CHAT WITH MARJORIE MAYE

Q-  Are you fun or strictly a corporate executive?
A- Fun. Q- On a more personal level, what inspires you to write and compose?
A- Everything and anything. Titles are my thing, once I have that, I imagine a story line and go from there.  They come from everywhere. Conversations, book titles, arguments, good movie lines, you name it.
Q- Is there "the right moment" to write and compose?
A- For me, it's late night. I don't do mornings. I can't think properly till after 11am.  Besides, my theory is that during the day, while everyone is awake, all the good ideas are being used, however, if you create late at night, when everyone is sleeping, more ideas are free to access from the universal consciousness it's sort a supply and demand thing. Q- How do you bring life to your music and lyrics?
A- Lyrically, I try to use images you can touch and feel in my writing.  Instead of saying, "she's depressed, but she hides it, "I'd say something like "her eyes are filled with tears but she pretends their stars". Musically, I shoot for the solid hook.  In the early days, I'd call a non-musical friend and sing the hook, then about an hour later, call them back and see if they remembered any of it.  If it stuck, I'd know it was a keeper.
Q- What instrument (s) do you use to compose your music?
A- I usually compose my melodies vocally, right into a digital recorder, but sometimes I use a baby grand.
Q- What do you fear most in life?
A- I prefer to go with "Faith not Fear".
Q- Do you talk about it in your music and lyrics?
A- Yes, actually, I have a song called "Faith not Fear".
Q- What do you say?
A- Chorus:
"Faith not fear, hope not doubt
if you love through the hate, you can turn it around
faith not fear, that¹s the key,
to the answer to the question
what is truth, just believe, it is faith not fear."
A- Love and loss, hopes and dreams, frustration and inspiration.
Q- How well do you do that?
A- I'd like to think I get the job done.  The most rewarding thing as a writer is when you know what you¹ve written has touched someone else¹s life and made a difference.   When the listener feels you wrote it just for them.
Q- Science evolves and progresses, does your music or poetry evolve with time or transcend it?
A- Both. I'd like to think my music is timeless.  But sometimes, especially with the pop and urban stuff, I'll use terms that are trendy, timely, and way more street. For instance, in a hip-hop song I wrote last year, instead of saying, "you've been going around town calling all your friends  to tell them that you kissed me",  I'd say something like,  "drop the drama on two-way and the cell, off the heezy with the kissy and the tell." Believe it or not, they mean the same thing.

 

 

 

 

 

Marjorie with sclub7 “radiant” team.

Q- Was it a stroke of luck, meeting those superstars whom you work with?
A- Sure, a little bit of it was luck.  But trust me, it was a lot of work.
Q- What did you do to get noticed by those superstars?
A- I stuck around, refused to give up, networked, worked hard, and surrounded myself with brilliant collaborators whose work I admired. I spent almost 10 years writing before I got on my first multi-platinum record.                Q- What success means for you?
A- Getting my calls returned.  No, seriously.  That's a huge step in this business. That and you know that what you write, for the most part, is going to get heard.  The artist may not cut it, but either their A&R or someone in their camp will most likely take a listen and let you know what they think, even if it's a pass.                               Q- What did you do first, short after you got your first break in your career?                                                  A- I thanked God.                                                        Q -If you were not a singer, composer, musician and lyricist, what would you be doing today?
A- I'd probably still be a computer programmer.  Yes, I am a total geek.
Q- While you are performing, writing or composing, do you look at the faces of people who surround you?
A- Sure.
Q- Which face attracts you most? Faces that catch you attention? What do you see in people?
A- The eyes attract me first.  They say everything, without a word.
Q- Who approaches you more frequently? Who express more admiration toward you, men or women?
A- Mostly young girls,  but also middle aged Men, and older Women.
 

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