Johnta Austin

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Johnta Austin: Not really because being around someone like Jermaine Dupri definitely makes you more comfortable with his track record and I feel like he really believes in me. For me I just enjoy making music and having the success and winning Grammys is cool but I just make records that I can be proud of and if it becomes a hit cool but I don't feel any pressure.

24: Who are some of the producers you worked with on "Ocean Drive"?

Johnta Austin: Jermaine carried most of the work load, he did like 6 records, also Scott Storch who I collaborated with for projects for other artist, Teddy Bishop, Brain Michael Cox, Jazze Pha and Stargate.

24: You and Jermaine Dupri seem to have a great chemistry can you describe an average day with you and him in the studio?

Johnta Austin: Coming in and eating up all the fruit that's in the basket if were in Atlanta order something from "Café Dupri". It's a lot of down time and then were eventually get down to business right now were working heavy on Usher's new album. I would throw out some ideas he'll get a beat up and I'll do the melody and we go from there and when were down with that we might hit up the club.

24: What should the fan's expect from "Ocean Drive" because I have a feeling that the songs you wrote for your album are nothing like the songs you wrote for other artist?

Johnta Austin: We'll you know it's going to be some of the same as far as the strong lyrical content that the people seem to love about the music I have wrote. It's a love making album, a sad album and it takes you through a lot of moods.

24: You have wrote hits for everyone in the music industry from Aaliyah, Mariah Carey, Tyrese, Chris Brown to Mary J. Blidge, so when it came down to collaborations who did you want to get in your album?

Johnta Austin: The first single is called "Video" featuring DJ Unk it's a real fun record and I got Mary J. Blidge to do a duet with me it's called "Hood Love" produced by Brain Michael Cox. The song is about a couple that loves hard but they fight hard as well and you might throw things brake things but your going to make back up.

  24: Has there ever been a time when you wrote a song and it came out so good you wanted to keep it for yourself?

Johnta Austin: I just did this record for Chris Brown new album and everyone that heard the record and at his company is saying this song is going to change Chris life and I think its another "We Belong Together" type record meaning how it did so much for Mariah Carey album as a single. I hate to stack it up to a record like that be I really feel like this record is that good and I probably should of held on to this record (laughing). I also have a record called "The One That Got Away" and I got similar feeling about it and kept it so the same thing would not happen twice to me.

24: Who are some of the people that inspire you as an artist and a writer?

Johnta Austin: As an artist I would say Usher as far as a male and R.Kelly. There are a lot of new songwriters that are coming up with some great records but the one that makes me stay on my grind would have to be Ne-Yo.

24: When you write for artist do you have a conversation with them before or do you write the whole song and have them re-sing it?

Johnta Austin: It all depends, the Chris Brown record I did it and played it for him and he loved it so it was cool. I think the more seasoned veterans like Usher, Mary, Mariah that it's almost impossible to write a record for them and not talk to them you have to get inside of their head, you have to hear where they are at this time in their life. I spoke to Mary a little while ago and she told me she get great songs and its not that their not for her but their not for her at this point in her life. To me "Burn" is still a great record but Usher this album is trying to say something different!

24: Was there ever a time when you got writers block and an artist or label was waiting on you to finish a song?

Johnta Austin: Never, till this day I have never suffered from writers block and I want to thank GOD for that!

24: What are some songs you did not write that you wish you did?

Johnta Austin: It's a lot of them out there man, I wish I would of wrote "You Don't Know My Name" for Alicia keys and "Lost With Out You" for Robin Thickie.

24: Anything you want to say to the readers?

Johnta Austin: I just want to say thank you for all the support that you guys show me on my records and the other that I have wrote and Ocean Drive will be out soon.