16-time Grammy nominated R&B legend and one of the biggest voice for love songs in the 90’s, Brian McKnight, has now dropped his latest project for 2016 known as “Better.” His last project was released in 2013 and according to McKnight, this one comes from a much different place of inspiration. The recording artist also shares his thoughts on today’s music and the industry on this exclusive RnBass interview with Dayana Jiselle.
How do you feel about the evolution of R&B?
I think what we have to stop doing is assuming just because someone is black, that their music is R&B. I think that’s what’s been happening at least since 2000 and on when the Hip-hop and R&B charts merged. I truly believe that is was an effort to be exclusionary. Honestly, the only people making R&B music today are white artists. People like Nick Jonas, that’s the most R&B music that I’ve heard in a while, and Justin Bieber’s record because it’s the way you sing. There’s been a departure where everybody used to have the opportunity to be on every chart and we don’t get that anymore. We ruled the 90s on every chart as black artists and now labels assume that you’re not going to get a shot on pop radio. That’s the same problem we have with my records because the perception is that it’s too difficult to get a black artist on AC radio but that’s not true because people like John Legend are doing it. It’s funny to me how nobody actually says it.
Why do you think that is?
As long as labels are owned by people that they’re owned by, as long as radio is run by people that they’re run by, they’ll do whatever they have to do to keep these folks here and these other folks down here, at least that’s the way it seems to me. Look at what’s happened to hip-hop, white people think that’s R&B and it has nothing to do with that. Artists like a Chris Brown, a Trey Songz and even myself, we have to try and fit in where we can fit in. Look at the things that radio and the media actually go crazy for, all Kanye has to do is go rant and it becomes the biggest thing but when’s the last time you’ve seen them do that to a great song sung by a black artist?
With today’s technology and platforms such as SoundCloud and YouTube, do you think it’s harder or easier to gain success as an upcoming artist?
I think it’s the most horrible thing that’s ever happened because it’s so difficult to get through all the traffic of what’s out there and now we have a generation of people who feel that they don’t even have to pay for music anymore because they can get it for free. How are you supposed to make a living? And this isn’t about me, this is about that 19-year-old kid who has talent and wants to be in this business but can’t make a living because he has to give out his music for free.
With both of your sons now doing music, what kind of advice do you give them toward their careers?
If you have great songs, great performances and great production, you should be able to make it in this business. For really talented people like my children, they have to be better and do it at a level that’s higher than everyone else because technology today has allowed anyone to make music. You can go out and get Pro Tools or Logic and be making music tonight and I don’t know if that’s a good thing. The level of musicality and the level of artistry is so low.
I watched one of your latest interviews where you talked about the inspiration behind “Better,” which was your girlfriend and the first time you’ve been in real love. How did this inspire the project?
As you listen to the lyrics in this album and you hear the way I’m performing these songs, you can tell that this is the real thing. This music is very different and very much more heartfelt than anything I’ve ever done. So that’s a completely different perspective than any other project that I’ve made.
Check out the album”Better” now available on iTunes right here, along with the visuals for the single.
The post See why Brian McKnight’s new project, “Better” is different than any other and his thoughts on today’s music (Interview) appeared first on RnBass.
from WordPress http://ift.tt/1OQv62C
via r&b music
from Tumblr http://ift.tt/21DHEXP
No comments:
Post a Comment