Get to Know Detroit’s Diviniti in Five Songs

Whasdat Music

Terri Smith, known as Diviniti, is a product of Detroit’s west side. Raised on R&B, jazz, soul and house music, she got her start playing classical violin and founding a gospel choir in high school.

Around this time, she also discovered that she had a knack for writing poetry and songs. She began recording material with international producer DJ Terrence Parker. The music went unreleased but laid the groundwork for a fruitful musical partnership when she met another international producer Maurice “Pirahnahead” Herd.

Click on the player above to hear “5 on 5: Diviniti” and get a feel for Diviniti’s internationally-renowned career with these five tracks:

The Progressive Underground’s 5 on 5: Diviniti

1. “Find A Way” – Pirahnahead feat. Diviniti

The combination of Piranahead’s production wizardry and Diviniti’s songwriting abilities produced a number of tunes that would become international dancefloor staples, including the song that started it all, “Find a Way,” their first international smash record.

2. “Everlasting Love” – Louie Vega feat. Diviniti

Not only would this be the first of many popular dance favorites by the duo, but it would also represent the first of many fruitful collaborations between Diviniti and some of electronic music’s most recognizable names including DJ Minx, Andy Compton of The Rurals, Monodeluxe, Charles Webster, Josh Milan, Omar S, Shuya Okino and many others.

Diviniti’s collaboration with the globally renowned Louie Vega (of Masters at Work) was featured on the worldwide smash album “Louie Vega Starring…..” and was nominated for a Grammy Award.

3. “Let It Go” – Vick Lavender feat. Diviniti

As evidenced by her collaborations, Diviniti is an in-demand session and studio vocalist not only for her distinctive and angelic voice but also for the elegance that she exudes. The unique, distinguished grace of her tracks is as potent as the beatscapes of the production.

“Let It Go,” a collaboration with Vick Lavender along with her frequent musical partner Pirahnahead, finds Diviniti admonishing listeners to let go of people and situations that can bring your spirit down.

4. “The Beauty of Life” – Diviniti w/ Carmen Rodgers

Not only is Diviniti a highly sought-after vocalist, but she is also a prolific songwriter.  Some of the topics she broaches include female empowerment, global awareness and knowledge of self.

In addition to her masterworks, she has songwriting credits for the international Afro-French sister duo Les Nubians, Carolyn Victorian’s Sunshine, and co-wrote Yaminah Brock and Pirahnahead’s “I Do Love U,” along with various other projects.  All are grounded in love with a sense of motivational uplift, including “The Beauty of Life,” which comes from the group The Foreign Exchange’s compilation album “Hide and Seek” and also features vocal work from TFE vocalist Carmen Rodgers.

5. Learning to Love Me (P’s Soul Mix) – Charles Webster feat. Diviniti

Diviniti is a renaissance woman and when she’s not in the studio laying down tracks or touring around the world with various global producers, she is a longtime educator teaching elementary school students in the public school system.

She is also the founder and executive director of the nonprofit organization “The Little Bit Project,” which aims to spread positive thoughts and energy through physical and virtual affirmation cards that contain motivational messaging.  Cards have been distributed in over 100 countries.