Rodney Jerkins: ‘We have to understand: without the song, there is no artist.’ There is very little room for doubt in Rodney Jerkins’ life. Never has been: “From the age of 10, I knew exactly what I was going to do; didn’t even consider anything else.” His phrasing, as you’d expect from a man who has written some of the greatest (and biggest) R&B/pop hits in the last 25 years, is well chosen: “what I was going to do” – not the wishy-washy, mere mortal “wanted to do”. There was a different type of certainly about music throughout Jerkins’ childhood: the definite
artists including Mary J. Blige, Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, Madonna, Brandy, Sam Smith, Jennifer Lopez, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton, Janet Jackson, Destiny’s Child and The Spice Girls. And the certainty remains. “I bet on myself. And if that means a whole year you’re not in the charts or a whole year you’re not on the radio, well that’s the risk, that’s the bet – but you carry on believing. Stay disciplined, stay focused on your craft and there will be huge rewards. There is no multiple that compares to the
“I BET ON MYSELF. IF YOU’RE NOT IN THE CHARTS OR ON THE RADIO FOR A WHOLE YEAR, THAT’S THE RISK, THAT’S THE BET – BUT YOU CARRY ON BELIEVING.” divide between what could be listened to at home, and what he was discovering on the sly. “Secular music was forbidden in our house, so at nine or ten, I would have to sneak out to listen to other music: Michael Jackson, The Beatles, Earth Wind & Fire, The Bee Gees, and then the whole New Jack Swing era, all the stuff produced by Teddy Riley, those were the records and artists that inspired me. At home the only two artists I listened to were [contemporary gospel artists] The Winans and Commissioned.” The spirituality behind one and the stature of another laid down the twin tracks of Jerkins’ future life and career, one that has seen him write for and with
multiples that I’ve received when I’ve bet on myself.” How did you set about making that belief you had as a 10 yearold into a reality? It started to happen when I was about 14 and I had an opportunity to play my music for Teddy Riley. At that time Teddy Riley was probably the hottest producer in the States. I got this opportunity to play him my music and he really liked it; hearing him say that gave me the extra push to pursue it. How did that opportunity come about? There was a local band in New Jersey, I had written and 79
