Finding the right words to say has not been a problem for Range, the upcoming songwriter who has been working with renowned producers Tory Oliver and Trackmasters. The Connecticut native’s first goal was to be a singer but switched directions to become a songwriter when his career hit a bump in the road. With his energy focused on songwriting, Range uses his craft to identify with artist and portray their feelings, connecting with those emotions of fans.
Singersroom: How did you start working with your manager Randy Parker?
Range: He manages Troy Oliver. I am from Connecticut; I was born in Philly raised in Connecticut. I rocked with Troy Oliver; I was doing another situation at the time so when he was doing his thing with Yummy I was doing my own thing. We ran into each other [and] never really thought anything about it and my switch ended. Troy hooked it up.
Singersroom: How did you fall into the songwriting situation, were you a singer who became a songwriter or was this always the focus?
Range: I was naïve, I was just thinking “I’m gonna do a song that is hot and I’m gonna get a deal.” When that did not happen Randy [Parker] was the main one saying you got to be a songwriter. So I just went full steam ahead with it and put the artist thing on the backburner. That is still the goal, everything is moving in a positive direction now but that was the point of everything.
Singersroom: Now that you’re working on the songwriter side, do you feel you have to remove yourself a little bit more compared to when you were an artist?
Range: For the most part, the artist is getting a piece of me and there kind of removing their self. I give me [on] every song I make, even if it’s something where I talk to the artist to see what they want, it still comes from my perspective and my point of view.
Singersroom: What did you learn from Trackmasters?
Range: I learn, one that you’re not gonna always like everything you have to do and you have to do it anyway. It may be ideas like what the artist is looking for but I may not be feeling it. Some people will pout and cry about it but I learned from them you got to do it. It’s the business. At the end of the day I usually like the joints anyway.
Singersroom: Have you contributed or written songs you did not like?
Range: Yea, I’ve written songs I didn’t like. When I do something I finish everything, even if I don’t like it I just finish it because I know at the end I might like it or the producer might like and find a home for it.
Singersroom: As a male songwriter what is the difference when you write for a female versus male artist?
Range: What I do is look at what I do to females and how they feel about me. If they are mad about something I take their perspective on it, like what this ni**a did and that ni**a is me. It is easy because of my relationship experience because of that I always go to that and look into that.
Singersroom: Sounds like you had a lot of personal break-ups?
Range: I’m the f**k up really. I’m the one that is like no good and I have a sister and mother. I know what a woman needs and I know that I don’t always provide it. So I definitely feel a woman’s perspective.
Singersroom: Everybody expects R&B to be love music but it can touch social topics and personal topics outside of R&B. Do you think that it is easy to incorporate in a song or more difficult or does the consumer just want to hear love songs?
Range: I do talk a lot about love but it is easy to write about anything. It is the culture, everything is reality, music is like reality TV, people don’t just want love they want your everydayâ¦they want to hear every second. People just want a piece of every part of your life just to escape their life real quick. It is not all about love anymore.
Singersroom: Music is very visual now, fans get to see how artists live there lives. Usher has “Love In The Club” but yet he is married, from a fans perspective people relate when your music is personal.
Range: How did people take to it?
Singersroom: People liked it but people thought Usher is not in the club he is marriedâ¦
Range: I think the hottest album is the ones that mirror the artist’s life. I know what you’re saying, I say the same thing, and I know it is not true. The song is hot though, I think the hottest joints and albums that last the longest be ones when the artist is creating an image even if it is their life.
Singersroom: Why do you love R&B?
Range: One time I had a toothache and I couldn’t sing. I had to go to the dentist and I couldn’t sing for like a week or two. I didn’t know what to do with myself, I didn’t know I loved singing that much. I love it because how it makes me feel. I love the melodies, I love R&B. —— By: Interview By Adeniyi Omisore
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