Day 2 of The 10th Annual ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO

Bill Withers, Aloe Blacc, Desmond Child, Mali Music, Darrell Brown, Victoria Monet, & Kirby Lauryen Highlight

HOLLYWOOD – MAY 1: Bill Withers speaks at Who He Is (and What is He to You): “I Create Music” Interview with Bill Withers at the 2015 ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO at the Loews Hollywood Hotel on May 1, 2015 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Tonya Wise/PictureGroup)

Friday morning’s ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO began with expert country songwriter Darrell Brown opening the first of his three “Live Multi-Genre Song Feedback” sessions. Many EXPO attendees performed their songs live and got feedback in real time from the audience and from Brown, who has written for Keith Urban, Bon Jovi, LeeAnn Rimes and Faith Hill, among others.

Another morning EXPO highlight was “On The Come Up: Mama We Made It,” featuring rising artists telling their stories.  Kirby Lauryen (“FourFiveSeconds”), Victoria Monet (“We The People”) and Grammy-nominated Mali Music (“Beautiful”) shared candid thoughts on their creative processes and the hard work it took to get where they are.

HOLLYWOOD – MAY 1: From left, Mali Music, Kirby Lauryen, ASCAP Director of Creative Services, Rhythm and Soul/Urban Jonathan Jones, and Victoria Monet attend On the Come Up: Mama We Made It at the 2015 ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO at the Loews Hollywood Hotel on May 1, 2015 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Russ Einhorn/PictureGroup)

One of the most highly anticipated sessions of the conference took place on Friday afternoon when hit songwriter Aloe Blacc interviewed the monumental Bill Withers.  Blacc attended ASCAP EXPO in 2010 specifically to hear Withers speak on another panel.  This time, Blacc was able to talk personally with his inspiration, and the packed Dolby Ballroom was enthralled by a thoughtful conversation with plenty of witty aphorisms from Withers on his life, music and songwriting process.

HOLLYWOOD – MAY 1: Bill Withers, left, and Aloe Blacc attend Who He Is (and What is He to You): “I Create Music” Interview with Bill Withers at the 2015 ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO at the Loews Hollywood Hotel on May 1, 2015 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Tonya Wise/PictureGroup)

HOLLYWOOD – MAY 1: Bonavox perofrms at the ASCAP EXPO Attendee Showcase Presented by Eventbrite at the 2015 ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO at the Loews Hollywood Hotel on May 1, 2015 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Tonya Wise/PictureGroup)