I was 10 when the first Brandy album dropped in '95. Like many, I was captivated by her sound. This funny story I've carried through my life is I actually wrote a letter to the fan club address listed inside the CD.
Later, I received in the mail this 8x10 black and white glossy photo, signed "Much Love, Brandy", right as the show Moesha was about to premiere, so it says Moesha on it. This is one of only two autographs I've ever received, and still have.
Then decades later, in 2019, my friend & artist Tish Jones came by the studio because we were talking about doing some work and she had an idea about doing something with Brandy's "Best Friend" song & concept, and right away, we we're able to share our love for that era and music. So, of course, I was game.
This might've been one of the first times where I listened to a song, figured out a couple of the chords, rearranged, and reinterpreted it into something completely new. Kind of opened up a door for how I can make music that night, and it has since inspired the direction I've been heading more recently, diving more into playing instruments, but trying to keep the aesthetic of sample based music.
The beat started to collect dust, and then I wondered "would Brandy actually sound good on this?" So I synced up the vocals, touched up everything, and once I listened back - I definitely felt like that funny, creative, fifth grade Latino kid stuck in rural Minnesota who was dreaming big, would be proud if he heard this today.
It's been a fun journey. I appreciate you joining in on the ride.