Feeds
You've been writing and producing for other artists for a while now. What made you want to launch your own singing career?
"It was almost like public demand. I'd be producing a track for someone, and people in the studio would ask me 'Is this your single?' I'd have to say: 'No, it's for Mya or somebody.' People seemed to like my voice, so I thought I'd make a single, put it out and see what happens. That was 'I Just Wanna Know' and it did pretty well."
'I Just Wanna Know' and 'Moving On', your first two singles, came out about 15 months ago. Why's it taken so long for you to release another?
"Well, I just wanted to create an album that was quality. I didn't want to put out any old album fillers, so I took my time making an album where every song could be a single. I think I've managed to achieve that."
You sound very persuasive on your new single, 'Come On Girl'. What's it about?
"It's about seeing a girl you like in a club and formulating your plan - what you're going to say to her - before you approach her. In terms of production, I wanted to create something that people could have a good time to and party to."
Is it about a particular girl you cracked on to?
"It's more of a general thing - most of the girls I meet aren't that random. They tend to be friends of people I know, so I'm already in conversation with them. I don't normally need to think about lines! But sometimes I do see a girl at the bus stop and think 'Tell me what I gotta say to take you away' - just like in the song."
Why have you named your album "Departure"?
"There are two reasons: one, I think the experience of waiting for your album to come out is a bit like waiting in the departure lounge at an airport, killing time before take-off. The other is that the album's a departure from the norm - it's not your typical R&B because it's more pop."
Most of the album seems more tender and vulnerable than 'Come On Girl'. Are you a romantic at heart?
"I'm definitely a love song person. I used to listen to a lot of Boyz II Men and Babyface, so normally the first thing that comes out of me is a sad love song. Honestly, I haven't been hurt as much as you'd think listening to the album. That sadness comes my influences rather than my direct experience."
The album's got a really big, bombastic sound. Did you consciously try to make everything as epic as possible?
"I plan on making it even bigger on the second album! One of my favourite types of music is film music - I love how people like John Barry make everything sound so huge. That's what I was trying to do with the big string sections on songs like 'I Can Be' and 'Never Gonna Get Us'."
Do you feel competitive with other producers?
"There's a little bit of competitiveness, but when I hear people like Timbaland or Neptunes come up with something amazing, I don't get jealous. I just think 'Wow, that's awesome. I love it.' It just makes me want to push myself so I can get just as good as they are."
Is there any truth to the rumour that 'Umbrella' was meant for you?
"It wasn't meant for me, but it was definitely "pinned" for me. I was there the day it was created - me, Christopher 'Tricky' Stewart and some other guys were all submitting songs for the Britney album. Whenever we'd write something that sounded like a smash, we'd send it to Britney first. As soon as 'Umbrella' was finished it was sent to Britney, but it was sent back because it wasn't "in her vibe". I said to Tricky: 'I'm putting my album together, so can I have this song?' He said I could record a demo, but that he was still going to shop it around."
And Rihanna nabbed it...
"Yeah, he played it to a few people, including Mary J Blige, but then Rihanna and Jay Z heard it and the rest is history. I didn't know it was going to be as big it was, but I knew it was going to be a smash. I thought it would be a number one, but I didn't realise it would be number one for weeks on end."
Another rumour: is is true that Corinne Bailey Rae tried to sue you?
"She got her lawyer to call up my label and threaten to sue me, because she thought my song 'She's Like A Star' sounded like her song 'Like A Star'. My song doesn't sound anything like her song, but I had to get a musicologist on board to prove it. He basically said the songs are nothing like each other. You know, she's not the first person to have written a song called 'Like A Star'. We had to say to her that she really overreacting."
How did you feel when you found out?
"We're both British artists trying to make music, so it's terrible that she'd sue me over something so trivial. I'm not going to hold grudges though: if that's how she feels, that's how she feels. I'm just going to try and sort it out."
She seems like she wouldn't say boo to a goose...
"It's all image!"
Taio Cruz releases 'Come On Girl' on March 3. His album Departure follows on March 17.
