Serious Songwriter: Ty McKinnie
Ty McKinnie
Location:
Brooklyn, New York, USA
Tell us about yourself:
I am a Black Gay American singer-songwriter dude from Atlanta, Georgia. I studied Film in College and went to Grad School at NYU so I could learn how not get screwed by the Music Industry haha. I love breakfast food and dogs.
Name of your most recent release:
Why are you a songwriter?
It all started with this Canadian TV show named Instant Star. It was on The N the same network Degrassi ran on, the show that made Drake famous. The show was about a girl who won an American Idol type contest and instantly becomes famous. The character played by Alexz Johnson (a singer-songwriter in her own right) would make a song every episode about what was going on in her life and it was UBER inspiring. The show is what made me want to pick up guitar and do exactly what she did.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Performing at Rockwood Music Hall 3 times in 1 year. When I first moved to NYC, I caught a show at Rockwood’s stage 1 and fell in love with the venue. That night I made a vow to myself that I would perform there one day. Fast forward 3 years from that year and I did that, including a Holiday Benefit Concert for the Immigrant Families Together foundation. That was a good night.
Share the most interesting writing experience you ever had:
The most interesting writing experience I’ve had was actually with Songathon. I’ve never written with anyone I didn't completely know before so being randomly assigned to two strangers was quite scary. I can get kinda territorial over songwriting since it comes from a vulnerable place. However writing with Amira B and Jesse Jacobson was so easy. We literally assessed how we would tackle the writing prompt and within an hour we had our song down. It was sooooo weird to feel finished with a song that fast and actually LIKE it. We ended up winning 1st place too! I’ve become more open to random writing sessions ever since.
What makes you unique as a songwriter?
To be honest I don’t really know but my colleagues and friends have said that my songs are super relatable. The topics I choose to write about I feel folks can draw on any experience in their life to sort of meet me where I am in the song.
If you could write with anyone (dead or alive) who would it be and why?
Diane Warren. That woman has written and still writes the best ballads in history.
How can the Serious Songwriter community help you?
The Serious Songwriter Community can definitely connect me with some other dope writers around the world. I'm always down to meet new people.
What can you help the Serious Songwriter community with?
I'm that person who's like "Yo lets talk about our deep feelings and shit the first time we meet." So if you want to go "there" with writing or in casual chit-chat, I'm your guy.
Fun fact about you:
I have two different ears.