Usher apare pe cel mai nou numar al revistei Billboard cu o coroana pe cap si povesteste de ce a ales sa amane lansarea noului sau album si cum se descurca crescandu-s copiii intr-un business care nu ii lasa prea mult timp liber.

In cei douazeci de ani de cariera, Usher a vandut aproape 24 de milioane de discuri numai in SUA, are in palmares opt premii Grammy si cel mai bine vandut disc al anilor 2000, Confessions. Pe langa toate acestea, a fost jurat in emisiunea The Voice pentru doua sezoane, a jucat intr-un film, pe Broadway si la fel ca orice alta vedeta are propriul sau parfum si actiuni intr-o echipa de baschet. Pe langa asta, il putem invinovati sau felicita pentru ca l-a descoperit si promovat pe nimeni altul decat Justin Bieber.

Intrebat despre protejatul sau, Usher a declarat ca il sustine, chiar daca nu este de acord cu ceea ce pustiul face:

Our relationship is more man-to-man now, he says. He’s making his own decisions and it’s important to show support. I can say I\’m not happy with all the choices my friend has made, but I\’m supportive of him. I try my hardest to give as much positive reinforcement as I can. I\’ll punch him in the f–ing chest when I need to, and give him a hug and kiss when I need to. It’s more than just mentoring. I love the kid.

Usher are in continuare o relatie foarte buna cu iubita sa, care joaca si rolul de manager: I have an incredible partner and manager. She has helped me through some of the hardest times in my life and my career.

Usher ar fi trebuit sa lanseze un nou album anul acesta, dar dupa ce l-a anuntat si a inceput sa il si promoveze prin intermerdiul a doua single-uri, cantaretul R&B a declarat ca renunta la idee. Am putea specula ca are mare legatura cu schimbarile din industria muzicala si artistii care sunt acum in topul vanzarilor si in Hot 100. El e un artist care a obtinut discul de platina si a avut mereu cate un No. 1 in clasamente, insa zilele acestea ii regasim in topuri pe Drake, care nici macar nu canta si Jason Derulo, asa ca artistul a facut un pas in spate si si-a regandit strategia.

I just ain\’t ready. Meaning I have more that I want to say and more that I want to do. My process is pretty different. L.A. Reid will tell you, it takes two albums to make one with Usher.

Chiar si asa, turneul programat merge inainte, chiar daca nu are un disc pe care sa il promoveze, iar Usher insista ca muzica e cea mai importanta:

Most tours cater to the specific launch of a project – not this time. The focus this time is the music. Going all the way back to the beginning. Marketing is more important than it has ever been. But I\’m trying to tear the layers back and make it not so contrived. I think people just want entertainment. For certain artists it might be hard, but they don\’t have the show.

Cantaretul declara ca nu e deloc o persoana matinala, dar pentru ca are copii a devenit, acesta fiind singurul moment al zilei in care poate petrece timp alaturi de ei.

I\’m not a morning person, but I\’ve become one as the result of having kids. The morning is my private time to spend with my boys. The music industry doesn\’t allow you to go to bed until five in the morning anyway. You have to just keep rolling.

Usher e foarte mandru de faptul ca a apucat sa il vada pe Tupac Shakur live, alaturi de Redman, Method Man si Ice Cube si a cantat alaturi de The Notorious B.I.G, un mare avantaj al faptului ca a facut parte din familia extinsa a lui Puff Daddy. In plus, cantaretul spune ca fiecare album pe care l-a lansat reprezinta un moment din viata sa, iar acum se uita in urma pentru inspiratie: Every album I\’ve made represented a specific thing that was happening in my life. And not until now did I think to look back at my life and take inspiration from my own music.

Primul single lansat de Usher pentru promovare noului disc a fost Good Kisser, care a ajuns pe locul 2 in topul R&B, urmat de She Came to Give It to You, o piesa pe care si-a adus contributia si Nicki Minaj. Precedentul sau material, Looking 4 Myself s-a vandut in putin peste 500 de mii de copii si a dat hitul Climax, alaturi de piese ca Scream sau Dive.

Ce impresie va lasa Usher dupa acest interviu?

• 

• 

• 

• 

•