Blog

My personal experience on the therapeutic nature of music: Performing musically has always been my passion. As a child, I envisioned one day I would be on stage performing a song to my heart's content at Star Search, a 1980s talent show likened to American Idol. And to hone my songwriting talent to famous musicians I admired so much to receiving my Grammy! Yes! I had a huge vision to undertake and still do but I noticed my nervousness and constantly comparing my vocals to other performers caught me in a web of doubt and false perception of myself. And it halted me from performing until my sister, a musical artist tenderly told me to appreciate my voice. And this would unveil the creation of Mental Keys Music. To use your voice, ironically, to where it is now, to own it first, appreciate it and now utilizing it the in conquests of self doubt and fears that can shamelessly account to persistent deflated self value, confidence and self-worth. It's pretty ironic, singing and performing on stage was very anxiety provoking for me. Now my goal is to use music in our own way to appreciate our voice and all layers of it in its brokenness, sadness, fear to in turn unfold the most beautiful harmony you will always appreciate---your voice because it is yours. You may catch yourself humming aloud in your car or in a restaurant because you finally found and captivated your voice. I remain captivated and in awe of my musical influences. In my childhood, my musical influences included the Pentad of Babyface, Sade, Anita Baker, Mariah Carey and Toni Braxton. In particular to writing my song lyrics for the very first time at age 12 was the culmination of studying and memorizing tantalizing words written by none other, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds which led me to come across another tremendous unsurpassed talent like Mariah Carey. These were my first encounters of musical art. So much so, I reacquainted myself and burrow my eyes into cassette and CD liner notes, lyrics and writers. I was exposed to the pieces that made a whole record. Reading and collecting VIBE magazines capturing images of the studio engineer boards with world renowned producers being interviewed, picturing one day my songs will be heard, memorized and listened by many. I speak to different wavelengths of music genres. However I was groomed into the 80s/90s RnB era, therefore my music is now reminiscent of classics that may hit a style of sultriness, pillowy soft sounds, rhythmic melody, ballad frames, bop ya head beats among other styles.