Dymond Harding with Carlos and Salvador Santana.
Courtesy of Dymond Harding.
Last June, Ypsilanti teen Dymond Harding won a pop music competition held by PAVE the Way Project.
Since winning PAVE, which stands for Preventing Abuse and Violence Through Education, Harding has been working alongside Grammy Award winner Salvador Santana and 10-time Grammy Award winner Carlos Santana to record a new single, which was released online Thursday.
“It’s been amazing working with such successful artists — everyone has been so gracious and positive," Harding said. "They were very inviting and taught me a lot."
Harding competed with seven other 13- to 20-year-old contestants from across the country for the opportunity to record a song written by Salvador and Klause Derendorf that would feature Carlos.
After two weeks of voting, Harding was declared fan-favorite and winner.
“I was so excited when I found out I won,” Harding said. “Out of all the other talented artists who were from big cities and (here I am) from little Ypsilanti; it felt so unreal.”
Production of the new single, “Me, Myself & I”, began in October. Harding, who wrote lyrics for the song, flew out to Los Angeles to collaborate and record with Derendorf and Salvador.
Verizon Wireless, Cornerstone, and MTE Inc., sponsored the competition in order to promote healthy relationships among teens and end dating violence, which Harding incorporated into her single.
“The song is about learning to love yourself and forgetting all the negativity around you,” Harding said. “It’s about living life the way you want to. My inspiration came from a friend who was in an abusive relationship so it’s meant to be empowering and I just hope people will feel good when they listen to it.”
Carlos Santana also recorded a guitar segment for the track.
During the process, Harding said she has been performing in local festivals, competing in hometown idol contests and appearing at other local performances to stay active and get her name out there.
“I hope to further my career as a singer,” Harding said. “I want to travel around the world one day, sharing my passion with others.”
Since winning the competition, Harding has performed at the Canton Festival, Hamburg's 2012 Hometown Idol, and Arts, Beats and Eats in New York as well as New Jersey. She has also performed in New York at the "Day To Connect" event.
Harding, who will be a senior next year at Lincoln High School, said it has been difficult to balance performances and production of the single along with school.
“It’s been difficult, but I manage it,” Harding said. “My education always comes first, so I have to work hard to further my career at the same time.”
Later this month, Harding will travel to California to perform with Salvador on June 27 in Los Angeles, which will be live-streamed online. You can find where to watch the performance as well as download "Me, Myself & I" and Harding's original song "Selfish Love" on the PAVE the Way’s website.
Verizon also has made "Me, Myself & I" and all songs from the other contestants of the PAVE the Way Project available as free ringtones and ringback tones.
Chelsea Hoedl is an intern reporter for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at choedl@mlive.com.