Lee Carr 'Stilettos' album

In 2009 Jive Records' artist Lee Carr will release his first major album featuring his great single "Breathe". MusicRemedy had the opportunity to talk with Lee Carr about the album, his childhood, USA economy, etc...

Jermy Leeuwis (MusicRemedy) asks a question [Q 1]: For people who may not have heard some music from you yet... what can someone who's never heard of you expect from your music?

Lee Carr answers [A 1]: What people can expect from my music is substance, real emotion as well as a overall feel good vibe. For example my new single "BREATHE" its written & produced by me. When I originally wrote the song I felt this way for the girl I was with at the time. Of course being young we broke up like 3 weeks later, lol but it was from my life experience.

[Q 2]: Your upcoming album is your first major album release. Tell us about it.

[A 2]: My Debut album is "My Baby", it took almost 3 years to complete, I was signed previously to another label, however, I continued to record to get to the point I'm at now, which is to put it out in 2009. The album consists of a bunch of different emotions, and vibes, just overall GREAT MUSIC U CAN ENJOY. I have pop songs like 'King & Queen", contemporary songs like "Wonderful" and R&b songs like "Baggage & All", I made up my own genre, I call it Ghetto Euro Pop, 1 of my favorite songs "Lost it all" where I compare losing my girl to losing everything. My favorite line is : I'm like a man wit no job I'm layin on the street and it dont even matter cuz I dont wanna eat lol. I just thought that was so dope..

Lee Carr interview - continued

[Q 3]: Which song on the album took the longest to complete? Why?

[A 3]: I gotta say "Whats it gonna be" took the longest because of all the additions I did to the music, & the way I kept changing the arrangement of the song. It went through at least 13 different versions, so yeah that is hands down the longest song completed.

[Q 4]: In what way has your personal live affected your music? And what about the other way around?

[A 4]: My life has affected my music in a lot of different ways. My music inspired me to write songs whether I'm feelin down or excited, I just sing about it so I'm never lost for words. Also being raised in foster care made me a stronger person, and helped me deal with the ups & downs of the music industry and life. Music has affected my life in the fact that I'm way more busy than I used to be. People are much more critcal of me now, than when I wasn't making music. It has also given me an outlet to set my self up financially so it all works hand in hand I guess.

[Q 5]: "...waiting in the shadows." is a quote from your biography. In what way has this given you the opportunity to take a better/closer look (helicopter-view) at the music-scene and your position in it?

[A 5]: I don't know which line that is your talking about, I got so many drafts of my bio out there Lol. I would say it helped me get my game plan together for the future. I look at the music scene now, there's such a wide open lane for a new artist. You gotta believe the world is waiting for something new it's just human nature. It's so evident, 3 out of the last 4yrs a new male artist has broke in the 4th quarter JOHN LEGEND, NEYO & J HOLIDAY. I just gotta get the proper push to break Lee Carr & push me thru. The 1 thing I know about this industry is that there is always room for TALENTED ARTIST simple as that. As a singer/songwriter/producer & performer, I look at the dreams, John legends & Neyo's of the world, there's always an opening.

[Q 6]: When creating a track, do you have a set theme and pre-written lyrics, or do you start with an idea or the music first?

[A 6]: I never go in the studio with an idea of what I'm gonna make, I just play around & vibe. I havenot written a song on paper since being signed to Def Jam, I usually come up wit a drum pattern and music melody, then immediately go in the booth & sing whatever comes to mind. Thats how 90% of my songs come about, it's very rare I do it any other way. There have been acouple of cases I have had an idea went into the studio & completed it tho.

[Q 7]: You have had a rocky childhood, yet you have managed to be signed to Russell Simmons Label Group when you were just 19-years-old. To what extent has your childhood affected your personal drive for success (credibility)?

[A 7]: I mean it just gave me the strength to push on, my lawyer told me Lee anybody else would have given up. To me music is music, the industry is tough but bouncing around from home to home getting into fights & not knowing where you're gonna live month to month was worse than this. So it gave me a drive to prove to alot of people that I could accomplish something. When you are looked at as a system kid... Thats what people called me, now I can be a voice for kids thats goin thru the same thing at this very moment.

[Q 8]: If I may so, would you trade your music-career (success) for a 'normal' youth?

[A 8]: Neva !!!!!!!! Lol I Wouldnt even think of it. I been normal all my life. Even though my child hood was tough, I wouldnt change it. I worked to damn hard to go back to being quote "Normal". To be honest I wanna live out my dreams & God has given me a gift, and I have a shot to do it.. So that answer is a HELL NO.....

[Q 9]: Any instruments you would like to learn to play on?

[A 9]: I wanna learn how to play guitar & be a real piano player. I can come up with lines & chords to make my beats, but I am no piano player like Brian Mcknight or Alicia Keys lol, so those are the two instruments I would love to learn.

[Q 10]: Do you think success and credibility are mutually exclusive?

[A 10]: Uh I'm not sure how to answer that question I think that with success you gain credibility, but I don't think they're exclusive. You can have one with out the other, you can be successful & people say something else is making you successful, so you dont get the credibility but to be honest I wouldn't care about the credibility as long as I'm successful with my career everything else will fall into place...

[Q 11]: What artists are you listening to at the moment?

[A 11]: I'm listening to Usher confessions album, the new T.I album, The Best of Stevie wonder, Nas It was Written album, Soul 4 real & a Bryan Adams cd I put together. I'm a big fan of his work, I wish he would put out another album. As you can see I have a well-rounded list and gain inspiration from all different backgrounds of music.

[Q 12]: Are you living the American dream? Is it anything you hoped for?

[A 12]: No I'm not!!! I'm just another young man thats been blessed, hopefully on his way to stardom by building from the ground up, who's gone through trials & tribulations and who is now finding himself at the right time.. I know alot of artist are trying to come up, who would love to be in my position, but its much different when you're sitting in the seat. I learned its always better looking from the outside.

[Q 13]: How does the weak US economy affect your daily life? How many houses are for your sale in your street?

[A 13]: It affects my family & a lot of people around me. To see people walking on egg shells not knowing if they're gonna get laid off, it's depressing to me. I wish I had a 100 million dollars to help get my friends & family straight but I dont. There's only one house on my street for sale, actually it got sold last week so its not that bad over here.

[Q 14]: Recently, what is a typical day like for you?

[A 14]: A typical day for me is getting up early hitting the treadmill @ the gym. Then breakfast, checking my emails, myspace, youtube, facebook pages... As you can see my laptop is my life. I usually get on the phone with my management about whats going on, anything positive, any oppurtunities what meetings I have to take, who wants to book me for a show etc. After those calls I hop into the shower then start my travel day, head to the studio & just vibe. See what I can come up with whether it's a song I wanna sell after its completed, or keep it, I never go into my sessions saying what I'm gonna create, I've learned it doesn't usually end that way. If there's an event in the city I usually do a walk thru to show my face, then take my ass home lol, nothing super crazy but things are starting to pick up. I got my first magazine cover plus a few photo shoots lined up this month. The video is on schedule for my new single BREATHE, so its all a day in the life of Lee Carr.

[Q 15]: Final words?

[A 15]: The most rewarding thing about what I do is when I get hit up on myspace or youtube or when I'm outta town doing shows & a fan says to me They love my voice, I'm the next big thing or "Your music saved my marriage or relationship", or made my day. Its crazy to hear because I'm just saying what I felt at the time, not thinking if some one else likes it. I stopped thinking like that once I left Rsmg/Def Jam because it showed me I can't please everybody why not be happy with myself. So when I see the reaction the females have when I come out & start singing live on stage it lets me know this is really gonna work, no matter what a person says to another whether its my record company or critics. Once the public gets it its only a matter of time before the world does. You can fool these music industry execs but you can't fool the public.. So far every city I've performed in, the fans have shown me love with out a video, its a huge blessing & I can't wait to perform in them all. Thats living the dream traveling the world doing something you Love.

I change my statement: I am living the dream! Go vote November 4th (today!)
My new single "BREATHE" is out now check it out.

MusicRemedy, Jermy Leeuwis, would like to thank Lee Carr for doing this interview :-). We hope your album will be as fantastic as your single "Breathe".

Lee Carr biography
Singer/songwriter, Lee Carr, is ready to make his mark. After several years of growing as an artist and perfecting his writing and producing skills, he believes that 2008 will be his breakthrough year. Armed with his nascent talent and tireless spirit the native New Yorker is gearing up to hit the scene running with his eponymous debut.

Writing and producing the majority of the album himself, as well as serving as co-executive producer on the project, the disc is a wonderful introduction to a multi-dimensional artist who has been waiting in the shadows. “Signing with Jive was a real blessing,” says Carr. “There were others that showed interest, but Jive has such an impressive history, how could I say no.”

Currently his laid-back first single “Stilettos” is bubbling on the Billboard charts; it’s obvious he made a wise choice. Co-written by Lee, “Stilettos” is a sassy track that is sure to become a soundtrack for every girl who loves rockin’ her heals and every guy that likes to see a girl in those heels. “Like a supermodel on a runway scene,” he croons over the electro sonic backdrop; as addictive as it is soulful, “Stilettos” is bound to become a summer anthem.

Born and raised in New York, 21-year-old Lee Carr has leapt many personal and professional hurdles before finally landing safely. Beginning with a rocky childhood that found him in foster care from the age of two to more recent battles with labels that didn’t quite believe in his vision, Lee hasn’t exactly had it easy.

“I’ve had all kinds of bad experiences in my younger days,” Lee honestly admits. “I was in the foster care system and various group homes for years. I got into fights with other kids, but I truthfully believe that those troubled times helped make me a stronger person.”

Finding sanctuary in the songs of Stevie Wonder and other rhythmic luminaries, Lee began singing around his aunt’s house when he was fourteen. “At the time I was living with my aunt, and she was the first to encourage me towards a musical direction. Prior to that, I was just into playing basketball and rapping.”

Yet, as he points out on the sizzling R&B tribute song “Radio,” where he shouts out “Mary B. and Luther V.,” music can be a healing force. Lee remembers, “Back in the day, there was a spot on 42nd Street called Soul Café, and they had a singing contest every week where the winner got $300. I thought I would go in and win on the first night, but it wasn’t that easy.”

Returning to his aunt’s crib somewhat disappointed, Lee just kept singing in the bathroom mirror and practicing his dance steps. Finally, belting Blackstreet’s classic “Before I Let Go,” the young singer finally won. Smiling at the memory, Carr explains, “It took me five times to get the first-place prize, but after that there was no looking back.”

Afterward, Lee’s talents also secured him a slot on Showtime at the Apollo, where he performed the Stevie Wonder hit ‘That Girl.’ Smiling, Lee recalls, “I discovered Stevie late in the game, but once I was exposed, I couldn’t get enough.” Also citing Dave Hollister and Hi-Five’s late Tony Thompson as influences, Lee has shaped his album, with a series of beautiful love songs, which resonate with a pop freshness.

“After I won the contest at Soul Café, I did lots of shows and met with a lot of people, but I also knew I had to focus more on my songwriting skills.” Disappearing from the scene for nine-months, Lee started filling notebooks with ideas and lyrics as well as recording with various aspiring producers. “I knew that if I wanted to be considered serious, that I had to bring some slamming material to the table.”

Briefly signed to the now defunct Russell Simmons Music Group in 2006, Lee’s one released song for the label was “Act Like You Know,” from the Waist Deep soundtrack. “Russell loved me, but when the label folded I was caught-up in a kind of limbo over at Universal,” says Lee.

Now, Lee is more determined to be 2008’s breakout R&B man; and without a doubt, that “shooting for the stars” resolve can be heard in his records. From the player swagger of the surefire club hit “What’s It Gonna Be,” the synth seduction of “She’s A Keeper” and the sexy, slow dance groover that is “Breathe,” Lee Carr has only just begun winning our hearts.

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Lee Carr - Stilettos