @kinghoneyisdazz. More information about Dazz & Brie can be found on their website, dazzandbrie.com
The SPBC’s next Black History Month event is the Love Poetry Night: “Can We Valentalk” in the Ronnie Williams Student Center room 205A at 6 p.m.Feb. 16. More events can be found at uca.edu/news/black-history-month-2022.
