Savan Kotecha

And after, you know, then he kept talking to me and he was like, listen, kid, you're not the greatest singer. If that's you singing on the tape. And he was like, that's not the only problem. He was like, I could tell by your name, you're different ethnicity. I was like, yeah. He was like, you know, look, I'm a black American. So I'm saying this with utmost respect. I just want to be real with you.

And after, you know, then he kept talking to me and he was like, listen, kid, you're not the greatest singer. If that's you singing on the tape. And he was like, that's not the only problem. He was like, I could tell by your name, you're different ethnicity. I was like, yeah. He was like, you know, look, I'm a black American. So I'm saying this with utmost respect. I just want to be real with you.

And he was like, you mind telling me what ethnicity you are? I said, I'm Indian. He goes, well, listen, kid, no girl in Wisconsin is going to put an Indian guy on her wall. You should just be a songwriter. And I was like, oh. And it sort of stuck with me. I ended up doing the $3,000 thing, getting ripped off. But I realized during that time, like, oh, I should just be a songwriter.

And he was like, you mind telling me what ethnicity you are? I said, I'm Indian. He goes, well, listen, kid, no girl in Wisconsin is going to put an Indian guy on her wall. You should just be a songwriter. And I was like, oh. And it sort of stuck with me. I ended up doing the $3,000 thing, getting ripped off. But I realized during that time, like, oh, I should just be a songwriter.

And he was like, you mind telling me what ethnicity you are? I said, I'm Indian. He goes, well, listen, kid, no girl in Wisconsin is going to put an Indian guy on her wall. You should just be a songwriter. And I was like, oh. And it sort of stuck with me. I ended up doing the $3,000 thing, getting ripped off. But I realized during that time, like, oh, I should just be a songwriter.

And yeah, weirdly, when I did that showcase, even though I got ripped off, and the Jive Records guy stayed in touch with me, you know, he, during the Millennium album, actually called me again and said, look, if you can get that song back, I'd love to try it with them. I have this other song called I Need You Tonight, and I can replace it with your song if you can get it back.

And yeah, weirdly, when I did that showcase, even though I got ripped off, and the Jive Records guy stayed in touch with me, you know, he, during the Millennium album, actually called me again and said, look, if you can get that song back, I'd love to try it with them. I have this other song called I Need You Tonight, and I can replace it with your song if you can get it back.

And yeah, weirdly, when I did that showcase, even though I got ripped off, and the Jive Records guy stayed in touch with me, you know, he, during the Millennium album, actually called me again and said, look, if you can get that song back, I'd love to try it with them. I have this other song called I Need You Tonight, and I can replace it with your song if you can get it back.

And I couldn't get it back because the guy ripped me off and disappeared, right? But during that showcase that I did, a manager saw me and said, actually, you're really talented. I like your songs. I'm going to send it to, you know, if you're ever in New York, I'm going to introduce you to this lawyer in New York. And I luckily, like a year later, had this cousin that

And I couldn't get it back because the guy ripped me off and disappeared, right? But during that showcase that I did, a manager saw me and said, actually, you're really talented. I like your songs. I'm going to send it to, you know, if you're ever in New York, I'm going to introduce you to this lawyer in New York. And I luckily, like a year later, had this cousin that

And I couldn't get it back because the guy ripped me off and disappeared, right? But during that showcase that I did, a manager saw me and said, actually, you're really talented. I like your songs. I'm going to send it to, you know, if you're ever in New York, I'm going to introduce you to this lawyer in New York. And I luckily, like a year later, had this cousin that

got transferred to New York from the UK, and I asked my parents, can I go visit my cousin? And my ulterior motive was to go to New York and meet this lawyer. And they said yes, and I went and visited my cousin. And I stayed at his place, but I went and I met this lawyer who hooked me up with a lot of publishers. My last meeting, everyone rejected me.

got transferred to New York from the UK, and I asked my parents, can I go visit my cousin? And my ulterior motive was to go to New York and meet this lawyer. And they said yes, and I went and visited my cousin. And I stayed at his place, but I went and I met this lawyer who hooked me up with a lot of publishers. My last meeting, everyone rejected me.

got transferred to New York from the UK, and I asked my parents, can I go visit my cousin? And my ulterior motive was to go to New York and meet this lawyer. And they said yes, and I went and visited my cousin. And I stayed at his place, but I went and I met this lawyer who hooked me up with a lot of publishers. My last meeting, everyone rejected me.

Everyone was like, no, your songs aren't good enough, or your demos aren't more professional enough. And this one guy, Clyde Lieberman, at the old BMG Publishing, was like, I hear something in this. Let me send it to a new guy we hired in LA, a guy named Benjamin Groff. And he goes, let me see what he thinks. And then eventually they signed me.

Everyone was like, no, your songs aren't good enough, or your demos aren't more professional enough. And this one guy, Clyde Lieberman, at the old BMG Publishing, was like, I hear something in this. Let me send it to a new guy we hired in LA, a guy named Benjamin Groff. And he goes, let me see what he thinks. And then eventually they signed me.

Everyone was like, no, your songs aren't good enough, or your demos aren't more professional enough. And this one guy, Clyde Lieberman, at the old BMG Publishing, was like, I hear something in this. Let me send it to a new guy we hired in LA, a guy named Benjamin Groff. And he goes, let me see what he thinks. And then eventually they signed me.

Yeah. So that was the short version, short and long version of the story.

Yeah. So that was the short version, short and long version of the story.

Yeah. So that was the short version, short and long version of the story.