With a voice that carries the soul of the South and a pen sharpened by faith, love, and lived experience, Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and producer Alvin Garrett is redefining what it means to create music with purpose.
In a recent interview on the DMoss Live broadcast, hosted by Darryl Moss, Garrett opened up about his journey from his Alabama roots to the national stage and how his music remains grounded in a deep desire to uplift others.
Best known for his powerful songwriting and collaborations with Fantasia, Kelly Rowland, Ruben Studdard, and Joe, Garrett’s signature blend of R&B and gospel-infused lyricism is what he calls “Inspirational Soul,” a genre he coined to describe music that is soulful in sound but rooted in spiritual and emotional elevation.
“I lead with love,” Garrett told Moss. “If love is not at the core of how you treat people and how you see the world, we’re not going to see eye to eye, even if we claim the same faith.”
Garrett’s latest single, You Give Me Life, is a personal testimony wrapped in melody, a tribute to the kind of love that restores and revives. The song, he explained, was inspired by witnessing his mother pray his father back to life following a near-fatal car crash when Garrett was just eight years old. “That experience changed me,” he said. “Real love can bring dreams to life. It can give you life. And that’s what I hope people feel when they hear this record.”
The track also signals the upcoming release of his next album, Talk to Her Like This, expected later this spring. Garrett describes it as a truly R&B record designed to speak for men who may not have the right words but want to express love and appreciation to the women in their lives. “This album is not sex music,” he emphasized. “It’s love music.”
Garrett’s contributions extend far beyond the studio. Through his RightLife program, he uses songwriting as therapy for formerly incarcerated individuals, helping them rebuild their lives through creativity and self-reflection. Partnering with The Dannon Project, a nationally recognized reentry program based in Birmingham, Garrett teaches participants how to tell their stories with dignity and intention, transforming the writing process into a tool for healing, workforce development, and personal growth.
“If someone believes that all they can do is what they’ve done, then that’s all they’ll ever do,” he said. “Music can show you another way to think, another way to live. In my classes, I see people who would never have worked together create music and become friends.”
It is a powerful model of collaboration, often bridging divides between individuals from opposing backgrounds. In a space centered around creativity and mutual respect, Garrett creates what he calls interdependence, a rare and necessary antidote to cycles of violence and disconnection.
Garrett’s sense of purpose is deeply tied to his upbringing as a preacher’s kid in Birmingham, Alabama. He received his first bass guitar at age 11 and, as he recounts, it came with a blessing. “My dad prayed over my hands and asked God to anoint them to play for His glory,” Garrett recalled. “From that moment, I knew music was part of my destiny.”
That early calling has guided him through the music industry’s ups and downs, including a self-described season of musical depression when commercial success felt elusive. But it was during the quiet of the pandemic that Garrett reconnected with the joy of creating simply for the love of it.
Now, nearly two decades into his career, Garrett is preparing for a special live show titled Songs in the Key of AG, a musical tribute to the legendary Al Green and a celebration of Garrett’s own journey. The show is scheduled for April 5, 2025, at St. James Live, 3220 Butner Rd, Suite 240, Atlanta, GA 30331, where Garrett will blend his own soulful catalog with the spirit and timelessness of Al Green’s classics. “It’s not a traditional tribute,” he explained. “It’s about the feeling you get when you hear those songs. Songs like Let’s Stay Together or For the Good Times. I’m blending that energy with my own to create a night of pure soul and storytelling.”
Garrett has his eyes set on more than charts or awards. When asked what legacy he hopes to leave, his answer was clear. “I want people to say that Alvin Garrett lived in a way that lifted others,” he said. “I measure my success by the success of the people I’ve touched.”
Whether through a stirring ballad, a prison classroom, or a powerful word of encouragement, Garrett is building a legacy rooted in healing, hope, and the transformative power of love. For Garrett, music is more than a sound. It is a lifeline. And through it, he is giving others the courage to write a new verse in their own lives.
Alvin Garrett’s new single, You Give Me Life, is available now on all streaming platforms. Do not miss his upcoming performance of Songs in the Key of AG on April 5, 2025, at St. James Live in Atlanta. For tickets, music, and updates, visit www.alvingarrett.com or follow @TheAlvinGarrett on social media.
