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Jason Derulo sings 'Manchester Confidential'
Lynda Moyo talks to Jason Derulo about song-writing, his manhood and doing bad things to Beyonce...
He may say his own name a lot, but there’s more to Jason Derulo than just self-appreciation. The 21-year-old has been writing for artists including Diddy, Sean Kingston, Cassie, and Lil Wayne since he was 16.
Everything has been done already. You can’t create a whole genre but you can put a twist on what’s there already. You can’t even put some artists into genres.
Within that time he’s become a very interesting music industry insider as well as a fully-fledged, all-singing, all-dancing, shirt-ripping pop prince in his own right, as Lynda Moyo found out ahead of his show at Manchester Apollo last week...
LM: Ja-son De-rul-o. You like singing those five syllables don’t you? It’s become your trademark, like Craig David. Was that your intention?
JD: It was my idea but I didn’t think so much of it. It became this big thing and I didn’t have any intentions for it to be like that. It’s cool though.
LM: You’re up there in the charts with R&B artists such as Ne-Yo, Taio Cruz, Chris Brown, Usher. Is it tough being up against those lads?
JD: No. It’s not a competition for me. I don’t really pay attention to what everyone else is doing. I just make music for my fans and that’s what it’s about for me. It’s what I love doing.
LM: How about an R&B dance off? Who could you beat?
JD:
LM: Which British artists are you enjoying at the moment?
JD: I’m into Adele, Jessie J, Tinie Tempah. Quite a few.
LM: You supported Lady Gaga’s tour last year. What’s she like off-stage?
JD: She’s a sweetheart. She’s a nice girl and I had a great time on tour. She’s something special – one of those people who lives it and that’s what separates a true artist from someone who does it for the glitz and glamour.
LM: You got to see her just relaxing in her trackies then?
JD: No, she’s always on. Always Gaga.
LM: You sampled Imogen Heap’s song ‘Hide and Seek’ in your debut single ‘Whatcha Say’. Did she like the song?
JD: Of course, yeah.
LM: Older generations can sometimes get annoyed when modern day pop stars sample classic tracks. Do you think they’re within their rights to?
JD: No. I think that’s ridiculous. Music is always recycling. There’s never been a period when people didn’t sample. If you go back to the 40s and 50s – Ella Fitzgerald and people like that weren’t always singing original songs, they were singing hymns and jazz standards. Harry Belafonte doing ‘Day-O’ – that is an old hymn, not an original. That’s what music is – pulling inspiration from here and there. Music is a conversation. Every conversation has been had already so it’s about how you can make the conversation a little different.
LM: Do you think it’s possible to create your own genre of music?
JD: Everything has been done already. You can’t create a whole genre but you can put a twist on what’s there already. You can’t even put some artists into genres. Look at Michael Jackson’s music. That’s just great material. That’s its own genre – the Michael Jackson genre, the Prince genre, the Madonna genre. You can create a niche for yourself.
LM: Which song of yours makes you most proud?
JD: A lot of stuff off my next album. It’s by far my biggest accomplishment. I’ve put my heart and soul into it. I feel like my world is going to change when this is released. People will finally know who I am as an artist and as a person. This record is really personal and really edgy. I’m not afraid to say anything. I’ve grown a lot as a singer, performer and as a man so you’ll definitely see that in this record. It’s me pulling all the strings. The record wrote itself, everything just fell into place and I can’t wait to share it.
LM: Is it an upbeat album again like ‘Jason Derulo’?
JD: It’s a mixture but the first couple of singles will be upbeat because that’s the state I’m in in my life right now. I’m really happy. I’m 21; partying, living life and feeling good. And you know the state that the world is in right now with all these earthquakes and floods I wanted to bring something that would brighten the mood.
LM: Speaking of world disasters, your parents are from Haiti. Have you been involved with Haiti charity work like other singers such as Wyclef Jean?
JD: Wyclef does do a lot of stuff. I don’t go back to Haiti but I do a lot in charity. Me and Wyclef talk all the time. He’s doing wonders there and it’s really inspiring. I try and spread the word and use my voice as much as possible.
LM: You’re a successful producer and writer as well as a singer. It’s often reported that many big stars get credit for songs they haven’t actually written. Is that true?
JD: Absolutely. Artists get publishing or a percentage of the writing credit just because they’re the artist. I have mixed feelings about that. Artists that don’t write are missing out on a big pie. If you write me a song, I have no piece of the pie. But some artists will argue they’re using their name to get the song to a different level and so maybe you should give them a piece? From the writer’s perspective it’s like I wrote this song myself so why should you get any credit when you weren’t even in the room? I get both sides but because of the writer in me, I lean towards the writer’s side.
LM: So big artists continue to get their name in the credits even if they only suggested one word of the lyrics?
JD: Even if they didn’t have one word. It can be like ‘I won’t take your song if you don’t give me a percentage.’
LM: That really goes on?
JD: Absolutely, but you have to be a big name obviously. If you give a song to Beyonce and a song to a new girl, chances are it’ll be a bigger hit with Beyonce. That’s the logic.
LM: New artists don’t stand a chance then?
JD: Yeah that’s why it’s hard for new artists, especially in today’s climate. There’s really no development anymore. Labels aren’t willing to cultivate a talent. You kind of have to do everything at this point. If you’re not already in the game or have been in the game, you have to be able to write a little bit because when you’re depending on someone else’s writing you’re at their liberty. New artists should try and write their own stuff or learn as much as possible.
LM: What is the process of writing a song?
It’s different every time but typically, I would come up with a concept and then go into the booth and lay down melodies based on the concept I have in my head. Then the words just kind of decode themselves.
LM: A lot of people may not know that you actually studied ballet at college. Do you worry it may ruin your street cred?
JD: What street cred? As long as someone doesn’t disrespect me I’m good. You can’t disrespect my manhood because I did ballet. I mean, come on - I’ll still knock a dude out.
LM: You’ve achieved so much already and you’re only 21. Is it down to mainly hard work or luck?
JD: I always believe it was 99 per cent hard work and one per cent luck. And if you’re only getting one per cent luck and that’s what you’re depending on, chances are you won’t make it happen. The harder you work and the closer you get to that 99 per cent, the better chance you have.
LM: Would you have gone the X Factor or American Idol route?
JD: Maybe. I started pretty young doing the song-writing thing so that was my pathway in. I was pretty focussed on that. It was good money and I got to tell the girls that I was writing for this person and that person, so that was cool. But maybe if it didn’t happen soon enough I would’ve took that route.
LM: The new American Idol has J-Lo as a judge. Good choice for a singing contest?
JD: Well, it’s not always just about the singing. That doesn’t just necessarily make you a star. There’s a lot more to it – quality, personality, aura. She’s done very well for herself and I think she has an idea of what it takes plus she’s an amazing dancer. Look at a lot of huge pop stars – it’s not just about the singing, I mean there’s just something about Britney Spears that everyone just wants to gravitate to that. Is it how amazing her voice is? Maybe it’s that tonal quality or tone ability?
LM: Are you currently riding solo?
JD: I am riding solo. I’m doing the single thing.
LM: I’m sure you’ve got lots of groupies keen to change that...
JD: That’s such a horrible word.
LM: But they do exist. There’s fans and then there’s groupies.
JD: Yeah but I don’t think it’s the proper word. I think it’s degrading.
LM: Does being Jason Derulo the popstar attract potential love interest for perhaps the wrong reasons at times?
JD: Well that is who I am. When you see me on stage that is me, so if you like me for who that is, you’re actually liking me. That’s who I am every day. I’ll be in the grocery store dancing, you know what I mean? And you know, I remember being in love with Beyonce because she was that amazing woman. I wouldn’t call myself a groupie because I wanted to do bad things to Beyonce...
LM: There are ten girls waiting outside the Apollo now who want to do bad things to you. They’ve been waiting all day. You gonna go and put them out of their misery?
JD: I love my fans more than anything. I did a signing today at HMV. There were people waiting there for a really long time and I signed like a thousand CDs and shirts. If there are ten girls out there, I’ll try and go and say hi but sometimes it’s a little dangerous for me and for them. It can end up like a little riot so you gotta be careful. Send a kiss from me though when you go back out there.
LM: I heard you were actually planning to visit Manchester Pets and Aquatics shop just across the road from the Apollo?
JD: I did wanna go but I changed my mind. It sells monkeys. That’s crazy.
LM: Finally, please tell us a Jason Derulo world exclusive...
JD: I got a new cookbook coming out. I make gourmet hotdogs that are filled with cheese. Don’t tell anyone.
LM: Is that a lie?
JD: Yeah.
Follow LyndaMoyo on Twitter @lyndamoyo
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Two words: laser gloves.
Great interview. Get Ms Moyo doing more of these.