When I set out to write a musical based on my published children’s picture book, “It’ll be Irie” I wanted to truly capture the essence of the story, which is about a boy who learns the hard way that it’s always better to be himself than to try to be something he’s not in order to have others like him.

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At the same time, I wanted to use my book as a spring board for expanding upon the story and characters. I was delighted to discover and develop the idiosyncrasies of each character as they began to speak to me during writing sessions and offered such interesting details about themselves.

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Secondly, I wanted both the text and the songs to collectively be entertaining and funny while also being poignant and heartfelt. I want audience members, both children and adults alike, to laugh and be emotionally moved to not only empathize with Raymond, but to also perhaps inspired afterwards to reflect upon their own life journey towards self-actualization and perhaps feel more encouraged to be genuine.

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Remembering the many wonderful Broadway musicals I saw growing up in New York in the 1980’s, including "Annie" and "City of Angels" I sought to create within my musical the same qualities of excitement and epic grandness I experienced watching these amazing productions. There are lyrics and melodies from those shows’ songs that I still remember to this day and my goal for my own songs are similar in creating catchy hooks and great melodies.

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Each of the show's twelve songs evolved individually and organically, only eventually revealing to me its genre. There are songs written in the styles of reggae, power pop, jazz and rock as well as more traditional-sounding songs that have orchestral composition such as ballads. For the latter, I owe my inspiration to two beloved sources: the classic cartoons of the 1930's and 40's that often animated shows to famous classical pieces and the many brilliant film scores written by maestro of the movies, Sir John Williams. 

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It has been such a magical experience being the vehicle for this musical! On a personal level, it has caused me to feel even more gratitude and appreciation for my own cultural roots as the son of Jamaican immigrants; while working on it,

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I have a positive impact on children around the world as well as inspire the inner child residing within every adult to find the courage to always authentically express themselves.