The US singer on music, manhood and moving on after a public break-up
WITH 45 million worldwide sales, three UK No.1 singles to date and a total of 1.7 billion views on YouTube, it’s hard to believe that pop/R&B singer Jason Derulo has been on the scene for just five years.
But for the hard-working musician, the time hasn’t exactly flown by.
“I feel like it’s been forever,” laughs Derulo. “My career has been progressing in a really cool way, though. My rise has been this slow precipice, so I think I’ve got to know the industry really well because it wasn’t like a big bang.”
The singer, songwriter and dancer has come a long way since the release of his infectious debut single Whatcha Say and self-titled debut album in 2010.
He recently released his latest single, Want To Want Me – the first release from his new album, Everything Is 4.
The single has already broken records in the US by becoming the most added track in the history of Top 40 radio, nabbing the title from Justin Timberlake.
"I still can't believe this ride. I couldn't walk two years ago [after breaking his neck in an almost fatal accident] and now I am breaking records.
“It’s insane. It’s an amazing feeling, ‘cause I put a lot of work into this album, you know? So it’s a good start for the first single to break records in its first week.”
Thankfully, the Wiggle hitmaker’s accolades haven’t completely gone to his head, as he claims he’s always surprised to hear that a single has done really well.
“You never know what to expect,” he says. “You’re writing all these songs while you’re kinda in your own world and then you release it to the whole world and you just don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Everything Is 4 follows Derulo’s album cycle for 2013’s Tattoo, which saw him sell over 16 million singles worldwide as he became American radio’s most played male artist of 2014.
He started recording the new album while on tour in a studio bus – a first-time experience for the Florida-native.
“I was literally coming off my stage show and going directly to the bus. It was like I was taking all that adrenaline and energy from the crowds and laying it down.”
Describing the album, Derulo says: “I just think it’s the grown up version of me. It’s me with a dress shirt on. It’s a natural progression for me as an artist, a songwriter and as a man.”
Derulo, who was raised by Haitian parents, continues: “I just try and write music based on my experiences and who I am. Who I am in 2015 is different to who I was in 2010 in terms of confidence. It’s just different in terms of growth in all aspects.
“I’m more comfortable in my skin and I think you can tell.”
In addition to his music credits, Derulo can also add philanthropist to the list, as he is currently working on setting up a charity with his mother to help buy medical equipment for an impoverished hospital in Haiti. Their ultimate aim is to build a new hospital on the earthquake-stricken island.
"I don’t have any family there anymore,” he says. “But I go there for charity work. My mum is spearheading our charity ‘Just for You’. It’s a charity my mother and I created.
MOVING ON: Derulo with ex-girlfriend Jordin Sparks
“Right now, the main goal is to help a hospital which doesn’t have the right tools and equipment. And then from that experience, we want to build our own hospital.
He continues: “We’ll put on a concert, reach out to fans on social media, and hopefully we can make a difference.”
Musically, the singer also leans on his heritage for the album track Try Me, a collaboration with Jennifer Lopez.
“It’s a very Caribbean-based song,” he confirms. “It reminds us of our roots.”
Just as the singer has developed as a man, his lyrics have also matured over the years, and he affirms that he’s not bothered if anyone has a problem with his sexualised lyrics.
“I don’t consider anything other than the art. I’m not worried about who the audience is, necessarily.
“It’s not about going in the charts or playing on the radio, I’m literally focusing on the art. That’s what music should be. It should be something that is created from reality.
“Whatever my reality is, is what the song will sound like at that moment. Whether it’s sexually infused or an emotional record about heartbreak.”
There was heartbreak for the star last year, following his his split from girlfriend Jordin Sparks.
Though he recognises why people are interested to know the ins and outs of his previous relationship, he says he’s become bored of constantly talking about the break-up.
“I understand why people ask but it's a bit weird. The strangest part is it's like a prolonged break-up. Instead of it being over and moving on, it keeps on going and going. That's the strange part."
While the performer is happy to open up about some aspects of his life, he wouldn’t like to join fellow singers like K Michelle, Christina Milian or Angie Stone who have welcomed cameras into their personal space for reality TV shows.
“It’s not my thing to be honest. I don’t think I want people to see what I’m doing like that. I already put my heart on my sleeve enough; I think there has to be some sort of line.”
But he does admit that he has been trying to reveal more about himself so his fans can get to know the “real Jason Derulo.”
He says: “I think for a long time, the dots weren’t being connected in terms of who Jason Derulo really was. So I’ve been trying to let more of myself out so people can get to know me.
“But there are levels to everything,” he adds. “Though I won’t reveal everything in my life, I’m okay with revealing a lot of it to inspire and let people in.”
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