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Issue 40 / 2012 HIP HOP / RNB 39 www.guestlist.net 7 TREY SONGZ We are blessed with an artist who has had many Grammy and BET nominations, has won the Best RnB Artist BET Award in 2009, and has toured with the likes of Ne-yo, Jay-Z and Usher. I'M VERY PROUD OF MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND HAPPY WITH THE THINGS I'VE DONE, BUT ALWAYS LOOKING TO TOP THEM UP WITH SOMETHING ELSE. Mr Wondah | mrwondah@guestlist.net But you've done a hell of a lot of work brother, so you deserve a hell of an interview. How are you? Yeah I'm not too bad man! You've got the brand new album, Chapter 5. That's being released in August I understand. Yep something like that, I haven't put an official date on it yet, but I'm thinking around August. Ok cool cool, now obviously you have the single Heart Attack that gets released on the 18th June right? Yeah, Yeah, the 18th. That's blazin' a trail of success as we speak right now. I mean, you've got something like one and a half million views on Youtube already. Is it?! Yeah that's how it's guanin now brother. You're informing me today man. So, let's rewind the clock. You're from Virginia in the United States. What was life like growing up, and at what point did you decide that music was a career you wanted to make for yourself? Er, well, life growing up was like any other childhood, you know? Just having fun, going to school, and in Virginia I had my whole family there, so I was brought up very family orientated. Single mother raised, went to high school, living with my grandmother. Singing was something that I always did . I actually moved around a lot as a child, and music was something that was like an escape. Listening to the radio, I would listen to every song that ever came on. I knew that I had a love for music but, being from a small town, not thinking that it was very attainable, that dream. So I started singing in talent shows and really embracing my love for it. My family kind of pushed me to really really go for it. I guess I didn't believe, not in myself, but that I'd get out of my town and be a superstar. I don't think they believed it either, they just wanted to push me. So, you've been in the game for about 6 or 7 years now and this is the fifth studio album that you've released. You've got EPs, you've got mixtapes as well, are you a workaholic man? Do you ever take a break or a holiday? No, I don't actually! I work a lot. I like to work. It helps when you do something that you love and I've always been very ambitious and I always want more success. I'm not content, I'm never content actually. I'm very proud of my accomplishments and happy with the things I've done, but always looking to top them up with something else. in the previous interview you said the last album, Passion, Pain, Pleasure was the most personal to date. What new side of yourself will be revealed on Chapter 5? I mean, it's not that I'll be revealing any new side, because I think I reveal very much of myself through my music and through engaging with my fans and being very open in interviews and things like that, so it's just revealing the growth. I don't think it's a new side, but I think it's a new person as I continue to take steps into manhood and mature in music, and become a better songwriter, and begin to be able to convey my emotions and what it is I want the message to be. In my travels within the last 2 years I've been so many different places, seen so many different things and to be able to record an album within that process is very advantageous. You've everybody man. I mean, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Fabolous, Estelle, Chris Brown, J Cole, Neyo... and that's just to name a few man. Which would you say were your most memorable? already collaborated with virtually I would say Aretha Franklin on my first album. Because it was my first album and what she said was prophetic. She said that I was gonna make it and not to let anybody get in my way, and she actually said that on the song. That's very dope to listen back to on the audio and a capella. I could go back and listen to her saying that to me forever in time and that's great to have worked with her. Wow, wow for real. So, I know you're involved in the production side of things as well. What are the producers working on for the latest album, and what artist collaborations do we need to look out for? Troy Taylor works on every album with me, so you can look to see him on a lot of songs actually. Some producers from the Anticipation body of work worked very closely with me on a lot of songs. Some great folks. Artist wise? Big Sean, J Cole, T.I. and, like I said, I'm still working on it so I don't wanna throw any names out that aren't in the bucket yet. You know, it's gonna be my first actual album where I utilise all my friendships. And you started your own reality TV programme. The cameras followed you around while you toured with JAY-Z basically. That was very well received. You've taken things to another level now. I understand that obviously you're gonna be in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D. That's a feature film now man. How did that come about? They actually sought me out for that. It was a film that I was offered and I didn't know if I would have time to do it because I was working, and actually they came to me in the time that I was supposed to be making the bulk of this album. They hijacked me for like 4 weeks. The director actually came to the studio and he sat with me for hours. He explained the plot and, more importantly, he expressed interest in me as a person and told me all about his life. That was kind of the reeling. Do you think it's something you'll do more of in the future? Oh definitely. I enjoyed it. Keep up to date with Trey Songz on twitter: @TreySongz www.treysongz.com