Author:
Jay Carter
Read 3599 Times Since
Posted on 2008-04-22
I recently had the chance to sit down
with one of the Music Industry's go to writers/producers when a hit is needed.
He has wrote some of your favorite songs for your favorite artist like Destiny
Child ("Soldier", "Lose My Breathe", "T-Shirt"),
Beyonce ("Upgrade U", “Check Up On It”, "Get Me Bodied",
"Ring The Alarm"), Fergie ("London Bridge"), Kelly Rowland
("Like This"), Amerie ("Touch"), Usher ("Yeah"),
Chris Brown ("Run It", "Gimmie That", "Wall To
Wall"), Teairra Mari ("Make Her Feel Good"), Nelly
("Grillz"), Pussycat Dolls
("Buttons") and Mary J. Blidge “No More Crying” but now has decided
to take the jump from behind the scenes to the stage. So with no further a due
24HourHipHop readers I bring to you Sean Garrett or should I say "The
Pen"......... (If you hear it on the radio, I bet you he penned it!)
24:
I know that you were an artist first before you became every record label go to
writer but was it always your plan to drop an album one day and not just stay
behind the scenes as a writer/producer only?
Sean Garrett: Yeah, I have always been
an artist at heart. It’s definitely apart of me and my life you know its really
just about paying your dues. In the society we live in today people want you to
prove yourself before they allow you that opportunity to get the benefits of
life. My mom and Dad always taught me the true values of life so it’s never
been a thing for me to go and get my hands dirty. I have always had that love
to be an artist but at times you have to choose your priorities and mines were
making hits which lead me to this day where my album is coming out.
24:
You kind of lead me to my next question because the fans are so use to hearing
you make great music for Usher, Chris Brown, Ciara, Destiny Child, Beyonce,
Nelly, Mary J. Blidge and many more so what should they expect from your debut
album?
Sean Garrett: While the one thing they
can expect of definitely energy. So if you love those records like “Yeah”, “Run
It” and “Ring The Alarm”, “Get Me Bodied”, “Check Up On It” to “No More Crying”
your definitely are going to love Turbo 919! They will get a chance to really
hear me sing and they’ll will be no more questions to whether Sean Garrett
sing, there will be no more questions about that or no more questions about can
he perform.
24:
Tell me the meaning behind your album title Turbo 919?
Sean Garrett: I look at myself as the
black version of James Bond. What I mean by that is to me James Bond has always
been very strong, intelligent, well mannered, well dressed, dangerous, he lives
on the edge at times and he’s not scared to take chances. He can also be very
romantic and compassionate towards the ladies. He does things on a
international level and that’s what I see in myself I can be street at times or
I can do something that’s excepted world wide.
24:
Your first single "Grippin" ft Ludacris has been taking over airways
state to state so when will everyone get a video to go with it?
Sean Garrett: Most definitely the video
should be coming to B.E.T. next week and and Youtube real soon, maybe by time
this interview goes up. I got some of my great friends on the album like Akon,
Ludacris, and Pharell. We went in on this album and I didn’t want to do too
much collaboration on this album and make it compilation or any thing like
that.
24:
What's your favorite song on the album that means the most to you and why?
Sean Garrett: I have a track on their
its called “One Day” its very special to me, because I lost my moms several
years back. It’s a record about marriage and it’s a very touching record
because I know my mom wanted to see me married and I wrote the song from my
heart. I got another record called “Turbo 919” that I’m sure will take off
internationally as well as in America, I got a record called “6 In The Morning”
that will definitely have the clubs on lock. Not to mention “Come On In” for
all of the ladies and I got something for all of the girlfriends out there
featuring Lil Wayne. The single is just a little peak in because it’s not even
a tenth of what the album has to offer. I wanted to start with the Urban
community first a lot of people was saying why would you start with a record
like that when you have all of these smash hits but I know my fans love me
enough to support me and what I’m about. So that’s why I did a record like
“Grippin” because it’s not so big that its over people heads. It’s very simple
and everybody knows what gripping on the bed is about because you did it at
some point with your mate!
24:
Your name ring bells all around the industry so what was it about Interscope
that made you sign with them because I'm sure you had a lot of offers on the
table?
Sean Garrett: We’ll you know I always
been a very big fan of Jimmy, he’s a machine. I have other labels that I work
with and of course LA Reid is my mentor who I always loved and respected. It
just so happened that they have The Dream and Ne-Yo and it just didn’t make
sense to go over there and I already had my label going through Interscope so
it made more sense over here. Interscope does not have anything like me and I
was already blessed with the opportunity over here so I went with it.
24:
Out of all the hit records that you penned which one's are you’re Top 5?
Sean Garrett: A Top 5 for Sean Garrett,
let me see (pause), of course #1 would be “Yeah” for Usher, #2 would be “Run
It” for Chris Brown, I definitely have to put Ring The Alarm” at #3 for
Beyonce, “No More Crying” for Mary J., and I love “Bossy” for Kelis or
“Goodies” for Ciara.
24:
Who is some that you have not yet worked with that you want to get into the
studio?
Sean Garrett: That’s a good questions,
I always like to work with people I haven’t yet. That’s a good question
(pause); I’m getting ready to work with Whitney Houston so I’m excited about
that. It’s so many to too from so it will have to be a few from the past
because I have been blessed to work with a lot of the artist presently so
someone like Marvin Gaye or Michael Jackson who I will be working with soon.
I’m really blessed in a lot of ways man, I really wish I can work with Quincy
Jones and let him score a record on my album or something.
24:
You inspire so many song writers/producers so I'm sure they would like to know
who inspires Sean Garrett and do you ever feel any pressure by the labels to
keep coming with those hit records?
Sean Garrett: I think those song writes
and producers to the average person inspire me to be honest with you man, people
inspire me. It’s always a Love & Hate and when people believe in you there
no better thing then that. I’m a humble heart so I’ll go back to when I was a
kid when I had big dreams of being a star in that sand box holding that shovel
to my mouth like it was a microphone! I go back to that, keeping it real. You
always have big dreams but you really don’t think your going to make or at
least not where I come from your just living day by day.
24:
Any final words you want to leave your fans and the readers with?
Sean Garrett: You know I just want to
say thank you the fans for all of the love and support I have got over the
years and I want to send it back and together were going to make it.
