Since this cover album stands as a bridge to your second original album, what are your expectations for Let's Do It Again, since it's a one-off project?
I would love to see it do really well. That would be a blessing. I guess you expect the unexpected – that's the best way to go about life.
From the early reviews and positive buzz, I think the album will fare very well. You and I know that a new artist's take on classic material can be risky business, but you did a great job across-the-board. Did you have any fear of touching some of the better-known tracks?
Not necessarily fear. I wanted to pay homage to a lot of artists that I felt like deserved it. It's a way of reintroducing their music to a new generation of listeners. My whole thing was to make sure that we did it tastefully and that it will be received in a manner that people will say, "Well, I can respect that," and not, "What are you doing? You wrecked the record." I really wanted to do the Phyllis Hyman and Angela Bofill records, because I felt that both of those artists were really underrated in their day. This is my way of paying homage to them and keeping them around and alive. I can kind of relate, being an artist and a singer. Sometimes you feel like people don't give you credit – I feel like Phyllis is one of those artists, and Angela as well. I wanted to say, "I know who you are and I respect what you did so here's your music. It's out again."
Well, your fans are extremely loyal, and they love you to death.
I love them right back, honestly, I do.
How did you go about picking the tracks for this particular album?
I just picked songs that I had heard growing up. These were the songs that I was a fan of, songs by artists that I felt I and the band can execute well and would be good for the new audience of listeners to hear. I also picked songs that would not be expected of me to do – like there's a track on there by Foreigner, "I Want To Know What Love Is." I felt like no one would probably expect me to do a record like that. Even the likes of the Rolling Stones' "Miss You." I'm a lover of music, all kinds of music, whether its rock 'n' roll, country, blues, whatever. I kind of wanted to show that. I want to put out there the diversity in my vocal range and musical taste. I picked records that open people up to who I am.
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