Love & Life definitely stands out amongst the current crop of R&B albums, with its unique sound and identifiable homage to classic R&B. On the whole, why do you think R&B music has changed over the years?
For me, what they call R&B right now doesn't even feel so much like R&B. It's more like pop-dance music, really. Songs that are R&B tend to be called either neo-soul or alternative or something like that. For me, what I would like to see infused more into R&B is the way they used to construct the song. I think more often these days, the way a hit R&B song is written is – probably all too often – a producer will make a hot beat, you know. A producer will make a really dope drum groove, and then turn that groove over to somebody and say, "Put a melody on top of that and write the lyrics on it." Sometimes that makes really fun and great music. Sometimes it doesn't.
What do you bring to the genre and how can you and other artists make it whole again?
The way that I like to write – and the method I would like to see more artists use is – creating organic music, where somebody will pick up a guitar, or somebody will sit down at the piano, and actually construct chords and have the melody and chord structure be conceived at the same time. Within the song, there should be a little journey that starts off here and then builds to a climax and, later, comes back down. I think that's how classic R&B music used to be made. You still hear it now, but you just don't hear it as much. I definitely want to hear a little bit more of that.
On Love & Life, the bulk of the production work is handled by Demonte Posey. How did the two of you meet, and in what way does his work elevate your performance?
Demonte is brilliant. He was introduced to me by my cousin George about 14 years ago. He's somebody who has this vast musical vocabulary, chord structure, and musical ideas. I think the reason why our musical marriage works so well is because I have a knack for a concept of a song and a strong melody, and simplifying the melody so that it's a very, very strong and hooky melody. He has this vast chord structure which creates this elaborate bed underneath that simple melody where you don't really realize just how many layers and how complex this little simple song is until you take it apart. I think it just works very nicely together.
Article comments
1 - Monica
Clayton Perry, thank you for this interview. I am an Eric Benet fan so I've read many of his interviews and I can tell you that the majority have no originality or content of substance. The interviewers ask the same questions over and over again. This was a refreshing change. Your questions were original and very interesting. I actually have a new prospective of the man and his music because of this interview. You do great work. I look forward to reading more.
2 - cara
EB is so amazing live!! you have to see his kyte player!
3 - hotmama
Definitely check out his live kyte vids
4 - Honey
Eric Benet is has a contest on his myspace page! Check it out asap!
5 - Linda
Eric's Love and Life CD is best CD to come out in a very long time. On top of that, he's a great person who treats his fans with love where ever he goes. Thank you Eric!! I hope everybody buys one of your t-shirts. They are just great!