Helpless: lacking in or deprived of strength or power; unable to function; without help or unable to manage independently;
Romantic: amatory: expressive of or exciting sexual love or romance
Hey, readers. In this business of Entertainment I wear many hats! Ive had the opportunity to work with and interview many talented and well-known artist or groups. This is one of my favorite interviews because I was able to kick it w/ the one and only, national recording artist-songwriter-producer, Jon B for an impromptu interview. Hes actually one of my favorite songwriters and producers, as well as vocalist/singers so I was trying very hard not to be a fan.(lol) He and I discussed a lot of things musically on the record such as his favorite songwriters and producers, who his influences are and his personal life, etc. But we also discussed some things strictly off the record like the shape of the music business, and other things in his personal life. We talked like we were the best of friends that havent seen each other in a long time, playing catch up. Basically, we were just two cats who share the same passionthis thing called MUSIC!
Helpless Romantic, his new CD release, has been a long time coming. Once signed to Tracey Edmonds label, Yab Yum Records, distributed through Sony 550/Epic Records, he burst onto the music scene in 1995 w/ the single Someone To Love featuring Edmonds husband, music producer & songwriter, Babyface. The song was a top ten hit released on the album, Bonafide. The single was also on the movie soundtrack for Bad Boy which featured Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. Almost immediately, there was talk of the comparison between both artists, vocally. There were also comparisons made in terms of both artists being producers and songwriters. In 1997, his next album was released titled, Cool Relax, which spawned three of his biggest hits to date"They Don't Know", "I Do (Whatcha Say Boo)", and Are U Still Down which featured the one and only Tupac (Shakur). This album soon went platinum and placed Jon B among the elite in the music business.
After a successful run on the Sony label, Jon released his third album, Pleasures U Like, in 1991, where the single, Don't Talk, was released. The album went gold but due to the lack of promotion, Jon ended up leaving the label. He was then signed to Urban Sanctuary Records, which was headed by Matthew Knowles, and he released his fourth CD, Stronger Everyday. He then left Urban Sanctuary, released a holiday CD titled Holiday Wishes: From Me To You, and has been on the indie music scene ever since.
Jons heart and soul is where the music is and music is where his heart and soul lives. Ive come to find out he is truly a helpless romanticof music, that is. Judge for yourself and check out the interview.
Grand Tone: Jon B, how are you? Its definitely a pleasure to have your presence for this interview w/ your busy schedule and all. So I guess we can get right down to whats been up w/ you. You have a new album releasing (Tues, Oct. 28th) titled Helpless Romantictell me a little bit about this new recording project .
Jon B: This album is based on the last 4 years of my life, which has been wrapped up due to many changesmarriage, a new baby, new label, etc. I am always writing and recording while Im out and about. I usually write about 150 songs, which has been done w/in the last 4 years. I wrote this album as an outline of the title of the album. Ive grown a lota whole lot. I like to compare my family to the ocean and myself as being the Titanicthe master of my ship. Im at the bottom of the ocean, if people want to see me, they have to go deep. Its a peephole to my life. This album is a reflection of my life.
To get deep into the album, I produced and wrote much of the album. Its a fly album, a jazzy album. I covered an artist that Ive greatly admired named Jeff Buckley, which is one of my favorite white singers in the game. We were signed to the same label back in the day. He died like maybe 10 years ago and in respect to him, I recorded his song, which is titled Everybody Here Wants You. He did the O.G. version (lol). Great song. The first single is called Oooh So Sexy featuring Paul Wall.
Grand Tone: What is it about this project thats different from any of your previous albums of the past?
Jon B: I did a lot of searching on the other albumsbeen in other relationships before but Im more happy now and grounded and confident as before. When you have a partner that you can confide in and have a daughter where you can look into their eyes, theres nothing like it. Im singing about love on this albumkeeping the tradition alive and keeping the love going. This album is more me, more about me.
Jon B: Man, I cant help being what I ambeing the natural person that I am. Im not hopeless, Im helpless.(lol) People always ask why do I keep singing about love. While other people are talking about sex and money on their records, I cant help singing about love. I feel that my music is for a certain type of personthe grown and sexy type person. Im a grown man now and Im writing about what I want to share w/ people.
Grand Tone: I know that youre married now, so does anything from your personal life affect your subject matter on this project than previous ones?
Jon B: It kinda gave me a movement. I wasnt thinking about how I was coming back out, or am I going to write about how I feel. I write about if me and my wife go out and party, or if were having a drink. Im writing from a vibe like a difference between a romance record and a grown and sexy record. I have a song called Drop Like It Rainslike every time you fall in love it drops like it rains. This album is like giving a girl an orgasm. (lol)
Grand Tone: This is your 2nd marriage, right? How long have you been newly married now?
Jon B: Ive been married for a little over 2 years now and very happy.
Grand Tone: Any kids yet?
Jon B: A 15-month old girlAzure Luna (means full moon)
Grand Tone: Cool. Thats whassup. Speaking on the subject matter, youre a writer and producer; did you go outside of yourself on this CD and work w/ any other writers or producers?
Jon B: Its definitely different than the last albumI usually work w/ Tim & Bob (producers: worked w/ Case, Dietrick Haddon, Bobby Valentino, etc.). What was important to me was getting my message out. My drummer from the live shows, Jay Bynum, whos a real talented musician and producer and a dope singer is a sick writer. We were on the back of the bus singing and writing. We spent like 2 weeks at the house barbecuing and just doing what we do and just writing hot hooks and records. We had a real nice powwow. Anytime you get some good brothers sitting around vibin, you always come up with some hot shit. Thats how we both came up w/ the title for the album, Helpless Romantic, from just vibin. Hes just got signed to Akons label. The insomnias on this album areMr. Lee from Swisha House label in Houston, worked w/ Slim Thug, Paul Wall, and Jim Jones who produced Whos So Sexy. Theres a totally different vibe for the music on this album. Thats the whole thing about working w/ different producers and musicians, if I want that down and gritty vibe, I go to NYCif I want something else, I go to Houston. I hang out w/ all the rappers like Jay Z, Q tip, and the other rapper and musicians. Its been a real fun thing traveling trying to get the nice vibe for the album.
Grand Tone: Youve written for After 7, Toni Braxton, and many othershave you been writing or producing any songs for any other artists latelymajor or independent?
Jon B: Ive been currently writing for Keith Robertson from the Dreamgirls movie and various things hes done on television and in films. Hes come over and weve vibed and I produced about half of his album. Charlie Wilson, yes, Uncle Charlie, who Ive worked w/ previously on his past 2 albums. I worked w/ Johnny Jay, who just passed away, who also did the beats for Tupac on Charlies album. Uncle Charlie lives right across the street from me and I did about 8 joints on his album. Were doing a show together real soon. Im not sure how many joints are going to be on the album though. Other production, Ive worked w/ rapper David Bannerhes mad humble, he came to my house and we just chilled. Theres no stuntin about himhes had the number one record for a minutethose are the artists that I acquire to be. Thats they type of artist I aspire to be.
