Do you see a long-term collaborative effort between you two since you had such chemistry?
I'm terrible, terrible, terrible at holding my attention for a long time. I mean terrible, because I loved working with Babyface – it was the most incredible experience in the studio. He was playing guitar and I was writing over it. There's nothing like it but for some reason, we didn't work together on my second album. I loved working with Ne-Yo. I don't know what's going to happen on my third album. I think my third album is going to have a lot of productions from me, though. I think me and my brother are finally getting out with a dream chance to collaborate and really put a record together, which is our dream.
The deluxe version of Epiphany included a bonus DVD with an intimate interview. During the session, you noted that you felt that your albums were "classic" because they respect classic artists and classic music. When you look at the contemporary music landscape, what elements of classic music do you wish other artists integrate into their work?
I don't want to say what other artists should or shouldn't do because at the end of the day, I really, really appreciate so many different types and styles of music and honesty. The main thing that I want to always see with an artist is honesty. As long as you're doing what's true and honest to you, I'll never knock you. I got everything in my iPod from Soulja Boy to Jill Scott to Jazmine Sullivan to John Legend, all the way to Diana Krall, Third Eye Blind. So I'm the last person to try and figure out how people can fit into things any better. But I'm the first person to talk about being honest and true to who you are in your craft.
As a classically-trained musician with a background of vocal performance, what lessons from your college experience or from your experience in church have shown themselves over and over again in your professional experience?
It's so funny. College and church are truly one and the same sometimes because if you are not on time to a church rehearsal, everybody is going no about it. If you weren't on black and white on Sunday morning, you weren't singing. If you didn't know the words to this song or the other song, everybody's going nobody. At college, you had to come in uniform. You had to be on time to class. You have to know everything on every sheet of music. Otherwise, you ain't going to be on choir no more. One thing I really, really loved about my church upbringing was learning how to be a professional at a very early age. That was being on time, being respectful of people's time, respecting people who are teaching you and understanding that everybody's got something that you can learn from them.
Article comments
1 - Steven
Interesting interview. nice read