Singer, songwriter, actress, record producer, entrepreneur, and pop icon Mariah Carey will teach a masterclass on how to use voice as an instrument.
Carey has joined the likes of Issa Rae and Alicia Keys in offering a masterclass on the streaming platform where anyone can learn from the world’s best across a wide range of subjects.
Carey will bring members into her Butterfly Lounge, her mobile studio, to demonstrate how they can use their voices to sing and compose melodies, lyrics, and instrumentation that combine genres and break barriers.
Masterclass Members will be the first to hear the reimagined version of “The Roof” with award-winning artist Brandy and see Carey in action as she directs Brandy on background vocals. Carey’s class is now available exclusively on MasterClass, where subscribers receive unlimited access to all 150+ instructors.
“Mariah is simply a genius. She’s one of the greatest artists of all time,” said David Rogier, founder and CEO of MasterClass. “In her class, Mariah is opening up her studio for the first time ever, teaching members how to use their voice throughout the music-making process, including in the studio and while navigating the industry.”
In her class, Carey reveals how the voice can be used as an instrument on its own and how it can be an extension of the pen as a writer, making it possible for anyone to be a music producer. Carey will provide an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at her music-making process, from communicating melodies to a string ensemble to turning personal stories into iconic soundtracks.
In addition to reimagining her beloved hit “The Roof” with Brandy, Carey will discuss the importance of background vocals in music and how to construct a song with a choir of voices versus a wall of sound.
Carey will teach members how to use their personal experiences as inspiration for writing music and telling a story. Sharing how Mobb Deep’s “Shook Ones Part II” inspired her writing on “The Roof,” she will show members how to listen beyond genres and use samples as building blocks. Carey will also reflect on the challenges she faced in the music industry and provide tips for navigating the industry and maintaining creative control. Members will leave the class inspired to find their own voice, whether that means advocating for their own creative desires or honing it as an instrument.
“I’ve never let cameras in when I am creating—not when I’m writing, and especially not when I’m singing,” Carey said. “But now I’m taking MasterClass members into my studio to show them how they can write and produce music using their voice and become anything they want to be as long as they create, re-create, reimagine and reinvent.”