R&B is the one thing that has influenced every kind of music. Every artist that there is, from those that are sung the most to Adele - you know, she was so influenced by so many R&B artists and soul music - it's clear in her writing that that's where it comes from.
It's like spicy food - sometimes you have to tone it down so more people can enjoy it.
The one thing about The Weeknd is that he's gone between the world of trap music and pop music and blended them together, so it makes it interesting in that way. That's what I like about him.
Love hurts the most when you really love. Sometimes you think you're in love, and then you find out that you're not because you're not really hurting. But when it's real love, then it's gonna hurt. It's supposed to hurt because it's real.
The reality is, some people don't want you to change or go anywhere different.
The first song I wrote was called 'Here I Go Falling In Love' I wrote it in the sixth grade.
Some people can sing, and they can sing sing, but Brandy can not only sing sing, but she has a voice and a tone that is unlike any other.
When I was in top 40 bands, I always had to learn new material and new styles.
You can find a diamond in the rough a lot of times.
The Internet is a whole new world opening up.
Unfortunately, a lot of executives aren't like producers, and can't hear the diamond in the rough.
Commercial music, for the most part, is popular music and you always have to keep that in mind.
I was always falling in love at a very young age - kindergarten is when I can remember. There was always a crush. And when I was in sixth grade, I started picking up guitar, so I started wanting to write about it and sing about it.
I usually prepare a track and then I work with the artist when it's time to do the vocals.
I still write the same way and have the same perspective.
The blessing of being able to write music and let music speak for itself is you let the melodies and let the lyrics and the groove talk to people instead of me talking to people.
Adele ultimately did well in such a large way because she affects everybody, and the way that she writes seems to be popular music, not because of her skin color but because she writes great music, and it's popular in that way.
I would say that I've been lucky. Being blessed and not really ever giving up.
There are people that bring artists to me to look at it and it's a question of whether I like their music and their look and if I think there's something they have that makes them different and commercial.
I think that in order for music to be heard in a lot of different situations you have to always consider that.
