Posts tagged Blood: Inspire.

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!

Songwriting 101: From @ClaudeKelly

Hollywood or Hardly-Good?

When u first start out, just getting someone to let you get behind a mic is a HUGE obstacle…time is money and most producers, engineers and studio owners aren’t gonna give away free time or waste  tracks on you if they’re not sure you can deliver something thats profitable. Its wack, but understandable…well if you’ve been perserverant you’ve passed that, been building your catalog, makin greats contacts and you’re name is kinda buzzing…Here comes you’re next obstacle:
You’re done being in the studio just cuz its fun, and you’re tired of writing songs just to prove you can do it:

HOW DO YOU MAKE YOUR TALENT A CAREER???

I love being in the studio, but not more than i love my crib so i dont waste time behind the mic. Think of it this way: the more time u waste bullshittin the less sleep u get. ( if you’re like me, you’ll wanna get some good sleep) 
Its time to be strategic:
Make a list of the producer you work great with, the ones you dont work well with, and then a wishlist of the producers you really want to get to…
Be honest and fair, and dont make it personal it should be based on which producers you gel with and whose tracks inspire your craft the most

(so if you aint feelin someone cuz he/she called you out on a wack lyric and you been holding a grudge but the songs always end up comin out hot, get over yourself and put that person on the right list, you egomaniac!)

Now go over in your mind what your goals are…
“Am I an R&B writer or can i write every style of music?”
“Which artists do my style of songs fit best?”
“Which producers that I work with seem to have the most potential for success?”

This should help to narrow that list. 

GROWING UP, SAYING NO
Here’s the tough part - without burning bridges or being rude you’ve gotta start focusing in on the producers that you feel will guarantee you the best songs, and the best chance of selling ur material. if you choose right, the work you do with these producers will allow you to get to the producers on your wishlist!

The more your name spreads the more people will want to work with you, but  it is impossible to please everybody.  so its up to you to pick  and choose  your schedule. 
Folks are gonna say your Hollywood when you tell them  no, or when they hear you’re doing bigger and better things without them.  But you gotta ask yourself  are they mad cuz u really did something wrong or just because they dont wanna see you succeed without them? 

Are they mad cuz you are really Hollywood or can they not see that the work y’all did wasHardly Good? 

Remember this, people will ALWAYS say your an asshole or a bitch when they dont get what they want…but thats NOT you’re problem, its theirs -you cant please everyone…

So focus on the producers that have been getting you recognition and keep the hits coming…the world is bound ot catch on soon…and if all goes well, the folk that hated on u will be inspired by your success and put in their own work to get to your level…if not, TO DAMN BAD!!

8 DAYS A WEEK
Dont force yourself to be in the studio just to say you were there…its okay to take a day off… sometimes you need a day or two or three, fuck it, a week even to clear your brain and come up with new ideas.  Stick to that list of dope producers and go as much as they can fit you in… if they can’t…THERES NO POINT ON GOIN BACK TO WORK WITH THE BULLSHIT ONES cuz now everyone is watching to see what you do and you dont wanna be associated with wack records do you? no- so be wise where, and with whom you do your work.  

Think of it like you’re Brad Pitt, or Julia Roberts- if you’re known for producing Oscar worthy material dont get caught in movies like Gigli or Catwoman…ya dig?

That doesnt mean you should close yourself off to new and upcoming producers that may be excellent, just be very sure of “every lil step you take” (bobby brown circa 1988 lol!)
This isn’t an excuse to get Hollywood, its a reminder that its ok to leave somethings behind in order to grow…

but be wise… every song counts now

Songwriting 101: From @ClaudeKelly

Silence In Your Songs

Most of us define music as noise that comes together harmoniously and rhythmically. That’s what makes it sound pleasing to us, but…

SILENCE IS AS IMPORTANT TO MUSIC AS THE NOTES YOU PLAY OR SING.
The rests in between each note, each phrase, each beat are what make the song special. 

Music has changed.
—Songs are way faster than they used to be. (What used to be an uptempo is now considered a midtempo, what used to be a midtempo is now a ballad, and what used to be a ballad would put you to sleep now)
—Songs are much shorter than they used to be. Our attention spans are shrinking. (We only have 3:30 to create a perfect musical radio masterpiece)

Because of that, it is easy to try and cram something into every single millisecond of the song.  Every little space is filled with a tracks, 100 stacks of backgrounds, and complicated ad libs. For that reason you often hear songs that sound great but are so jam packed with shit, that u dont even know what you’ve heard. Too many words for any one phrase to stand out. Too busy for any one melody to be memorable. 

Stop! Stop! Stop! 
Simplify. 
Most hits are hits because they are simple enough for everyone to sing. Its okay for there to be space in between phrases in the verse. Its ok for a chorus to NOT been drowning in backgrounds vocals. Its ok to not scream, holler, and do gospel runs over everything. its O-K!!! 
Treat ur song like women treat fashion. Start out naked, then get dressed peice by peice. Make sure everything matches and is tasteful. And then before you go out the door, take off one or 2 of the accesories you have on. You’ll get more compliments for a simple classic outfit than you will for having on every piece of jewelry you own.

Listen  to how simple and elementary these choruses are:
“Take A Bow” - Rihanna
“Since You Been Gone” -Kelly Clarkson
“Apologize” - One Republic
“We Belong Together” - Mariah Carey
“What Hurts The Most” - Rascal Flatts
“Let Me Love You” - Mario
“Bleeding Love” - Leona Lewis

Sometimes the best thing for a songwriter to do is SHUT THE HELL UP!
Live Life, 

Claude Kelly

Troy Taylor’s Recording Techniques:

HERE’S FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO RECORD LIKE ME, SITTING DOWN. I TAUGHT AN INSPIRED PEOPLE LIKE JOHNTA AUSTIN (MARIAH, MARY J. TYRESE, CHRIS BROWN ETC.) TREY SONGZ, CARL THOMAS JUST TO NAME A FEW THIS METHOD.

IF YOU DO RECORD WHILE SITTING, MAKE SURE YOU ARE SITTING STR8 UP AND YOU HAVE GOOD POSTURE. STILL YOU NEED TO HAVE ONE FOOT FORWARD AND NOT BE FLAT FOOTED AND DEPENDING ON WHICH HAND YOU USE TO PUSH THE BUTTONS, YOU WANNA MAKE SURE YOU DON’T FOCUS TO MUCH ON PUSHING THEM SO YOU SHOULD LEARN THEM WITH YOUR EYES CLOSED SO IT BECOMES AN AUTOMATIC REACTION. YOU WANNA USE YOUR HANDS AND OR FINGERS TO HELP GUIDE YOUR NOTES FROM BEING SHARP OR FLAT.

FYI: Troy Taylor has produced and written for artists such  Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, B2K, Ginuwine, Color Me Badd, The Isley Brothers, Patti Labelle, Omarion, Brian McKnight, Kevin Lyttle, Glenn Lewis, Tyrese, The O-Jays, SWV, Johnny Gill and Stevie Wonder.