You guys have created magic a few times before in your careers. YouKnowIGotSoul: You’ve also got the special remix of the song with Tamia. I think the song is number three this week and still going up. He just immediately said that was the single. We thought we had picked a song, but then I played him this one which he hadn’t heard yet. We were listening to the whole record and he came to the studio in Hollywood and we were trying to figure out what the first single was. I remember on that album, we were listening to a lot of stuff, and then I just let him hear that one, and he immediately picked that as a single. The last time he did this for me was a song called “You’re the Only One” and I had the same feeling about that one. My head of promotion, Ken Wilson, who is a veteran and legend in the radio promo world, he’s done this before. What’s the feeling seeing how well it’s been received and how fans are welcoming you back?Įric Benet: It’s interesting because it’s one of those songs I did not know it was a single, let alone the first single. YouKnowIGotSoul: You came out of the gate with the first single “Sunshine” which has reached the Top 5 on Urban A/C radio. It took a little bit longer to actually record the album for that reason, but man I just love the way it feels. It’s really an important time not to miss out on. I would leave the house around noon and I’d make sure I was home around six. On this album, I really gave myself five hours a day throughout the week to work on the record. It’s really important for me to always be there for bath time and breakfast time and on the weekends. The interesting thing scheduling wise with this record, my wife and I are parents to a 4 year old and a 2 year old. My thing about going into the studio with this record was, just being completely free to do what I do and expound on my sound. This particular album right here, it’s going to be a couple of years to let it breathe and live. I don’t like to do it too early or too late. What inspired you during the creation of this album?Įric Benet: I like to go into the studio and start work on a project when it’s time. YouKnowIGotSoul: What we noticed is that it kinda sounds like you picked up where you left off after “The One” from a few years back. I just love the fact that this record definitely has its own personality and still has its feet firmly planted in what people have come to identify as my sound. I love that people can identify my music right away. It’s like people can pretty much tell it’s an Eric Benet song. However, one of the cool things about being in the industry so long is you tend to develop your own sound. I didn’t want it to feel like anything out right now or I had done. I wanted it to be my own little r&b statement. Talk about the creation of the album.Įric Benet: It was something that I where I sat down with my partner Demonte, who I’ve been making music with since my first solo album “True to Myself”, and I really wanted this album to be pure r&b without any attempt to be anything other than completely authentic and creative. We had a chance to hear an advance copy and we love the sound and the direction you went. YouKnowIGotSoul: Your new self titled album is coming out. “Eric Benet” is set to release on October 7th and is available for pre-order here. YouKnowIGotSoul sat down with Eric Benet while on a recent promo run in NYC and discussed the creation of the “Eric Benet” album, the authentic sound he maintains, a potential album with Tamia, and much more. There aren’t many who have been able to match his longevity, and the fact that he’s headed out on yet another U.S theater tour, a rarity in r&b, is proof that he’s on top of his game. His upcoming self titled album ( read our review here) is another testament to that fact as he’s created the latest in a long line of impressive r&b albums. It’s almost ironic to look back and remember he named his debut “True to Myself” because he’s made a career out of successfully doing just that while many of his peers have strayed. 20 years following the release of his debut album, he’s still crafting hit songs while keeping the authentic feeling in his music.
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