Mentor Spotlight: Meet Swagg R'Celious

Swagg joined us at Songathon in May, 2019 in NYC for a Q&A session.

David 'Swagg R'Celious' Harris is a Grammy winning songwriter/producer/vocalist, who is signed to Sony/ATV. He’s worked with some incredible artists, including Baby Face, American Authors, H.E.R., Wale, Alicia Keys, Neyo, Brandy, Kehlani, K. Michelle, Gabi Wilson, Elle Varner, Busta Rhymes, Coko of SWV, B.O.B. He also founded Progressive Musik Group, an independently owned New York based production and artist development company.

Swagg is currently nominated for Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best R&B Song at the 62nd Grammy’s for his work with H.E.R.

He joined us at Songathon in May 2019 in New York City to share some of his career insight and approach to songwriting. Here are some takeaways from his Q&A session at Songathon this past May:

What’s your approach to co-writing with strangers:

“Co-writing starts with a conversation..I never force the creative process. I make sure everyone in the room knows they can be comfortable with me and I’ll be comfortable with you and I respect you. Let’s chat a little bit and see what happens - that’s my process.”

How did you meet H.E.R and what’s your process like working together?

“I met H.E.R. through her management when she was 13. I had interned for the management company when I had first moved to New York. I engineered her first session when she came to New York. We just clicked and she became like a little sister to me immediately. It really became a big brother little sister kind of relationship.”

Can you tell us more about Progressive Musik Group and how that came to be?

“I’ve always been fascinated by the business as a whole and wanted to be more than a producer and a songwriter, but also to identify and help develop talent. It started as Subzero Entertainment with me and my brother and that developed into us doing musical direction and production for artists. He continued the music production part of it and developed Spectrum Entertainment - so he split off, but we still work together very closely. I just always wanted to push culture and music.”

Is there a specific way that you approach your career that you think led to your success?

“I go in with an open mind - I try not to get stuck in a certain way of doing things. I find myself more creative if I start differently. Of course, we are creatures of habit, so when you go in you have to fight that urge. I try to mix it up, sometimes it’s concepts, sometimes I start with the lyrics and not the track….sometimes I make the track first, and then the lyrics. I let the creativity flow versus trying to control it…then I go back and try to refine it.”

Any advice for songwriters looking for record/publishing deals?

“First and foremost, write great songs. If you’re doing it right, they will find you. Trust me, everyone wants to be in business with a winner. Don’t be afraid to collaborate with your local community/artists.”