Kelvin "Wu10" Wooten: "Always remain a student of your craft"

Kelvin ‘Wu10’ Wooten, a Grammy-winning producer, has made a significant impact on the music industry through his collaborations with major artists like J Cole, 21 Savage, H.E.R., and Earth, Wind & Fire. This article delves into Wooten's musical journey from his humble beginnings in Huntsville, Alabama, to his current role as a sought-after producer. We explore his early influences, his shift to music production, and the story behind his successful collaboration with J Cole. Wooten also shares his approach to using analog versus digital tools and offers advice for aspiring producers looking to make their mark in the industry.

What got you into music in the first place?

I grew up in Huntsville, Alabama, which was a small city at the time. My first introduction to musical instruments was at church with my mom, where I saw a Hammond B-3 organ, drum sets, guitar, and bass. However, I didn’t have access to play these instruments as a kid.

In middle school, I joined the marching band and started playing the tuba, my first instrument. Although it was an unusual choice for the music I make now, it ignited my passion for music. I enjoyed making music with others in the band and orchestra. I even took my tuba to church, despite it not being a common instrument there. Seeing my passion, the church allowed me to explore other instruments, and I began learning to play by ear at an early age.

In ninth grade, my high school band director, who was a piano player, taught me the basics of music theory and arrangement using the piano. From there, my journey in music took off, and I haven’t looked back since.

What were your musical influences back then?

Growing up going to church, a lot of my musical influence came from gospel music, especially artists like Andraé Crouch, The Winans, and Commissioned. My dad, a former college DJ, also introduced me to jazz and jazz-infused R&B, featuring artists such as The Crusaders, Grover Washington, Nina Simone, and George Benson.

These records piqued my interest because I saw the instruments I was familiar with from church on the album credits. I admired musicians like Joe Sample on keyboards, Grover Washington on saxophone, Nina Simone as a singer, and George Benson on guitar, along with Earl Klugh and Marcus Miller. At that age, I didn't know what a producer was; I was more fascinated by the musicians themselves and aspired to play the instruments like they did.

What caused you to shift your focus towards music production?

The shift began when I started arranging for my high school marching band. My piano instructor taught me about music constructs, harmony, and rhythm, and encouraged me to arrange for the band. This experience introduced me to how instruments work together, leading to my interest in production.

In the early nineties, with the advent of the multi-track cassette recorder, I began recording multiple instruments and experimenting with arrangement. I would play bass guitar, drum machine, and other instruments on a four-track recorder, learning how to layer sounds. My early arrangements were cluttered, but I gradually improved, learning the importance of space in music.

Around the time I graduated high school, I started working with Raphael Saadiq, the lead singer for Tony! Toni! Toné!. He mentored me in music production, teaching me how to make a record sound good by crafting specific parts for each instrument. Working with tape recordings required playing entire songs, which improved my musicianship and understanding of production.