DJ Glew presents an exclusive John Legend interview for The3XGP.com! John Legend talks about his new album “Evolver”, the “Green Light (Remix)” with Swizz Beatz and T.I., Barack Obama, Kanye West, and his new movie “Soul Men” starring alongside Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac.
DJ GLEW: How does Evolver differ from your other albums?
JOHN LEGEND: I think each album has its own sound. And I think if you compare this one to the last one, the last one was more mellow, intimate, and more romantic. And I think this one is more upbeat, electronic instrumentally, and the beats are a little harder. It just has a different sound this time.
DJ GLEW: Name your top three songs off of Evolver? Your favorite songs!
JOHN LEGEND: My favourites I would say probably “Green light”, “Everybody Knows”, and probably “Good Morning”. Maybe “Quickly” too!
DJ GLEW: Is the “Green Light (Remix)” with Swizz Beatz and T.I. still coming out?
JOHN LEGEND: Yes it is! We just want to let the regular version have its day. And then we’ll put the remix out shortly. We also just shot a video for “Everybody Knows”.
DJ GLEW: Name an actress, singer, or model that could not get the “Green Light” from John Legend.
JOHN LEGEND: HaHa!
DJ GLEW: Maybe someone that came off the wrong way when you met in the past. Air them out!
JOHN LEGEND: No I’m not going to dog anybody out! HaHa! I can’t single anybody out! haha!
DJ GLEW: What’s it like to work with the creative minds of Andre 3000 and Kanye West?
JOHN LEGEND: I mean they’re both geniuses in their own way. They’re both different in demeanor and how they express themselves because they’re both geniuses. And I feel privileged to have worked with such great people!
DJ GLEW: You’ve worked with some of the biggest names in the business. But what’s your dream collaboration?
JOHN LEGEND: I don’t know. I think I pretty much had my dreams come true! I worked with some of the greatest artists in particularly black music: Jay-Z, Kanye, Common, Lauryn Hill, and Stevie Wonder. I don’t know where else I can go pretty much.
DJ GLEW: So there’s no one that passed away that you would’ve liked to work with? Dead or alive?
JOHN LEGEND: Well I’ve always been a big Nina Simone fan. If I were to go back in time, I think it would be cool to do something with her.
DJ GLEW: How does it feel to have Barack Obama, The President of the United States, cosign your work?
JOHN LEGEND: You know I’m just glad that he got elected! I could live without the endorsement one way or another. But I just really believe that the country needed someone like him in charge and I’m glad that we were able to contribute in a small way to help him get elected. But he deserved to get elected and he was the right candidate for right now and hopefully he will do a great job with the country! We trusted him to this point and we hope and pray that he does the right things.
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Listen to John Legend – If You’re Out There
DJ GLEW: Tell us about your role in the movie ‘Soul Men’ starring yourself, Samuel L. Jackson, and Bernie Mac.
JOHN LEGEND: I play a character called Marcus Hayes who is the lead singer in this three man group that broke up. And Sam and Bernie are the other members. We broke up and in the movie I died at the beginning so everything in the movie kind of revolves around them trying to come to my memorial service on my behalf. And you only see me in flashbacks.
John Legend in the movie Soul Men
DJ GLEW: You have some unexpected collaborations on Evolver such as Brandy and Teddy Riley. How’d that come about?
JOHN LEGEND: You know, each collaboration was just a natural brainstorming thing where we thought about based on this song who would be the right collaborator for it. So we reached out to the people that we thought would be the right people and they all said yes. All the first choices we asked were able to do things were able to do it.
DJ GLEW: There’s a lot of DJ’s remixing the “Green Light” song into electro or house songs? Have you had a chance to listen to them?
JOHN LEGEND: We specifically commissioned some of those. We asked MSTRKRFT. We asked Diplo. We asked other people. And some of those we specifically sought out. And then other people just did it on their own which is great too!
DJ GLEW: Yeah, I definitely think it’s a good look. I really like the Diplo remix myself!
JOHN LEGEND: Yeah I think that was great! I love the MSTRKRFT one too! And like I said, each time somebody does a remix it gives new life to the song. Some of them do it on their own and some of them do it as commission work for us.
DJ GLEW: Are you featured or involved with Kanye West’s album, 808′s & Heartbreak?
JOHN LEGEND: No I’m not. But I’m excited as a fan! I just want to hear it. I’m really curious to see where it goes! He’s always pushing the envelope or doing something creative. And I think that he’s continuing to pursue that with this. And I kind of look at him as a role model in that regard. Somebody that keeps pushing himself and pushing his audience.
DJ GLEW: And last question, the million dollar question! Would John Legend…
JOHN LEGEND: Wait, are you paying me a million dollars to answer it? HaHa.
DJ GLEW: I don’t know, maybe you might get a million dollars if you decide to do it! But the million dollar question! Would John Legend ever use the auto-tune?
JOHN LEGEND: HaHa! You know we used a little bit of it in the remix with Swizz and T.I. we didn’t overdo it but it’s kind of lightly there. But it’s because it fits the sound of the remix. But it’s not something I’ll use heavily because you know I feel like my voice is special. And the thing about auto-tune is it kind of makes everybody sound very similar to each other. So I like to keep my distinct sound to myself, so I won’t use a lot of auto-tune. But I don’t have any problem with other artists using it. Some people are kind of purist about these things. And they think no computer should be able to help you make a record or no computer should be able to help you sing. But I’m really not like that, I’m like if the record sounds good then it sounds good!
John Legend’s album Evolver is in stores now and features the single “Green Light” with Andre 3000. Evolver also includes guest appearances from Kanye West, Brandy and Estelle.
hmm id love to see more of this subject ahaha
Excellent line up, Aliquot! Maybe next year, my book will make it onto the list! xox
Czytałem kilka Twoich tekstów (albo nie Twoich ale na Twojej stronie) i muszę powiedzieć, że jest całkiem nieźle.
Bardzo ciekawy blog, bede czesciej zagladal.
I am very anxious regarding the 2012 election. Considering what is happening in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Middle East (not to mention the economy) we certainly must have a experienced leader. I’m not convinced that President Obama or any of the Republican contenders thus far have the experience or skills necessary to do the job the way it needs to be accomplished. Being president of the U.S. is an exceptionally challenging job. Do you think there is any man or woman out there with the experience, skill, and moral conviction to do the job?
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