Songwriter And Producer J.M. Dee Reveals What Fuels His Music

From D.C. to Florida, J.M. Dee is proving that raw lyrics and real-life stories come before everything else. Get into his headspace as he breaks down the creative hustle and the deep feelings behind his new acoustic track, “Pretend To Hate.”

1. You traded D.C. for Naples. Does a change in scenery change how you actually find your inspiration?

The reason for this was too fault. My sister had just had her first kid, and my parents were moving down here to support them, and the second reason was Covid. Florida had opened up by this time, and to be honest, we were going a little stir crazy.

Finally, enough, I didn’t realize it at the time, but the move to Florida was really the beginning of when I started taking music seriously in terms of a profession. However, as I was arriving, I was not thinking about that. It was just a new adventure.

2. You’re a songwriter and producer. How do you decide which side takes the lead when creating new music?

I grew up writing poetry; As such, I naturally lean into lyrics first. I take the approach of lyrics first, then typically rhythm, and then fill in the melody. Melody has never been my strong suit, very rarely.

Do I write melody before rhythm? It’s songwriting before production for sure. And I usually write in one of two ways, with my guitar or, in the absence of having any musical instruments at any given moment, I defer to music engraving/notation software.

It’s not necessarily about the process at that point as much as it is about getting the musical idea in some tangible form to dissect and improve upon.

3. What is the one specific sound or instrument that defines your sound?

The simple answer here is I never wanna marry myself to a specific genre. I write what I feel at that moment, and then fit in a style typically after lyrics are finalized, and I have a general idea what the rhythm is gonna be.

4. Does a song usually start with a lyrical hook or a specific beat in your head?

Always with a chorus, even if I don’t have the Hook line in that moment. I’ve always worked that way. I work my way back from the chorus. In terms of verses, I’ve always struggled. And you may wonder why that is? Simply put, choruses are j for rhyming while verses are there to really drive the initial emotion.

I’ve been striving not rhyme when I’m writing a verse, even if it’s tempting to do so, because if I start rhyming, I will go too far, and I fear that the song will lose its power

5. Beyond the melody, what is the most important element for making a track resonate with a listener’s heart?

It’s always the lyrics.

6. How do you push a singer to find the raw emotion a track needs?

In the beginning, when I first started thinking professionally, I would try to guide the vocalists that I use. However, as time went on, I realized I’m not a vocal coach, and I’m not a singer.

I’m constantly reminding myself to give them very few notes. Fortunately, I find singers who need very little guidance.

7. The vocals on “Pretend To Hate” are actually haunting. Who’s the singer, and how did you know she could pull off this story?

Rachael can pull off just about anything. I wouldn’t necessarily call the vocal styling haunting, but she is very talented. This is about the seventh or eighth time we’ve worked together.

8. What’s the idea behind the title? Is it based on a real-life situation?

The song is more about being infatuated with the concept of being in love and not actually being in love. But I mean by that? In hindsight, and even in the moments that led to the song, I thought I was in love with a woman that it turned out, I wasn’t but like I said before I attach myself to the idea of being in love, and yes, there was a professional vibe between us, but I was so dedicated to this notion that I was in love that I let myself go and gave myself to the concept completely.

9. Why did you decide to go with a stripped-back, acoustic sound for this one?

One word. Juxtaposition. At the time of writing, I wanted something. simple to contrast the jumbled and, at the time, confusing, contradictory, and honestly scary and intense emotions I was feeling or thought I was feeling.

I know now that I was completely giving myself over to the concept of being in love, like I said before, and that I wasn’t actually in love, but I still worked through those emotions as if I were; that’s what made it scary and difficult.

Pretending to hate was musically the sense of calm. I thought I needed.

10. Full album soon, or should we just keep an eye out for more singles?

Singles.

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