Today we’d like to introduce you to BJ Shirley and Helena Henderson.
So, before we jump into specific questions about your music, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
We met in 2007 while producing and writing music for up and coming artists under a local production company in St. Louis. We were both young, talented and found ourselves invited to some of the same writing sessions. Chemistry is everything when creating music, learning who you mesh with. Throughout the years, our love for and similar style of music as a Producer and Songwriter is what kept us together.
In 2015, we decided to combine our talents and start Maliredd Music. Our focus is to help artist develop their own and unique sound. We started our journey in St. Louis, and we are excited to introduce Maliredd Music to the Atlanta Music Scene.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
We knew from the very beginning, to achieve our goals, we needed a bigger music scene. As talented as we were, St. Louis didn’t compare to larger markets like Atlanta, LA, or Nashville. For a producer and songwriter, it was an uphill climb to find an artist that understood the business and we’re serious about working together. You’re in a market with no major label, and as a result, you have a lot of independent artists with no budget. You end up spending hours in a studio working for free on records that never go anywhere. Not because of a lack of talent, but a lack of resources.
For me (Henne) as a woman in a male-dominated industry, there’s always been this stigma of respecting women in creative music spaces. It’s been a challenge cultivating relationships with people that respect your craft, but I refused to dim my light or code-switch in spaces I simply to come to work.
This is why it’s been a focal point for us to connect with the right people. As a Producer (BjxMaliredd), you’re going to meet a lot of people in this industry that are selling dreams. We’ve both had to learn how to navigate through that and know every invitation isn’t an opportunity. Moving to Atlanta, we had to unlearn a lot of things we thought we knew about the industry, coming from a smaller city.
Can you give our readers some background on your music?
Here at Maliredd Music, we specialize in everything from Music Production and Songwriting to Vocal Arrangement. We’re most known for our versatility in styles of Hip-Hop, R&B, and Urban Pop. Musically, our melodies and out of the box concepts keeps us booked and busy.
In 2019, we relocated as a team to Atlanta, GA. Our reputation followed us along the way. We’ve connected with some of the top industry talents since being in Atlanta. We’ve had the pleasure to create music with Grammy-Nominated Songwriters, Producers and Engineers.
We set to release Henne’s second single “Purple Skies” early December.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
When I (Henne) first began my journey in St Louis, it was Rosslynn Gunn, who introduced me to the “Beastaz.” Who is most known for their record “Chang Hang Low” by artist Jibbs? They pushed me to pursue my raw talent as a songwriter. It was through them I met BJ and built my confidence as a songwriter.
I (BjxMaliredd) come from a family of musicians. It was my cousin Playboi who first introduced me to beat making software like FL Studio at 18. It was when I met Brad Young, a local Producer and Artists, that I learned to be more versatile with my sound. We’ve made a lot of connections as a team, but it was Bill C Da Don and Nate Moman who went out of their way to give us the room and space to create. They gave us full access to their studio (OMG Studios) during our time in St. Louis.
As we continue to build as a team, we must thank Asia Clayborne for guiding us along the way. When we started Maliredd Music, we didn’t know much about running a business. Asia helped us fully cultivate our vision as a brand. Her overall business acumen helped us to grow and expand our efforts here in Atlanta.
Contact Info:
- Website: Malireddmusic.com
- Email: malireddmusic@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maliredd.music
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