Terence Rodgers
Music Technology Major
It was the summer of 2008 when I first heard Gnarls Barkley’s song “Going On”, on MTV Jams. From the opening of the song I was automatically tuned in. What I was doing at that moment did not even matter because the sound that I was hearing was very new, something I have never heard before and it intrigued me, it sounded like nothing on the radio. The sound of the drums, the lyrical content, and the vocal harmonies took me on a journey or something like a psychedelic high. That same summer I heard the soulful Motown horns from the rebellious songbird Solange Knowles’ “Dancing in the Dark” and Janelle Monae’s deliciously refreshing funky alternative rock/soul tune “Many Moons”. During that summer, I knew for sure that I wanted to be apart of creating music, I felt like I had something to say to the world.
I grew up in East Orange , New Jersey . This is the place I call home because I feel like I have learned so much from growing up there. I have seen the dark gritty part of life there, the glittery, shiny beautiful part and everything in between. And through it all, besides my family the only thing that has held this beautiful train wreck together was music. I remember being in elementary and middle school writing songs in one of my many songwriting notebooks, reciting them quietly in my room so no one would hear me. When I look back on it I can not believe I was showing my love for music and songwriting at such a young age, but that was my outlet for expressing myself, and getting over my obstacles.
Growing up for me was bittersweet, like most families in urban communities, I grew up in a single-parent household without my father. One of the most prominent things I remember about my childhood was seeing what I call “the struggle”.To imagine“the struggle” picture your Mom doing all she can and giving it all she has to see you smile, seeing your Mom waking up in the morning to work to help support you, and then seeing her come home cook, clean and do it all over again the next day. Seeing all of that instilled in me that I had to make it, not only for myself but for my family too.
Aftert that go-getter mentality was instiled in me,and I knew exactly what I wanted to “go get”, which was music, I started to sketch out what I wanted to do with music. I always knew that I liked what words could do over some good music, so I knew one of my main goals was to make it as a songwriter in the music industry. I wanted to create my own “sound”, so I began to dream of becoming a music producer also, creating lyrics and music that was capable of taking my listners away from reality for awhile, all while educating and inspiring my listners. That is why I am here at Bloomfield College getting the knowledge to make my dreams happen. I think being inducted into the CAT Program for Music-Technology is my stepping stone to get to where I want to be, I do not want this because being apart of the music industry is the latest trend, but because I feel I need this so I could be the voice in music for people like me.
