When the call came in that 803Fresh would be in the area for a show, we instantly knew Brainstorm Studios had to be the location for his cover shoot. He stepped in front of the camera, and it was immediately clear he was no stranger to the spotlight. The southern soul artist behind the hit song “Boots on the Ground” gave us a glimpse into what it really means to walk in his boots.
The movement behind this song brought peace and unity during a time when the world desperately needed something to bring everyone together. His first single, “All Night Long,” served as confirmation that southern soul was his rightful place in the industry.
They often say that great artists are birthed in the church — and that narrative rings true for Douglas Furtick also known as 803Fresh. His stage name stems from his South Carolina roots of the 803, combined with inspiration from the legendary Dougie Fresh.
“It really gave me a good platform and a great start. If you listen to my voice, you can hear the soulful gospel tone. I came up in the best of both worlds because I had blues and gospel. I really married the two and it came out pretty good.”
803Fresh has been blazing with his hit single, “Boots on the Ground.”
“I went to my first trail ride and some of the line dancers had fans. But when I went to my second ride, nobody had fans. So I looked around like, ‘Where them fans at?’ Boots on the ground is already a line dance term in the South, so I put the two together — and it just made magic. I didn’t think the song would take off the way it did, but it’s definitely been a blessing.”
The song quickly created a ripple effect, resonating with a wide audience — from children to the elderly. As of last night, even Beyoncé showed love for the song.
He draws inspiration from legends like James Brown, Tyrone Davis, Marvin Sease and Z.Z. Hill, as well as from his roots in the gospel quartet era with acts like Lee Williams, Willie Neal Johnson and the Willie Banks Singers — all of which helped shape his sound today.
“We’ve got a lot of music in the vault. I’m traveling to places I never thought I’d be able to go. I’m looking forward to the future — and I’m just holding on for the ride.”
For more information on 803Fresh:
Add Comment