Mario has certainly made his mark in the R&B world. Since 2002, the Baltimore native has spoiled us with solid R&B songs such as “Just A Friend,” “Let Me Love You,” “How Do I Breathe,” and “Crying Out For Me,” to name a few.
While it has been nearly five years since Mario released an album, lately, he has focused on re-emerging at the forefront of R&B. In May 2013, he released his Nicki Minaj-assisted single “Somebody Else.” The song didn’t make much impact on the Billboard charts, forcing Mario to move forward with another release “Fatal Distraction,” and eventually “L.S.D.”
While he was making promotional rounds for his “Evolve” album, Mario confirmed the project was 95 percent completed, and he even set a release date for the project. As the release date passed and no album was released, fans were left wondering if Mario still planned on releasing the project.
Rated RnB recently chatted with Mario backstage at the 2014 African American Festival in Baltimore. In the interview, the “Break Up” crooner talked about his longevity in the music industry and his plans for new music.
Check out our interview below.
You’ve been in the music industry for over a decade. What do you believe has been the key to your longevity?
Just continuing to reinvent myself, really staying focused, making sure the quality is always there with the music and just never giving up. The music industry is really about having a strong foundation with yourself and your team — and just being ready for whatever. Just continue to push and work hard. Every time I put a new record out, I go hit the streets like it’s my new album again. It’s always new audiences coming so it’s important to keep reinventing yourself.
You’ve released a couple of singles over the past year with the intention of releasing an album. I know that you changed the title of your album to “Evolve.” When can we expect that album and what is the creative direction you’re going with that project?
“Evolve” is still a title of a project that I’m going to put out, but I plan on putting out a few different projects over the next year and a half. I’m actually experimenting right now sonically– to be honest with you. I will be dropping a few singles in the next few weeks just for fans to be fed and give them something creative from me as I’m working — just feeling it out. The project will probably come sometime around the top of next year.
What type of topics will you sing about on this project?
One of the songs I did recently is called “Levitation.” [It’s] a song about me taking a woman to another level mentally and spiritually. It’s a sexy song but at the same time, lyrically, it’s just metaphorically written. It’s got a dope beat to it, a dope vibe to it. I channeled Michael Jackson a little bit in it — tone-wise.
I got another record called “Never Enough.” That record just talks about no matter how much success you gain, when you get to one level it’s always another level. You just want to keep pushing to the next level over and over again.
Another song is called “A Word for You.” I would say “A Word For You” is me slash Phil Collins type of record. This record is about not being able to come up with a word to describe a feeling or moment you have with this person. [The beat] is mixed with a little bit of tribal drums with a turned-up type of dance music. It’s interesting. It’s something you’ve never heard from me before.
Are you looking forward to Mario’s new music? Leave a comment below!