Notes maybe gone but his Legacy will still live on. Webster’s Dictionary lists numerous definitions for the word ‘note’. Among them: a musical sound; a character in music used to indicate duration of a tone by its shapes and pitch by its position on the staff; and to make special mention of…
Rising young recording artist/producer/arranger Notes defines himself as one who internalizes music throug
h notes and expresses it beyond notes. For Notes, music is more than melodies and rhythms, staff signatures and syncopations…music is LIFE itself. If asked what instrument he plays, he might answer piano, he might say drums, MPC gear, or he might just start tapping out funky beats on a wall, table or nearest solid object! As he explains, “The sounds of things are in my head. The music is inside me…it’s organic.”
The California native hails from an entertainment background. Notes’ immediate and extended family members include musicians. It was in fact, his cousin who introduced him to keyboards while playing in a Reggae band. Notes never needed formal instruction, however. At 14 years old he learned to play by ear---first piano, then drums (he did a stint in a band as drummer) and a little guitar and bass for fun. He found that he loved doing the “live thing” playing in front of audiences, but he was also earning a reputation for doing beats and hip-hop recordings. Locally, friends of friends began to hear about the then 15-year-old Notes and his prowess for producing Hip Hop beats. Word spread, some solid connections were made and Notes made the decision to make music his profession. He did not consider it WORK because he fell in love with music. “I just had to show up for the music, the meetings, however, were a JOB,” Notes recalls. He was a bit apprehensive until he was given an offer to really record, by a real manager. It was the validation he needed—he believed his product was good, and now someone in the business was confirming his natural talent and ability. That offer was the start of a whirlwind of introductions, meetings, sessions and collaborations. Notes, to his amazement found himself sitting with the likes of Babyface and executives from Def Jam Records. He became the first producer on the Five Star Entertainment recording label. Two of Notes’ main influences in the field of production are Timbaland and Dr. Dre. Artists he has admired have widespread appeal, ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Pharrel Willaims to Neyo, Justice, Usher and Aliyaah. His goal is go down in history as a world-renowned successful music producer. Having entered the music business so young, it was imperative that Notes believe in himself. “I’ve found that you can do anything you set your mind to. You will get it!” he expounds. He moved to Atlanta at the tender age of 15—and was pretty much on his own. There he developed a close relationship with his manager/mentor and followed his advice to the letter. Notes knew that his youth would require him to pay some dues in the music business, but he was given good tutelage and advised to have patience and endurance (no small feat for a teenager on a mission!) Notes complied because although he wanted to ‘get it done,’ he wanted to get it done RIGHT! He started working with HITCO in the ATL and felt very comfortable working with great writers for artists like Destiny’s Child and Beyonce. The next few years saw Notes commuting back and forth between New York, Atlanta, Miami and L.A. He did tracks for artists like Just Blaze; Britney Spears; Jamie Foxx; The Underdogs; Jazze Pha, Kurupt, Daz (Dogg Pound) Jelly Roll and many others. Notes and his manager had big plans for the development of his career. They had established a formidable network of music industry players and had established Notes himself as a legitimate member of it. Just as his career was about to take off, the unimaginable occurred. With the passing of his beloved Manager, Notes felt he’d been dealt a hard blow, but used it as a catalyst to press on, in deference to the strength and determination fostered by him. Notes continues to search for a “creative family” that he can trust. While this very young producer is connected with contemporary/mainstream music and artists, he has a profound respect for the masters. He loves the blues and jazz. Given the choice of any artists—living or legendary—that he would love to produce, Notes’ selections are surprisingly, Otis Redding and Marvin Gaye. He has written and produced a track in tribute to Otis that he admits, made his parents well up with pride and admiration. So the journey for Notes has always had its foundation on independence, versatility, gratitude and persistence. His quiet and serene demeanor reflects a deep gratitude for all that he has learned and experienced on this exciting trek through the music business. He says that his most valued lesson has been that of the need for patience and knowing when the timing is right for the next move. Notes sees his career on a dual track…artist and producer, but for the immediate future he’s placed production on the forefront. He is eager to explore his artistry as well, but if this is not the right time, he believes the right time will present itself. Over the span of a few years, Notes has come full circle in his musical endeavors, From Reggae to Hip Hop/R&B to pop, rock remixes, techno-electronics and back to Hip Hop again. “I’m into perfecting my craft. I could be on any record on radio at this point. It’s fascinating…tracks that I produced a long time ago are just now coming into general circulation and play. I guess I was just a bit ahead of my time.”
Well, time will tell what direction Notes will take. One thing’s for sure. The music industry and the listening public would do well to “take Note” of him!
-Notes will fulfill his dream Life after Death.
