by Gina Scarpa

 

This week, on Platinum Hit, the singers/songwriters were tasked with writing a hit song for the dance floor and debuting it for L.A. clubgoers. Karen, whose hook put her in the top three, ended up losing the songwriting challenge. The judges focused on Blessing, wondering why he didn't contribute more of his talent and exerptise to the track and eliminated him from the competition. Today, we spoke to him in an exclusive interview to find out about his experiences on Platinum Hit.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What was your musical background and experience before going on Platinum Hit?
A. Blessing: I took lessons in elementary school, some piano lessons, some sax lessons. I played a lot of gigs. I went to Belmont University for music and here we are.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What made you decide to try out for the show as opposed to other reality shows based around music and talent?
A. Blessing: Well, you know, I think the appeal of Platinum Hit was more so because I consider myself as much a songwriter as I do a singer. I don't like doing covers. I like doing songs I wrote. I wanted to go on a show that celebrated that.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What did you think of the other contestants? Were there any that really impressed you?
A. Blessing: It was a diverse group of people. It was definitely a learning experience. There are people I'm still friends with today and people with whom I disagreed. It opened my mind that not everyone sees music the way I did.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: It didn't seem like everyone was a fan of working in groups on the songs this season. What did you think of it?
A. Blessing: I think I came on the show thinking that we would get to write out own songs and be judged indivdiually. I would've definitely preferred that. You go and go play the game.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: How did you feel about the dance track challenge?
A. Blessing: That was interesting! I don't listen to dance and I have no expereince wtih dance music. I think I approached it like I would approach what I do have experience with. The judges were not feeling me.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: They said they wished you had brought some of your big band experience to the song. Looking back on it, do you agree?
A. Blessing: I would disagrree ferverntly. Given the time we have, given the equipment we have, given the circumsnteaces, there would be no way to do any of that stuff. I decided not to argue with Jewel but we can agree to disagree.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: I know some artistic people on past reality shows have a hard time creating something in such a short period of time. Was that an issue for you?
A. Blessing: Realistically, I don't think the time constraint was the issue. Creativity can't be something you necessarily put under a clock but I do realize there will be instances where you have to write against the clock and that's fine. The part, for me, that I had issue with was more the idea that you are given a topic and you write it and then the topic is judges. Judging whether a song is good or not is up to the millions of people buying or not buying. Art is subjective. You have to let the population decide. It's a game.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What's the biggest thing you learned from being on Platinum Hit?
A. Blessing: I think maybe the biggest thing from being on the show is that you have to be careful what you say when there are cameras around. It can be taken out of context. You have to be on your best behavior.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What are you to now?
A. Blessing: I'm in New York. I live here. I write 24/7, record, demo things, this is my job. The next move would be to do a record, demo songs, play abunch of gigs, and get out there.

 

Platinum Hit airs Mondays at 10/9c on Bravo.

 

(Image courtesy of Bravo)

 

 

Follow Gina @ginascarpa