Transitioning into adulthood was a complicated process for me. While most people looked forward to getting drunk at the bar, late nights, freedom, and possibly voting, I was still clinging to my youth. I wasn't ready to let go of the carefree whim of being a kid and my Saturday morning cartoons. I watched Arthur until I was 13!! In fact, I have the Disney Channel going in the background as I write this post! Watching TV was more than just entertainment; it was comforting and a coping mechanism for the loneliness I endured as a child. It was a chance for me to live in an alternate universe, and weirdly, it felt like I was hanging out with my friends since I was not allowed to do so in real life. My first single, Saturday Morning Cartoons, is a poetic song that gives you a glimpse into my upbringing. I give you a little piece of my soul and relive the joy I felt watching Saturday morning cartoons as a child.
The Songwriting process
Saturday Morning Cartoons was inspired by the good old days of my childhood. It's about relishing in the beauty of a splendid sunny Saturday, looking forward to watching my favorite shows, and savoring my beloved McDonald's breakfast. In other words, it's about awakening your inner child and keeping the feeling in your back pocket. When I was a child, My favorite cartoons were The Emperor's New Groove, The Proud Family, and Tom and Jerry. For breakfast, I enjoyed a McDonald's breakfast burrito and a side of hashbrowns with a nice glass of orange juice or Hi-C. Before the Saturday cartoons lineup started, I used to sit by the window and watch the birds fly through my balcony. In this song, I reminisce about these shows and relive a part of my childhood that many people, regardless of age, class, race, or any other identifying factor, can relate to. I wanted to write a song that unified people with the ubiquitous childhood memory of watching cartoons.
I used free-flowing descriptive lyrics like a poet so the listener could paint a picture in their mind. It was imperative to highlight the sunny days and watching the birds fly because the darkness of cloudy days made me feel afraid when I was home alone. When the sun was shining, it felt like a warm blanket resting on my shoulders. While most kids spent the weekend with their families, I was in solitude. Writing a song about this moment was a cathartic method of letting go of the past and commemorating a fond memory. It was challenging to fit all my emotions and memories into a 4-minute song. I had to remind myself that I wasn't writing a free-flowing poem; I was writing a song. As soon as I was satisfied with the lyrics and felt like it told my story, I sent it to the studio.
A few weeks after submitting my ideas, I received a demo of my song. I was overwhelmed with excitement, but that quickly turned into confusion. I barely recognized the original ideas or the poetic lyrics I submitted. As soon as I pressed play, I was met with a catchy tune suited for an indie-pop artist, which I am not. It was a good demo; it sounded like something you would hear on a mainstream radio station, but I needed something else. The demo reminded me of One Direction's signature bright, upbeat, youthful tunes. I didn't know how to musically interpret the song to fit my artistry. In other words, I needed to figure out how to sing the song without trying to be an exact copy of the vocalist in the demo. Ultimately, I concluded it wasn't created with my voice in mind.
I envisioned Saturday Morning Cartoons as a soulful disco jam infused with jazzy R&B sounds. In my head, the song was a catchy, groovy vibe that could quickly get stuck in your head and make you want to dance. I wanted to musically capture the nostalgic feeling conveyed in my song. I created a rhythmic flow with my lyrics, but we couldn't get it to work musically. I kept receiving feedback that my song technically wasn't a song; it was rhythmic poetry. I pressed my hand against my forehead and sat in confusion. Honestly, I liked the rhythmic poetry songwriting fusion, but at the same time, I wanted to make music and create actual songs, not poetry. I wanted to create a jazz-infused soul album but didn't know how to convey that. I spent a couple of weeks working with a producer to get the lyrics and sound to my liking. We went back and forth, exchanging ideas of how the song should pan out. I eventually had a mini breakdown in my room because I didn't understand that songs and poetry differed. Before working with a professional producer, I didn't know songwriting rules existed. My songs were always constructed based on my feelings and what sounded pleasing to my ears. I wasn't actively thinking about meter, pulse, beat, or key. I just wrote from my soul, and I wrote what felt good.
After hearing the first demo and a nice phone call, we settled on creating a semi-soulful acoustic version of Saturday Morning Cartoons. I was apprehensive because I wondered if the song would align with my artistic vision for my EP. At the end of the day, I knew I had to throw caution to the wind and sing like the rent was due yesterday. A new melody danced in my ears a week later when an updated demo was given to me. Initially, I didn't feel the spark I was looking for, but the more I listened to the song, the more the piano mingled beautifully with the guitar, and the melody seemed tailored to the higher register of my voice.
Though the demo of Saturday Morning Cartoons didn't have any jazz influences, I wanted to see if I could creatively sneak some elements of jazz into the song. I contacted my jazz instructor to discuss the song and determine if we could generate some ideas. As I shared my feelings, She candidly revealed her experience working with producers and recording in a professional studio. Since this was my first time working in a studio, it was comforting to know that my experience wasn't any different from other professional musicians. After our chat, I played my song, and she stated it was a brilliant song that could be marketed. She gave me the idea to sing the phrase "soooooooooooooo alive" during the instrumental break in the music. I loved that idea! She was so enamored with the melody that she asked me to perform for the whole class. Inside, I was hesitant because I hadn't fully mastered the song, but without much thought, I blurted out a resounding yes!
The studio session.
It was a beautiful sunny day on a Monday afternoon in May. My soul was gleaming excitedly, and it felt like the sun was hugging my heart. It had been 6 years since I stepped foot in a professional studio. My first time in a studio was bleak, like a person casually drowning in the ocean trying to keep their head afloat. I was thrust into recording without any idea what to expect, and it ended terribly. 6 years later, I saved money and found the courage to try it again.
I arrived at a house tucked away in the woods, and I instantly forgot that the hustle and bustle of the city was right around the corner. I entered the studio and was greeted by a well-lived sofa, musical instruments, and CDs from various artists such as Alicia Keys, Gladys Night, Bob Dylan, ACDC, and many others. A couple of steps further, past the mini kitchen, led me to where the magic happens! A small room with the producer's workstation, a chair, and a loveseat, and below was a recording area.
Once the headphones were placed over my ears, I was transported into a different world. I wasn't accustomed to singing without hearing myself in relation to my surroundings, so I adjusted the headphones' placement until I found what worked for me. I sang the song from top to bottom several times and then verse by verse. I started to ease into the session, and each note became more comfortable to sing. Hearing the raw takes made me think to myself, "Oh shit, I need to step up my game. I know I can sing better than that." In the first few takes, you could hear my voice quivering and my nerves oozing into your ears. Thank goodness we were able to delete those! There were parts where my enunciation was lacking, so, you guessed it, I had to re-record those parts too. Implementing proper enunciation when singing has been a lifelong struggle for me.
Once I removed my headphones, I felt elated and thrust back into the real world. Being in the studio was a thrilling experience because I felt like a professional artist recording at 11:00 am on Thursday. It felt like it was my job to record professional music for a living instead of it being a side hustle. This was a glimpse of what my life could look like as a professional recording artist. I was totally loving it!
The outcome
When I heard the final version of Saturday Morning Cartoons, tears filled the brims of my eyes. I was overcome with joy, and a sense of relief danced around my aurora. My song reflected all my tears, heart, and soul. It told my inner child's story, capturing the ubiquitous childhood memory of watching cartoons on a Saturday. My song is a beautiful, dreamy melody that makes you feel like you're floating back in time. I was amazed that this was the song I had written and recorded. The producer did an excellent job bringing my music to life and tailoring it to my voice. This song turned out precisely how it was supposed to be.
As I conclude this post and reflect on my songwriting journey, I ask myself, "Am I a poet?" The answer is yes. I am a poet, songwriter, singer, musician, and Feminist. I am Chanelmarie Brooks, and I aspire to be a professional singer-songwriter. I am a dreamy artist with a lot to say and many emotions to convey. I am so proud of how my first song turned out and grateful to God for the incredible producer that produced my song! So, please excuse me, I've gotta finish watching my Saturday morning cartoons!
xoxo,
Chanelmarie Brooks