I am currently a 6th grader at Echo Horizon School in Culver City, California. I was fortunate to meet Arianna Huffington and after we talked she asked me to blog about interests for people my age. So here goes my first blog (I am super excited!):
THIS IS FROM THE ECHO HORIZON SCHOOL NEWSPAPER SPRING ISSUE 2015 WHERE I WROTE THE MUSIC COLUMN:
(Previously I had written an article about Meghan Trainor and her hit song, All About That Bass.)
In last month's edition, I talked about Meghan Trainor, and how she was signed to Epic Records by L.A. Reid, (aka, Antonio Reid). Little did I know, my Dad actually knows him and arranged for me to speak with him. He is a really funny guy. The following is our interview:
Goldberg: How did you get into the music industry?
Reid: I got into the music industry as a musician. At a young age, I started out playing drums, a little piano, violin, and other instruments. I learned to play and then I learned to write songs. Then I became a songwriter and music producer, and that's how I got into the music business.
Goldberg: Why do you like music so much?
Reid: Whenever you find something that you really love, there's a tingling sensation inside, and it makes you excited. Once you have that feeling, you always want that feeling. Music gives me that tingling feeling, and it makes me happy. Whenever I hear music or am around music, it puts me in the world's greatest mood. I like feeling good, and music makes me feel good.
Goldberg: Is it hard to be in the music business?
Reid: Yes. It is very very difficult. But, the music business isn't any more difficult than any other business, and if you love it, then it's not work if you enjoy it. I don't really think I "work" because I love it so much.
Goldberg: What was the first act you ever signed?
Reid: Oh that's a good one. The very first artist I ever signed was an artist named Babyface. That would have been in like, early 1983. And I didn't even have a record label yet, all I had was a band. I asked him to join my band and be one of the singers. That was my first signing, and he became a really big star.
Goldberg: What was the best act you ever signed?
Reid: Ohh, well this will get me in trouble, so I'll need to plead the fifth. They're all my favorites.
Goldberg: How do you know when someone is going to be a big hit or not?
Reid: I don't really know, I only know what I love, and sometimes I'm right, and sometimes I'm wrong. But I've been right more than I've been wrong. But I only know based on what I love.
Goldberg: What's the highlight of your job?
Reid: The highlight of my job is being able to interact with talented people. I not only love music, I also really love talented people. So being able to spend a day with someone like Rihanna, or spend an afternoon with someone like Justin Beiber, or spend a day with someone like Meghan Trainor, that's the highlight of my job. Spending time with talented people.
Goldberg: What's the most irritating part of your job?
Reid: The most irritating part of my job is when I have to meet with people that I'd rather not meet with.
Goldberg: Is there anything you'd like to say in closing?
Reid: I thoroughly enjoyed this interview, and whenever I do an interview with someone, the questions will determine whether I have enjoyed it or not, and I have so much enjoyed answering your questions because you really have hit on the things that matter most to me.