 The cover of Usher's new album ``Raymond V Raymond.'' / Courtesy of Sony BMG |
Staff reporter
For top stars, experiencing a downfall can be a big blow: whether it is on a personal level or in terms of a career, but for R&B superstar Usher, it was a chance to step back and fully appreciate his life and music.
``Having experienced some serious things in my life over the last few years, it has allowed me to reflect and challenge my life. There is validation in accepting change. Having gone through a marriage, a divorce and having children have taught me very valuable lessons and that's what I put into my career and my music,'' he told The Korea Times through an email interview.
 R&B superstar Usher is back with a new album. He talked about his music and growth as an artist with The Korea Times through an email interview. / Courtesy of Anthony Mandler |
``The last two to three years of my life have taught me a lot about myself as a person; becoming a business man, getting married, having children and going through a divorce. And there lies a responsibility, an obligation as an artist that I just can't ignore. Finding a balance between those two places is what 'Raymond V Raymond' is all about,'' he said.
The new album proves that Usher is reestablishing his reputation as the King of R&B, offering signature numbers that will surely captivate fans who have been missing his groove.
If the album ``Confession'' in 2004 portrayed his soft side and his 2008 album ``Here I Stand'' his true self, ``Raymond V Raymond'' features both sides of the singer.
``Life since 2007 has changed for me in a massive way. Musically, from `Here I Stand' to `Raymond V Raymond,' I was able to hone in on two incredible things about my personality. One being I'm very honest and the other being I'm very open and vulnerable at the same time. If I go all the way back to `Confessions' there was something very honest and vulnerable in that and something equally as honest in `Here I Stand.' But now in `Raymond V Raymond,' I'm able to tell both sides. Both the good and the bad or, depending on how you look at it, the bad meaning good or good meaning bad,'' he said.
Usher added that the album was not just about him and for him, but something that he hoped would help his fans learn too.
``Really, the choice is up to you because I think this album speaks to all of who we are.''
Like Korea, Hollywood is also going through a hard time when it comes to the music business. The downfall of the music industry affects many, whether you are a big star or a talented aspiring artist, and Usher agreed that the industry was slowly, but surely dying every day.
``The true art form of music is being lost, because it seems so easy that everyone can do it, and that it can happen overnight. This is a lie. It can't happen overnight. The artist who thinks that it can just comes and goes. The reason why great singers cannot exist in this time is maybe because they're not properly managed, and maybe they don't understand the full gamut of what being an entertainer is,'' he said.
The same thing is happening here. Numerous groups and singers make their debut, attracting viewers and fans with something other than music ― let it be their fashion, dance moves or even their past ― but this can never help them grow as an artist.
``There are the record companies that are mass-producing these versions of these people from TV talent shows; versions of this broken art. While it works, because it sells records, it damages the business,'' he warned.
Despite the worries, however, the singer has bounced back to become the No.1. R&B artist. He scored his ninth NO.1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart Thursday, as ``OMG'' jumped to the top.
So what's in the future for Usher?
``Brand Usher is the future. I think in around 2004 and 2005, I really started to view myself differently as an artist and a business. While I'm compelled to do these creative things - and I'll never let go of that emotion - the other side is that there are so many other things I have to offer as a business man, as a brand in terms of taste and in terms of culture. I think that I am able to convey that through my branding,'' he said.
The music business may be heading down, but it's impossible to imagine our lives without music. Likewise, the hardships may have affected the 31-year-old singer to view his surroundings and the world differently with new insight but it seems he has brushed off the pain and negativity and managed to successfully repeat something he does best. For his fans, this may be the best news yet.
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