John Legend Explains Why He Chose to Release a Double Album
Photo by: Todd Owyoung/NBC Reading Time: 3 minutes
John Legend has recently dropped his eighth studio album, Legend — a double disc consisting of 24 songs featuring several co-stars. We’re astonished at the fact that this release is practically two albums in one!
John Legend Said His Latest Album is “What The Pandemic Has Brought”
The award-winning/singer-songwriter continues to live up to his name with the release of Legend. On The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Legend said that he had a lot of time to create music, since he couldn’t go on tour for a long while.
“This is what the pandemic has brought,” he said. “I made more songs that I’m usually used to making for an album, so I figured, let’s make it a double album.”
Legend created the album with OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder and detailed the track list as “suffused with an unapologetic spirit of sensuality and joy, informed by the full vulnerability of pain, praise, and healing.”
When asked why he simultaneously dropped the two albums instead of spacing it out, the singer explained that he feels “weird” about putting out old stuff.
“By the time I would put it out, the second one, I’d be already writing new stuff,” he answered.
He Discussed The Spontaneity of His Music Video With Saweetie
Essentially, the music collection highlights great stars in the industry. These artists include Rick Ross, Muni Long, Jazmine Sullivan, Jada Kingdom, Rapsody, and Saweetie, among others.
When asked about Legend‘s recent music video for “All She Wanna Do” featuring Saweetie, the singer explained that it was the director’s idea to allow dancers to freestyle their dances. This freestyle aspect creates an insanely unique, open casting call, concept.
“We were filming it and then halfway through the song, me and Saweetie would surprise them while they’re dancing and we got like genuine authentic interactions from them,” Legend explained. ‘It was really heartwarming and we had a good time.”
The singer also explained that the production team originally didn’t reveal whose music video they were auditioning for. The excitement and surprise create such a genuinely good feeling for the viewer.
On The Double Album and Its Black Essence
The singer’s newest album, Legend, strives to have the same vibe as a lively Saturday night, while some songs feature a Sunday morning healing vibe. Furthermore, Legend captures his Black heritage which is heavily influenced in his music. With the double album, he hopes to look forward while looking back from where he originated.
“I never feel divorced from my ancestors,” he stated. “I have such reverence for my musical heritage, that I don’t feel like I need to leave it behind to be adventurous, or creative, or to try something new.”
John Legend will be back as coach in The Voice Season 22. In The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, he confidently affirmed that he’s in it to win it. The reality music competition premieres on September 19 on NBC.
