Free-spirited R&B chanteuse Jhené Aiko has no problem baring her soul and reflects on all things life, love and music in an interview with Complex Magazine.
The “From Time” singer plans to release her much-anticipated debut album this year. Taking a break from her busy schedule, Jhené Aiko opened up to Complex about why she didn’t go independent, her rumored celebrity romances and various parts of her personal life.
After walking away from a solo deal at age 15, Aiko wanted to re-enter the music scene independent, but ended up signing with veteran producer No I.D. after the success of her 2011 mixtape “Sailing Souls.”
On signing with No I.D.: “He wasn’t a label head. He’s an artist. He’s a creative person and producer. Not only that but he’s a vegetarian, he doesn’t drink alcohol anymore, he just seems like he’s where I would like to be. We ended up having talks about Buddhism and about spirituality and everything was just very compatible. He has proven so far that he gets it. He trusts me. He trusts that I know my vision.”
On Drake: “I look up to Drake. He can act, he can rap, he can sing. I can relate to him. He’s mixed; I’m mixed. I feel like he’s doing a really good job of being, like, well-rounded. And not only that, he’s really talented. I’m always asking him for advice with stuff and trying to figure out how he deals with being such a big celebrity.”
On Donald Glover/Childish Gambino: “We have the same publisher. One of his best friends, Fam, went to school with my brother who passed away. We have the same sense of humor, very sarcastic and dry. It was automatically like, ‘I like you! We can be friends.’ We’re both creative people. We’re just friends but I’m also single, so you never know what friendships can develop into.”
On staying grounded: “I try not to watch myself on TV. I don’t like to get caught up with who I am, and I’m surrounded by family. We’re very, very close and everyone keeps each other down to earth.”
Read the full interview over at Complex
Last month, Aiko earned her first top 20 single, as a solo artist, on urban radio with “The Worst” off her EP “Sail Out.” Her debut album “Souled Out” is due out this May on Artium/Island Def Jam Records.
