Denisia "Blu June" Andrews talks working with Mariah
If the name Denisea "Blu June" Andrews does not ring a bell for you, don't worry it will. This talented songwriter has already written for some of the biggest artists in the industry; including Rihanna and most recently Mariah Carey. Based in Atlanta and partnered with the incomparable Brittany "Coney Gurl" Coney (co-writer and producer), the duo seems poised to take the industry by storm.
How did you get your start in music?
I guess I've kinda been doing music all my life, just with my family and I was always singing in church, and we kinda had a little group growing up. So, music has always been a part of my life, but I didn't really get started in writing music until I met her (pointing to producer and co-writer Brittany Coney). I think it was 2009, I graduated from a college in 2007 and kinda dibbled and dabbled a little bit. My brother was a producer and I used to write to some of his tracks. At the time I was trying to be an artist and that didn't really work out. But, then I met Brittany and she was like, "Ya, know you should just try songwriting" and whatever, and that's kinda how it all got started. I probably got serious around 2010ish, like really going for it, she and I. So I moved to Atlanta in 2011 and that's when things kinda happened. I don't have like this long drawn out story about how I've been writing for like 10 years. It kinda just happened.
And now we come to the new Mariah Carey album, "I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse", where you have two song placements, "Thirsty" and "Faded". How did the Mariah collaboration and those songs come to be?
I have to give the biggest shout out to Karen Kwak, who's an exec over at Def Jam. And having a relationship between the whole Rihanna situation, she gave me the call and she linked Mariah and myself together. Brittany and I flew out to Vegas and Mariah was like, "Ok, cool. I got some tracks, let's vibe and get some stuff done." And it was like I had known her forever. Mariah is one of the coolest people I've met so far and we kinda just came in creatively together and sat done and got it done. We did "Thirsty" first and then she was like, "I like you. I like what you do, and your energy. You're talented, I want you to stay a couple more days." So, they flew us out to LA and that's when we did the "Faded" record. And after that I didn't know what was going on and I kept hearing about release dates. But, I finally got the call that I had made the album and it was like, "Dope, this is Mariah!" It was a great experience and I was super nervous, but Mariah is one of the coolest people ever and made me feel really welcome. She was like, "You just do your thing. Do you, be you. I brought you here to do you, because I respect what you do" and that was that.
Speak about writing to tracks by Hit-Boy and Mike Will Made It.
Unfortunately, I never actually worked with them in the studio for her project. They were tracks previously selected by Mariah. However, it was a honor and dream come true to top line over their tracks. I've always wanted to work with Hitboy; I know he produced some records for Rihanna. He has a very distinctive sound. The track was very fun and a melodic. I look forward to being able to meet and work with him again. I've actually met Mike Will; he's very talented as well. You have to mention his name among the hottest producers out! His track was my favorite out of the bunch to top line. I look forward to working with him again as well!
Miguel, James Fauntleroy, "Darkchild" Jerkins; these are all names of writers that worked on Mariah Carey's new album. Huge writers. What does it feel like for your name right next to theirs now?
Man, it's a dream come true. Like I said, it all happened and happened so fast. It's like I'm so grateful. I can't even really give anybody the credit, but God because I know he gave me this ability and I'm very thankful. I'm just looking forward to just making history. Brittany and I, two females, she's a producer and I'm a writer and it's like, how often do you see that? And just to be able to make an impact... we want to leave a mark. (excerpt from The Source)
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