David "DQ" Quiñones

As a collaborator, songwriter, producer and engineer, David “DQ” Quiñones interjects upbeat energy and technical finesse into the high intensity realm of recording. His patient and positive studio demeanor is reflected in his major contributions to recent songs and projects with Beyoncé, Jason Derülo, Kristinia DeBarge and Pussycat Dolls.
Quiñones’ studio prowess has been utilized on platinum projects with producers including Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, J.R. Rotem, Ryan Tedder, and Midi Mafia among others. As a founding member of The Writing Camp (TWC), the Los Angeles based songwriting and production collective, DQ is an integral part of ongoing collaborations with a forthcoming slate of major artists.

Growing up in the Washington DC suburb of Sterling, Virginia, Quiñones recalls that his earliest musical motives were driven by two decisive factors: “I could sing, and there were a lot of girls in the choir.” At Shenandoah College, he pursued music education and opera studies before enrolling at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he studied engineering and production.

DQ believes that his educational background and experience as a vocalist are invaluable in helping him to coax superb performances from singers as he supports them with energy and enthusiasm. “It feels almost like teaching on a smaller scale with the intimacy that I like. I will stand up and direct or dance in the studio. I feel like I can break the barriers because I can actually sing it and explore the depth of what I want. I give positive feedback – I don’t want singers to get down on themselves. If they get stuck on a part we can always come back to it.”

As a songwriter, Quiñones is proficient in creating all of the integral elements, but he notes that his strongest suit is melody. “Plus tweaking lyrics. I’m always looking for different ways to say the same things. I ask, ‘How can we push the lyric to be less on the nose and a little more clever?’” Among DQ’s recent songwriting credits is the signature song, “Hello” recorded by Beyoncé on her best-selling release I Am… Sasha Fierce.
DQ believes relationships and honesty are keys to his acceptance in the upper echelons of modern music. “I’m genuinely happy for people’s successes. If I don’t like something I’m honest. People can come to me for a true opinion. I believe in surrounding myself with people who are successful, not just professionally, but in life with strong family morale. I love people with a hustle and a hunger who look out for family and friends.”

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Posted on May 03, 2012
  ERIC BELLINGER WRITES SINGLE ON UPCOMING USHER ALBUM LOOKING FOR MYSELF
Posted May 03 2012
The Writing Camp's Eric Bellinger wrote upcoming single Lemme See off Usher's newest album to be out in June 2012. Aside from Lemme See, Bellinger will be involved in additional tracks on the album as well as songwriting for Justin Bieber and Chris Brown in 2012.
 
 
   
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