Songwriting 101: From @ClaudeKelly

PRE-SCHOOL

Is it weird that I still have vivid memories of Pre-School? 

Pre-School was f*%king awesome. Snacktime, Nap time, sing-alongs. Drawing. Playgrounds & jungle-gyms.  I still kinda wish i could get pushed around in a stroller. lol 

In pre-school you have no idea what limitations are.  Teachers plan ur whole day from beginning to end. I had no control over my schedule, yet i felt more free than ever.  See in pre-school you only care about one thing: FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN 

Boys and girls are pretty much the same. same size, same height. We’re all pre-pubescant so sex means nothing.  Race isnt an issue. Neither is wealth. Neither is sexual orientation. Nor Religion. you share willingly. you laugh more. you’re not afraid of showing emotions.

Somewhere along the line, we grow up, we listen to our parents more than we should, we watch too much TV, we read the wrong literature, we buckle under peer pressure. We focus more on our differences and less on our similarities.

You wake up one day and ur jaded, and boxed in.

In some ways my mind is still stuck in Pre-School. back then i didnt know what being boxed in meant. i STILL dont know what it means.   I defy stereotypes. and i wont let stereotypes define me.  I’m a black kid from a middle class neighborhood in Manhattan. private school all my life. Jamaican heritage. I cant be defined as a pop,rock, country or urban writer. I love Chopin, Biggie, Greenday, TLC, Billy Joel, Aretha Franklin, and Buju Banton equally. They are ALL my playmates. 

It wasnt til I was older that I realized music had limitations. People dont want me to say this, BUT YES! WE PUT LIMITATIONS ON MUSIC.

Here are some examples: 

-If you’re black you should be writing and singing R&B, HipHop or Gospel.

-If you’re white, you should be doing Pop/ Rock, Metal, or country.

-If your Hispanic - only Latin Music works.

The best thing a person can do is tell me i CANT write something. Cuz thats when i do everything in my power to master the art of that style. It keeps me and the naysayers on their toes.  So…..

SONGWRITERS: LISTEN UP!

The music industry is changing. Its changing for the better. thanks to the internet we have access to just about everything. 20yrs ago, what ur parents listened to was what influenced you. NOW u can discover the Rascall Flatts if you live in the Hood. You can find and vibe out to Common if you’re in Nashville. You can rap along with Lil Wayne even if you dont speak english. You can learn about Miley Cyrus even if you’ve never watched her TV show.  Because of technology we are back in pre-school. We are all the same size, the same color. The internet is your playground. go out and explore.

THERE IS NO EXCUSE for not knowing and at least trying different styles of music. NO EXCUSE. You might suprirse yourself!  Dont give A&R’s the power to label you as “just an urban writer” any more. Dont let them tell you to “stick with country music cause you live in Nashville”. 

Dont grow up, grow down.  Dont let anyone tell you to “grow up”. Fuck that. tell em “No way man, i’m staying in friggin’ pre-school”.  

Raise your fists in the air for Immaturity!