Posts Tagged ‘Claude Kelly’

Claude Kelly: 13 Years 13 R&B Albums (That You Should Own!)

Posted on January 25th, 2013 by ThisIsRnB in LISTS / EDITORIALS, NEWS |

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Last year, we caught up with hitmaking songwriter Claude Kelly for an in-depth and candid discussion on where R&B is at in today’s music business. Though the struggle is still real when it comes to the Hot 100 chart and album sales, there is clearly a resurgence happening, and a new class of rising stars who are helping to make the beloved genre “cool” again. As an advocate for R&B, and as a strong contributor, Claude is nominated for “Best R&B Song” at the upcoming Grammy Awards for the third year in a row, the songwriter has shared his views on where R&B is at, and he lists his choices for the Top 13 R&B albums of the past 13 years!

Its 2013, and the debate about whether R&B is alive, on life support or dead is still very real. In my opinion, R&B is HERE…to stay. hasn’t been in the forefront like it was in the 90’s but great albums HAVE been released. Here are the 13 R&B albums (since 2000) that everyone should be familiar with…

Follow the jump to take a look at Claude’s list…

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Faith Evans Thanks Twitter For “Tears of Joy”

Posted on November 16th, 2012 by ThisIsRnB in MUSIC |

Faith Evans’ latest single “Tears of Joy” has made it to the Top 10 on Urban AC radio. Faith recently explained how the first single from her new album, R&B Divas, came about because of Twitter.

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ThisisRnB TV: Tamia Talks “Beautiful Surprise,” Claude Kelly, Going Independent & More

Posted on August 29th, 2012 by ThisIsRnB in INTERVIEWS, THISISRNB EXCLUSIVES, THISISRNB TV |

Since her 1995 debut R&B songstress Tamia has been winning fans and warming souls with her five octave range vocals and hit songs. A successful career, strong relationship, loving husband and beautiful family have kept the singer balanced and in high spirits as she ventures into the release of her fifth studio album, Beautiful Surprise. The aptly titled project, her second independent LP, is a testament to life’s ups and downs. She worked with a strong team such as frequent collaborator Shep Crawford, The Runners, Salaam Remi, Carvin & Ivan and co-executive producer Claude Kelly.

ThisisRnB TV recently caught up with Tamia in New York City for a candid interview. In regards to the recording process of the new album Tamia simply explained, “When it comes together, and you’re working with the right people…it just feels right, and it comes easy.”

On collaborating with multi-Grammy nominated hitmaker Claude Kelly for the whole album. “We didn’t meet up together, and have a therapy session (laughs) … it was sort of just a conversation that you would have with your friends, sitting down, and next thing you know, we are supposed to be writing but we are just chatting… it was just easy.”

Becoming an independent artist has its many positives and negatives as she has been learning. “Is it a fine line sometimes, Yes, as the boss and as the artist, sometimes they conflict, sometimes I just wish I was the artist and I didn’t know how much this was costing me, or I didn’t know how much I needed to sell in order to break even. But, I’d much rather know whats going on. I’d much rather know where the money is being spent and how much I am going to make at the end of the day.”

Tamia also shared what she connects with most on record – lyrics or melody. And as a bonus in this clip she also shares the story behind cutting her massive 2001 hit song “Stranger In My House.”

Order Tamia’s new album Beautiful Surprise here.

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ThisisRnB TV: Claude Kelly Talks About “Chasing The Chills”

Posted on April 30th, 2012 by ThisIsRnB in INTERVIEWS, THISISRNB EXCLUSIVES, THISISRNB TV |

In the last clip from our in-depth interview with Claude Kelly, the multi-Grammy Award nominee talks to us about his inherent need to always “chase the chills.” As he describes, and as all music lovers should know, that feeling when a song makes the hair on your arms or neck stand up. Claude describes his need to always fill that feeling as an addiction similar to drugs.

He tells us his most recent chill was during a session with X-Factor US alum Chris Rene, who, although he doesn’t have a perfect voice, connected with the perfect combination of “a voice, with emotion, and a back-story,” as he was writing a song about his son.

He continued on to talk about his role as a songwriter to bring forth that talent and emotion from artists, as he calls it “courting talent.” “A lot of it is therapy, and getting these artists to talk about stuff, and share with me stuff that will give me the feeling to write a song that represents them.” Claude also announced he was working on new music with Eve…

Check out clip above and stay tuned for much from the super talented songwriter.

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ThisisRnB TV: Claude Kelly Talks About Working With Whitney Houston & Michael Jackson

Posted on April 26th, 2012 by ThisIsRnB in INTERVIEWS, THISISRNB EXCLUSIVES, THISISRNB TV |

During our in-depth interview with Claude Kelly we had to take a moment to discuss his work with two of music’s all-time legends, Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston. Claude spoke briefly about his biggest personal accomplishment, which was penning one of MJ’s last songs,

“He was my favorite artist of all time period, so number one for him to cut my song was crazy…I feel like I’m apart of a legacy that many people both before me and after me will never get to say they were apart of, so that’s a blessing.”

But, it was his time and personal relationship with the recently deceased Whitney Houston, that really influenced him. “She was very very supportive of my career, before anything was going on, before she had to be…For someone of that magnitude to be that down to earth to me, really blew me away, and taught me a lot about how I wanted to be and how I wanted to be perceived.”

The hit songwriter continued on to address the void in music Whitney’s passing has left, “She was a whole brand of excellent, and we’re not training them like that now…They’re not rolling them out to be icons now…”

Check out the clip above and stay tuned for more…

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ThisisRnB TV: Claude Kelly Talks State of R&B Music, White Soul vs. Black Soul

Posted on April 24th, 2012 by ThisIsRnB in INTERVIEWS, THISISRNB EXCLUSIVES, THISISRNB TV |

ThisisRnB TV recently caught up with 3x Grammy nominated songwriter Claude Kelly for an in-depth interview. In this clip Claude talks about the fragile state of R&B and Soul music today. He discusses the argument over white soul artists receiving more mainstream attention than black artists currently…and how and why this has become a trend and the new cool.

The hitmaker continues to address the importance and need for R&B and Soul music in pop culture.

“We were being taught about life with our music, if you hadn’t been heartbroken before, you had already heard about it from somebody, so when that came along you could refer to something, and that’s not there anymore… I’m not sure how it will be fixed, and That scares me… It’s almost like being black and being soulful is no longer cool, and that’s scary.”

Check out the clip above and stay tuned for more from our chat with Claude Kelly, coming soon!

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ThisisRnB TV: Claude Kelly Talks About Luke James & Their New Music

Posted on April 17th, 2012 by ThisIsRnB in INTERVIEWS, THISISRNB EXCLUSIVES, THISISRNB TV |

ThisisRnB recently caught up with 3x Grammy nominated songwriter Claude Kelly for an in-depth interview. In this clip Claude talks about flourishing R&B singer Luke James.

“I want more people to see Luke do what he does … the more people that see him live and what he can do, they are going to be blown away. Luke can sing anybody out of the water…and he is charming, he’s a star, he has stage presence, he’s a cool dude, very humble, very nice. If all’s fair in this world, he’ll get the shot that he deserves, and he’ll be a very successful artist.”

Claude is not only a huge fan of Luke, but they have collaborated together on 3 songs for the New Orleans native’s debut album. “They are R&B records, and the focus was his voice, everyone else is trying to be slick, auto-tune it up…I was like dude just sing! It’s a melody and he is saying honest stuff… it wasn’t complicated.”

Watch as Claude co-signs Luke, and talks about their studio session. Stay tuned for more from our interview with Claude Kelly coming soon!

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THE-DREAM, KERI HILSON & CLAUDE KELLY TALK SONGWRITERS GENDER DISPARITY

Posted on April 9th, 2012 by KaShawn in NEWS |

R&B artists Keri Hilson and The-Dream are as known for their musical penmanship as much as they are for being entertainers. Both got their start songwriting and have been churning out hits for today’s hottest artist the past five to ten years. The pair also share a niche for crafting music geared towards females. They recently caught up with our friends over at TheBoombox to discuss the gender disparities in songwriting, their opposing views on who’s better at writing sexualized music, and why The-Dream likes working with Rihanna.

Check out the full interview after the jump.

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