Gaining A Song with Artist Ne-Yo
Wisconsin’s music scene is not something to play with. We’ve been in the shadows for far too long but that hasn’t stopped the hunger of the artists. Kenosha, WI native Caleb Hutchison—artist ILY Truly—is one of many Wisconsin artists who’s had to prove himself to get what he wanted. One is, to release his latest single, “Baby I.” The track features Grammy winner and A-List Celebrity Ne-Yo. It took over eight months to get everyone on board but with his determination, the track dropped on March 5, 2021, with Ne-Yo’s support.
“[Ne-Yo] saw something in me,” said Hutchison. “It’s a blessing.”
So, how did Hutchison get a song with Ne-Yo? Let’s walk through it.
Over a year ago, Hutchison came across some unreleased Ne-Yo vocals and decided he wanted to make a track with them. For months he spent reworking and playing around with the sound to ensure that the track couldn’t be denied. At the same time, Hutchison was also working to get Ne-Yo’s approval.
Getting Baby I perfect to present to Ne-Yo was the only thing on his mind. Hutchison refused to work on other songs until he completed this one. His first step in attacking the track was to study Ne-Yo’s vocals, which were a sample of Tony! Toni! Tone!’s “It Never Rains (In Southern California)”, which is also a sample from the original version by Albert Hammond. As a Ne-Yo fan himself, Hutchison knew he had to be prepared.
“This track is supposed to last a lifetime,” he said.
According to Hutchison, there were times he had to put the music on hold so he could enjoy life. He told himself, “You need to go out and have some fun before you get angry,” and that’s exactly what he did. He went for a walk, which sparked his creative juices.
Ne-Yo Eventually Said Yes
After months of working with three different producers: Chuck Platinum, Music Mystro, and J-Track, Hutchison finally had a complete track. Lucky for Hutchison, Ne-Yo partnered with Madison, WI-based music streaming network LÜM. He contacted LÜM to see if they could put him in touch with Ne-Yo, but they didn’t fully support the idea because of legal issues. Yet this didn’t stop Hutchison. Although Ne-Yo’s team said no, eventually Ne-Yo came around to say yes because he saw how hard Hutchison had been working.
“If you put your heart out there it spreads,” said Hutchison and that’s what he does through his music.
Humble Beginnings
Hutchison comes from a single-family home that was headed by his mother. He grew up with three siblings and commonly experienced homelessness. He gives all the credit to his mother, while also paying homage to his late father, who was also an artist.
Along with releasing a song with a top R&B artist, Hutchison also owns the label “Death Rose Records” where he currently has eight artists signed. He started his career back in 2016 when attending school in Kenosha, and now he’s “bringing light to the area” through pushing positivity in music.
“What we’re doing is passion and love. I want to inspire others because I’m inspired by others,” said Hutchison. “We’re building a positive music movement.”
Although Hutchison eventually got to release the track, he wishes he could’ve met Ne-Yo a different way.
ILY Truly’s “Baby I ft. Ne-Yo” is available on all streaming platforms.
Nyesha Stone founded Carvd N Stone in 2017 to cover positive news while attending the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Stone has a B.A. in Journalism. She has raised over $30,000 to award grants and scholarships. She has also been featured in ESSENCE and worked with the American Black Film Festival.
