Noah Kim photo
Stamford musician Furious Stylesz received an email informing him that his song had been selected as one of seven to be played for an award-winning music supervisor. The next night, he caught a train up to the Elm City to see how it would be received.
Stylesz was one of seven Connecticut songwriters given feedback by Linnette Harrigan, a music supervisor, manager, and entrepreneur, at the State House. The critique was the second part of “Pitch my Song!”, a three-part event that also included a Q&A with Harrigan and a live concert performed by five Connecticut musicians
“Pitch My Song” was orchestrated by Marisol Credle, founder of Top Secret Songwriter, an organization that seeks to educate and empower songwriters, teaching them the business side of the music industry and allowing them to network with other artists (those interested can get more information at topsecretsongwriter.com).
Stylesz’s song “My Crown Is My Crown,” a dark, brooding piece of hip-hop, stuck out against the poppy R&B and lo-fi Indie music on the other tracks. With a thick, grumbly flow reminiscent of Biggie Smalls, Stylesz raps:
“Dope shit you should check it
Spend a lot of time stressing
Lot of battles with depression
Asking God-man questions
Good days is a blessing.”
As the song played, Harrington nodded along approvingly.
“My only warning would be that a lot of TV shows won’t play songs with profanity,” she said after the song concluded.
“I’ve got a clean copy,” Stylesz replied.
After Harrigan’s critique, five artists affiliated with Top Secret Songwriter — Ibn Orator, Chloe Belle, Quan Grant, Ro Godwynn and Puma Simone — took the stage one by one to perform a concert. Each of the musicians played one song each.
One of the big hits of the night was “Patience//Talk Time” sung and written by Ro Godwynn, an R&B-inspired musician with a fluttery, angelic voice and a whimsical stage presence. Godwynn writes and produces her own songs and plays with the band Phat Astronaut. She received screams of adulation from the crowd, many of whom had been stunned into silence when she began to sing.
“This was a song about my processing,” she explained after she was finished. “I guess it’s about the way that time can never nurture you or love you.”
Chloe Belle, a young Connecticut musician who Credle found on social media, sang a sharp, snazzy anthem about emotional strength. It was the first time that she had ever performed her own music live.
“This song was written about relationships where the person starts to lean on you emotionally,” she said. “It’s my way of saying, ‘I’m not here to save you; I’m just gonna be here.’”
After their performances, many of the musicians expressed their love and gratitude for Credle and for the organization that she had founded.
“Marisol is my sister,” said Puma Simone. “She’s always been in my corner.”
By the end of the night, Harrigan seemed incredibly impressed, even surprised .
“I loved it all,” she said. “Everything was great, professional, well done. I don’t think enough people know about New Haven.”
The crowd applauded.
“We’re here!” one of the musicians shouted.
