Questlove Supreme welcomes Mariah Carey, one of music's biggest superstars, for an open and incredible conversation. They discuss Mariah's remarkable achievements, recording music at various studios, meeting James Brown, living on a dollar a day, mistaken identity, early experiences in the music industry, songwriting process, Mariah's nocturnal habits, and more.
Mariah Carey entered the industry as a songwriter, securing creative control and the ability to write her own music.
She focused on recording albums instead of extensive touring, allowing her to concentrate on writing and recording.
Mariah Carey faced strict deadlines and time constraints for her album releases, but remains proud of her work.
She made the crucial decision not to sell her publishing rights, maintaining control over her creative work.
Deep dives
Significance of Writing Songs Early on
When Mariah Carey signed her deal, she had already written and recorded a demo with songs that showcased her writing abilities. She met various collaborators, including Gavin Christopher and Ben Margulies, and worked in different studios to create her demos. This allowed her to enter the industry not just as a performer, but also as a songwriter, ensuring she had creative control and the ability to write her own material.
Career Prioritization Over Touring
Early in her career, Mariah Carey made a deliberate choice to focus on recording albums rather than touring extensively. This was due to a financial strategy from the record company that deemed it more financially beneficial for her to continue making albums. As a result, she didn't have the same touring experiences as other artists, which allowed her to concentrate on writing and recording. While she was initially apprehensive about not being able to tour, she now sees the benefits of having that time to develop her craft and artistic expression.
Rushed Process of Creating Albums
Due to the record industry's fast-paced nature, Mariah Carey often had to work within strict deadlines and time constraints for her album releases. This meant that she sometimes didn't have as much time as she would have liked to work on specific songs or have the luxury to fully develop an album. While she acknowledges the pressure and time limitations, she remains proud of her work and the positive reception many of her albums have received.
Importance of Retaining Publishing Rights
Despite the challenges and limitations of her initial record deal, Mariah Carey made the crucial decision not to sell her publishing rights for a meager sum. Having learned from the experiences of other artists, such as The Beatles, who faced difficulties due to selling their publishing rights, she recognized the long-term value and ownership of her music. This decision allowed her to maintain control over her creative work and has proven to be a significant asset in her career.
Exploring the Collaborative Process in the Studio
The podcast episode delves into the process of collaborating with different producers and songwriters in the studio. The speaker discusses the importance of having a collaborative and musical experience where respected individuals in the industry provide guidance and respect, especially for a young female artist. They highlight the freedom of not being forced to work with specific songwriters and express gratitude for the opportunity to work with highly talented musicians.
The Creation of Iconic Songs and Musical Choices
The podcast episode explores the creation of iconic songs and addresses the influence of various producers on the musical style and sound. In particular, the speaker highlights the writing partnership with Walter and their ability to craft songs that ranged from R&B to big sweeping tunes. The importance of finding the right melody and collaborating with talented musicians in the studio is emphasized. The podcast also touches on the process of developing chart-topping songs like 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' and how its unique blend of pop and blues-based chords created an unlikely yet successful combination.
The Journey of Identity and Race
The podcast episode delves into the speaker's journey of identity and race, discussing the challenges faced in understanding and navigating her racial background. The speaker reflects on her childhood experiences and the lack of discussions about race within her family. They share how the absence of conversations about their racial identity and not having a unified family unit to lean on created difficulties in dealing with racial prejudices. The speaker also explores the external perception and marketing of their image during their early career, reflecting on how they were positioned as a pop artist, although they were aware of their mixed-race heritage and embraced it.
Revisiting Questlove Supreme's incredible two-part conversation with Mariah Carey. Taped in the middle of the night, this is one of the most open, honest, and incredible QLS conversations you will ever hear—and it happens to be with one of music's biggest superstars.
