Trey Songz (April 2009)
Trey Songz: What's up man?
MiddleChild: What's going on wit ya Trey?
Trey Songz: Ain't nothing, G. How you been?
MiddleChild: I been good. Everything working out for you?
Trey Songz: Everything is gravy man. What's going on out there in Bama?
MiddleChild: Let me think....the crazy weather for one.
Trey Songz: What's up with the weather out there?
MiddleChild: Man. Woke up this morning and had ice on the car. Like what's really good? It's spring. (laughs)
Trey Songz: (laughs) You had ice on the car man?
MiddleChild: Ice on the car man. But it's all good. Now we ready for round three now.
Trey Songz: Believe that.
MiddleChild: Round three and I checked out the premiere of your video last week for "Brand New".
Trey Songz: Yeah.
MiddleChild: And first of all we gotta let the people know what "Brand New" means in case they're clueless on that.
Trey Songz: Well "Brand New". The song is actually about a woman who has her swag up, but the inuendo is kind of like it's a brand new Trey Songz as well. Ya dig? Like with my hair being cut, my fashion being changed and my whole approach to the music. It ain't really that different as far as I still do the mixtape thing. I still do the core R&B. I still do a lot of the things that I've been doing, but it's expanded and I've gotten better at it.
MiddleChild: Definitely. And taking it to the next level and being ready to hit us your third time out, what can we be expecting from Trey and this album?
Trey Songz: Oh this album gon be my best album man. Vocally. As far as songs are concerned. As far as musically being involved in together cohesively with the hip-hop and the "Can't Help But Wait" kind of songs and the "Last Time" kind of songs. Everything I'm known for. The mixtape aspect is reflected in the "Brand New" record as well. It's another couple of records like that on the album and I believe this is the album that brings all of that together cohesively.
MiddleChild: So "Brand New" is the record for the streets and the "I Need A Girl" is the one that is going to take it there. Let me tell you when I first heard it I was like "Ok! This is Trey. This is the Trey!" (both laugh) Because this is the sound you hit us with as far as "Can't Help But Wait"...
Trey Songz: Exactly. Just expanding on that and taking that to a whole other level.
MiddleChild: Right. And you've been in the studio with Johnta Austin, StarGate, B. Cox...who else have you been in the studio with for real?
Trey Songz: We got of course Troy Taylor as always.
MiddleChild: How could I not mention Troy? (laughs)
Trey Songz: We got my homie Eric Hudson. We got Sean Garrett. Who else we got on the project man? Diane Warren actually wrote a song for me. Huge. And that's all. Everything else was done in house. A lot of writing by myself and like you mentioned Johnta, J.D., B. Cox, StarGate....It's a crazy body of work. Believe that.
MiddleChild: So what challenged you the most this time around?
Trey Songz: What challenged me the most was probably finding a way to make an album that best fits where I'm at right now in my life and where I'm at musically and to show growth and to target the audience that I haven't got. I got a huge fanbase. I got a lot of supportive fans, but the goal this time was to make sure we go get those who don't know who I am or know what I'm capable of doing. All in the same staying true to those that have been here. Know what I mean? So I think that was the challenge.
MiddleChild: Now you've been on...if I even tried to count how many guest appearances you have made on records in the past year I'm going to need some more hands available.
Trey Songz: I can't even count em boy!
MiddleChild: You definitely have some features. Now do the artists seek you out? I know you be on the grind constantly, so how do you determine what's the right record to jump on? How selective are you?
Trey Songz: The good thing about me jumping on other people's record is that I don't pay too much attention to the other artist as far as what their notariaty is or how big they may be. If it's a good song...I base it off of that. If I think it's a good song and if I think it's a good look for me. Know what I mean? In a lot of cases, a lot of people may have not have done songs with some of the people that I've done songs with, but I'll go in and make it a great look for myself even if it don't work out for the other artist. I don't think I could ever look bad on anybody's song as long as I hold my part down. Ya know?
MiddleChild: That's what's up. And this time around we got a Grammy nomination...
Trey Songz: Yeah!
MiddleChild: Didn't get the win, but we got the nomination.
Trey Songz: We got the nomination! We in there!
MiddleChild: So now we're "Grammy nominated, Trey Songz..." (both laugh) Now I know some people who were upset because you didn't get a nod for the actual album. I ain't gon call out no names, but it was better than a few selections in there.
Trey Songz: (laughs) You wild boy.
MiddleChild: We just gon throw it out there. (both laugh) Now is that your girl with the third project? To actually get that win?
Trey Songz: It's definitely a goal and a dream. I won't expect it, but I work hard that I get it. I think that whatever God gives me is for me to have. So if he choose for me to have one and he feels I deserve one, then I'll definitely have one.
MiddleChild: Right. You just shot the video for "I Need A Girl" over the weekend, right?
Trey Songz: Yeah.
MiddleChild: Where was the shoot?
Trey Songz: We shot it in Malibu. Malibu Beach.
MiddleChild: How is this video going to be different from all your other videos?
Trey Songz: This is my first video on the beach. (both laugh) You know when you shoot that video on the beach it kind of take you there for most R&B singers. It's a good look man. You know with all my videos I always have that one main girl. If you think back to "Gotta Make It", "Gotta Go", "Can't Help But Wait"..."Last Time" was a little different, but it was still primarily about one focus and in this video "I Need A Girl", it's kind of about me searching for a girl. Like I get to this beach and I'm trying to be there just for tranquil purposes. Just to chill out and I kind of start seeing things. I start kicking it with girls that just appear out of the smoke and it's real mysterious. Real sexy. The wardrobe of it is real nice. High fashion, but still down to earth. Like I'll be with one girl one second and then she'll disappear and it leaves me still looking for a girl. Ya dig?
MiddleChild: Right. Right. Something pretty much true to life here.
Trey Songz: Yeah.
MiddleChild: So what's going to be the hottest ballad on the album? You know me and that's my weakness. So which song am I going to be looking for?
Trey Songz: The hottest ballad? It's a record called "On Top (Love Come Down)".
MiddleChild: Uh oh. I can already imagine what that one is going to be.
Trey Songz: Yes sir! That's a "pull a love jones" right there boy! (laughs)
MiddleChild: I'm going to see. You know I have nothing but mad love for you boy. You always represent on your albums, so I know this one will be no different. And you know once I get the album I will be letting you know what track is the one. Remember what I told you with the second joint?!
Trey Songz: Already! I know you will.
MiddleChild: You remember last time I told you it was "The Last Time".
Trey Songz: You told me! And I told you we was gonna put that thang out there.
MiddleChild: And you got a hit!
Trey Songz: You already know.
MiddleChild: So that's what's up. You get mad love from MiddleChild. You're on Twitter now, right?
Trey Songz: Yep.
MiddleChild: Okay. Twitter, Myspace...all of that. I'll make sure your fans know they can reach you there.
Trey Songz: Yep. Also throw my SayNow number on there. It's 804-335-0051</b>
MiddleChild: I got you and I'll be looking out for the album June 30th and we "Ready".
Trey Songz: Thanks Ro, man!
MiddleChild: No problem. You stay out of trouble and I'll be linking up with you soon.
Trey Songz: I will, Ro. Be easy.
