It sucks to interview recording artists.

At least some of the time…They’re so narcissistic, majority of the time…And when they’re repped by a major label, at times…They are so guarded during the interview, that you might as well simply regurgitate (plagiarize?) what their publicist wrote in the press release, by simply adding a few direct quotes for brevity.

Real talk though…Successful music artists, regardless of genre, have quite a few credible reasons not to be candid during interviews. The blogosphere is unapologetically ruthless, most of the time…so they’re quite entitled to a fair amount of tabloid-induced paranoia.  Besides, controversy no longer sells CDs…wait, nothing really sells CDs these days, so what’s the point of telling, how you really feel?

Brian.

So Brian McKnight, the suave R&B lothario who sold a few million CDs back in the naughty nineties (I coined this), called me from his home in Los Angeles, earlier this week. McKnight is headlining a benefit concert this Saturday at Chrysler Hall.  Proceeds are earmarked locally for Cox Charities. For this sole night, Caucasian R&B wunderkind, Robin Thicke, is also scheduled to perform.

But back to Brian… After two decades of success as a singer, songwriter, producer and television personality, McKnight simply doesn’t give an eff. Perhaps it’s the multiple platinum plaques that the fellow Gemini has earned, dating back to 1992’s self-titled debut. Or maybe it’s the recent debut stint on Broadway? Or the Celebrity Apprentice appearance? Or the syndicated variety show? Or whatever the hell informs McKnight’s swagger, he was remarkably candid in our interview. Now I know everyone says that. It’s even a bit of a cliché these days, a part of simple print media hyperbole meant to entice readers.  So judge for yourself.  Know that the excerpts below, however, only tell part of Brian’s story, as some things are better left unwritten…

Are you working on a new project, that’s like, on the horizon?

Kinda, sort of…It’s kind of interesting. When I was on the radio—we were on in LA for 3 years—I did this thing every Monday morning called Jukebox, where I would play and sing other people’s songs live on the radio that people would request. I would sort of do them my way…I’m doing an album of those right now that I’m mixing that should be out later this year. It’s called Jukebox Vol. 1.

(Sidenote: Brian McKnight released his ninth studio album, Evolution of a Man, last year on indie major E1 Music.)

Oh, so it’s like a covers project?

Yeah, it’s a covers project.

And that’s coming out sometime in the fall?

The latest.

Well right now the label and I aren’t seeing eye to eye, because I wanted to create a record that only I could do. You know, and basically show all of the musicality that I wanted. The record labels are still on this whole thing about needing something to play on the radio. And I keep trying to explain to them, “you know what, if you guys stop being pussies and put something out and say it’s great,” the radio would play it. If you keep giving them (radio stations) the same crap over and over again… It’s just one of those weird catch 22 situations to be in.

(Sidenote: I always liked the word “pussies,” and I think it fits well here.)

Let’s step aside from music for a bit. I know you’re a huge basketball fan. You even play in that—what’s it called—NBA Celebrity league?

It’s actually called the E league.

Thank you. Do you still play ball in that league?

I still play in that league, yeah…

So, do you have an opinion about the whole Lebron James decision spectacle?

Initially, because I knew a couple of days before he announced his decision on television that he was going to Miami… I felt initially that it was a bad thing. But then, I had to take a step back and really look at what this meant. For years, these owners of these franchises, in every sport, have had control of where players go, how much money they make, who they play with. This is the first time I’ve seen where players are now taking matters into their own hands and deciding what they’re gonna do. It’s a measure of a great player, how many championships you have…I think it’s the wave of the future. I think maybe it could have been handled differently, [we both chuckle] but I think it’s a great thing for the player, because now they have a little more control.

How did you know a few days before everyone else found out? Was that just based upon what you were feeling or are you one of Lebron’s confidantes,  or what?

[Brian lets out a hearty giggle]

Cause you know a lot of people.

I can’t really disclose my sources but let’s just say, I had it from very close people that this was what was going to happen. [laughs]

Okay. Let’s get back to the music questions. In your opinion, how do you think that popular music has changed since your recording debut in 1992?

[Brian laughs a bit and then pauses to ponder the question.]

Or is that too big of a question?

This one's for the ladies...

Well no, there’s just so many ways…I think the two biggest things are that the technology now allows anybody to make music on the professional level… Number two, it doesn’t appear that they (record labels) are looking for extraordinarily talented people to make music (any longer).

Okay.

Now I don’t know if it’s because there aren’t any out there or if they’re just not bringing themselves to the forefront. It would appear as though the music is now appealing to the lowest common denominator and it’s allowing the general public to become musical stars…

(Sidenote: Janelle Monae is the clear exception to this. The ArchAndroid is sonic transcendence…)

Can you as an artist even make money from record sales these days?

That’s a very good question. I’m sure that there are some…

I mean for the majority.

I think it’s very difficult. If the labels aren’t making as much money, how can they pay the artist anything? Traditionally artists weren’t making a lot of money anyway from record sales. And now, very few of them can actually go out and tour too, so…It’s a tough thing anyway you look at it. If you are not established—you haven’t yet established a fan base—it’s very difficult to make a living in the music industry over any period of time.

Brian, after all these years, do you still have a sincere love for performing onstage and touring?

Absolutely. And I’ll tell you why. No matter what you like, when you hear the real thing, you can’t help but be moved by it. And that’s what the music industry has forgotten. At the end of the day, people want to be moved…They’re (the industry) so caught up in the spectacle…They’ve forgotten why we loved Prince. Why we loved Michael Jackson…They were the real thing.

Do you have any connection to VA?

I can remember, because there’s a heavy military presence there, coming and doing an in store on the base for the military personnel. Every one came out and it was so great to see how much they appreciated me for coming…It was a touching moment. I was just looking at those pictures the other day. It’s always great to go back there.

What can we expect from your concert this Saturday? Is there a particular Brian McKnight performance aesthetic?

I think…that people come to see me because, one…they love the songs. Two, they know that they’re paying their money to hear what they hear on the radio. I give everything that I have each show. You know, it’s so funny to watch the men who are forced to come and see it. [slight chuckle] They come because their arm was pulled. By the end of the night though, they understand that it’s a night of being entertained by someone who understands the ups and downs of what relationships are all about.  I take you through that story from beginning to end…and it’s funny and happy and sad…It covers every emotion. That would be the main reason to go.

For tickets to Saturday’s show, click here.