John Legend is really cool though and down to earth. He spoke about his music, his girlfriend (vaguely), and other random things. And get this ladies, he said he could throw down in the kitchen! Too bad he’s taken!
Unfortunately, I didn’t get to ask him all the questions that everyone posted, due to the time constraints. Not to mention, my recorder was messing up left and right. It started cutting on & off during the interview. Time for an upgrade!
Anyway, 98% of the audio portion of the interview is provided via the link above, but if you want to know what didn’t get recorded, make sure you read the transcript below.
Shout out to WIREDSET for setting up another great interview!
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Angel: Hi John
John Legend: How you doing?
A: I’m doing pretty Good. If it’s ok with you, I’m gonna get right into the questions.
John: Ok, cool…
A: First up, you know we have to talk about that new album that hit stores yesterday. I was listening to it all yesterday, and it definitely has a different vibe from your first one. Were your influences different this time around?
J: Yeah I think so; I think there was a wider range of influences. It still has some of that hip-hop soul flavor, but I think it has a little less of it and a mixture of a wider range of things this time. From classic soul to hip-hop – to classic pop and rock, to an indie kind of alternative vibe. Then a little bit of Jazz and bosanova too. So I think it’s more eclectic.
A: My two favorite tracks so far are “Show Me” and “Again” And you actually performed “Again” on Def Poetry last year, because I remember that.
J: Yeah, that was the first song I wrote for this album and I wrote it back in early 2005. And I knew that was going to be an important song for the album. Because I think it’s one of my favorites.
A: So what influenced “Show Me”?
J: “Show Me” is just a conversation with God, it’s just talking about a lot of questions that I think a lot of people have for God. It’s really heartfelt and I really think it’s important that we ask those kinds of questions. The arrangement also, is one of the things I love about it. The vibe of the guitar, the production that Raphaal Sadiq did on it; I think is incredible.
A: It definitely has an indie feel to it, I think..
J: Yeah, because all the producers I work with are known for doing hip-hop and soul. And we did things that were outside of what people expect us to do.
A: You were on Oprah a few weeks back, and performed Heaven. Is that your next single?
J: Yes, the video is done and it will be premiering on Access Granted on BET, and should be premiering tomorrow (10/26).
A: A couple of my readers wanted to ask you some questions, so I’m going to read some of their questions from off here.
J: Ok, no problem.
A: You’re an artist that has had mainstream success but your music is not really what is considered “mainstream” today, do you feel that you have to sacrifice some of your creativity to obtain and keep that success this time around?
J: Naw, I feel like I’ve been able to do what I wanted creatively. I think what I try to do is make music that is mainstream, without conforming to the mainstream. Music that is successful, without trying to follow everyone else that is successful. And I think I’ve been able to strike that balance. And the thing is, even if you write great songs, even if you don’t produce it or arrange it like other people do. People are going to relate to it, they are going to grab onto it. And I think that was what my goal has always been was to write great songs. And my production is different. I think that is sounds unique. I like that when you heard a John Legend record, it’s not going to sound like everyone else’s record
A: Since the industry is saturated with mainstream stuff that all sounds the same, what advice would you give an up and coming artist who doesn’t fit into the mainstream mold?
J: The songs, the songs are the most important things. Songwriting is the most lacking thing in music right now, because there are not a lot of great songwriters out right now. When I talk about songwriting, I’m talking about melody. I’m talking about great hooks. I’m talking about great lyrics that are witty and tell a good story. I think that there is very little of that right now, especially in R&B. I think Ne-Yo is one of the few people that I actually think is writing good songs on a consistent basis. Right now, on a R&B basis.
A: One of my readers wanted to know why “Freak Out’ a song you performed on tour last year, wasn’t on your album where she could go to purchase it..
J: I dunno, I just kinda made a decision that it didn’t fit exactly on the album. But I still love the song; I think I’m just going to use it for like a movie soundtrack. Because I don’t know if I’m going to do an album where it’s going to fit exactly.
A: On your debut album, you released a song with your family, entitled “It don’t have to change” And one of my readers wanted to know if you are your family were going to release a full-length album anytime soon.
J: I would love to. I talked with them about that. It’s not an immediate thing I’m doing right now, but I think in the future we will do that. We’ll probably do a gospel album together.
A: We heard that you are going to be in a movie with Mos Def. So what is the movie about, and what is your character like?
J: It’s called Stringbean & Marcus. String beans you know, like the string beans you eat. And Mos is the lead role, and I’m like the 4th lead. And the movie is based in Philly, in a neighborhood called Germantown. The neighborhood has a lot of former black panthers in it and it’s 10 years after the height of the Black Panther movement and it’s really highlighting the lives of the black panthers after the movement.
A: Here are some random questions that I put together. What do you bump on your i-Pod or in your car stereo?
J: I bump everything from Jay-Z to The Beatles, Stevie Wonder to Marvin Gaye to Jeff Buckley to Fiona Apple. Just to name a few….Lauryn Hill.
A: Very eclectic.
A: Do you play any other instruments besides the piano?
J: Naw, just the piano..
A: Can you cook?
J: Hell yeah I can cook! [laughs].. I got a few dishes I can do like Macaroni & Cheese, like old school macaroni and cheese. Fried chicken, cornbread. I got a chicken stew too.
A: You make that homemade mac & cheese not that box stuff right?
J: Yeah, homemade. I got my own little recipe; it’s guaranteed to win. [laughs]
A: Who do you think is the best female vocalist? Recent or otherwise?
J: Currently, I’m really loving what Beyonce is doing vocally. I think she even stepped her game up beyond the first album. Just as a vocalist, if that’s what you’re talking about. There is a singer from Montreal called Feist who I really like. Her voice is different; she is more like an alternative artist. But she has this dope really interesting voice. Who else do I like? Um, Kim Burrell…crazy. Those are a few people, they are all different, but they are exceptionally good vocalist. And then from the past, Aretha takes the case.
A: Oh, of course. um..What about a male vocalist?
J: Um, right now? Let me think about that [laughs] I always thought Carl Thomas was one of the dopest, like current true singers. I love Anthony Hamilton’s voice. It’s got like grit to it, like a soul to it, that a lot of artist don’t have.
A: What do you do to relax?
J: I like to read, listen to music, chill with my girlfriend, eat..
A: What do you like to read?
J: I read a lot of current events, a lot of non-fiction. I don’t really read novels. I did that in college. Now, I like to read about stuff that actually happens. I like to learn stuff when I read.
A: What t.v. shows do you watch?
J: I watch The Daily Show, I watch Bill Mahar’s show. Dave Chappelle, I like a lot of comedy
A: Do you check out gossip blogs?
J: No, not really. But my girl reads gawker.com, so I check that out from time to time.
A: You need to check out Concreteloop.com sometime. [laughs]
J: I will, I will…..
A: You were recently on Real Time with Bill Maher and that’s a political based show, so what are some of your political standpoints?
J: One of the things we were talking about that day, was the surveillance issue with the government and how they are kinda trampling over the constitution right now. There are a lot of things I care about. I didn’t think the war was a good idea, and I’ve always been vocal about that. There is a lot of things, we could have a whole ‘nother interview about that.
A: Ok, since my time is almost up.. Since you been talking about your girlfriend in the interview.. I heard she was a model. Who is she and how long have you guys been dating?
J: She’s a model. We’ve been dating for a few months now and there is no need to talk about names…
A: Thank you John!
J: Ok, no problem. Yall make sure yall get that album Once Again in stores now!
