Ne-Yo Ventures Out Into New Music, Says He's 'Bored' With Urban Music
Date: 04/20/08 | Singersroom News
Filed under: R&B News, NeYo
R&B singer Ne-Yo, who is working on his third album, says he is "a little bored" with urban music.
For his June 24 release of "Year of the Gentleman" via Def Jam, the 28-year-old, real name Shaffer Smith, is venturing into "more worldly" territory.
"There's some stuff on there that sounds like something the Beatles might've done," Ne-Yo told Billboard. "There's some stuff on there that sounds like something Billy Joel might've done. I can't do just straight urban music no more, because to be completely honest with you, I'm a little bored with it. I'm just moving with what music excites me now."
Not that he is mad at urban music, after all his first two albums have both been certified platinum, and he has co-written such monster hits like Beyonce's "Irreplaceable," which spent 10 weeks atop the Hot 100 singles chart in 2006.
An early preview does indeed indicate something a little different from traditional R&B: "Closer" is a Stargate-produced club track with pulsing strobe-light synths and a high-energy house beat that calls to mind Rihanna's "Don't Stop the Music."
"The records he's written don't just speak to young black girls," says Ashaunna Ayars, Def Jam's VP of marketing. "We're trying to build an adult audience that appreciates his music as well."
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Chimere I LOVE YOU SO MUCH i am your number one fan you my hubby i have all your cds keep doing your thing baby you my main man i think you're doing a great thing by changing your image just don't change too much the original NE-YO is the one i fell hard for keep doing yo thang baby!!! LOVE YOU
yap neyo yo right u need 2 change man i love u boy
He is so right.. once a sound is greated every label jumps on the band wagon(no pun intended) and tries to copy it..as for the play to pay thing that is so true i know first hand ..it is a sad thing..so much talent out there..some major powers that be dont give other talent a chance to balance the field..i listen to more indie artists..NEYO.. keep doing what you do..they will get it some day
I don't know what homie down there talking but he can kill that noise Ne-Yo music is sexy something he don't know s*** about A Ne-Yo keep doing what chu want to do I'm behnd u an infinity percent boo boo.anybody gotta a problem holla at cha girl shy. ya dig.
Shaffer, I am not here to say any negative comments about you. You are sooooo sexy, I listen tko your music all day, I have all your cds. Whatever music you decide to switch to I know its going to be hot. Good luck and I wish you the best.*My EYES tell their own STORY*
of course he's bored when just he and a few others are the only ones that are allowed to get airplay with their writings...theres alot of good music out there that wont never can exposed because the powers that be dont get paid off on it thats the truth.....neyos good but theres much more out there....so hes bored but hes knows its the business...so do a international sound because they are wide open and the powers that be dont control there airplay
Sometimes this can happen when you do just one particular genre of music...boredom can set it. This is why at a young age, I exposed myself to all types of music. I like all types of music. This is why it is wise that we as (songwriters) dip and dab in other types of genre's of music, and we can still keep it Urban. I do rnb/jazz, rnb/pop, rnb/hip hop, etc. So I'd say to Ne Yo yes, do your thing because it ain't nothing wrong with tyring to master other genre's of music.
Man I feel that boy Ne-Yo on that. There's not much in this life that we would like to remain exactly the same always. So it's only natural that he wants to explore, venture out and embrace new things.
That's good.