After six years, Jordin Sparks drops her new album to show fans she’s still got it. At the Bandier Store in New York City, Sparks hosted a body sculpting class to the sounds of her new project.
Read our exclusive interview below:
What was the motivation behind who you chose to collaborate with for the album?
Jordin Sparks: I wanted to work with people that I was a fan of. J-Doe who is on my label actually ended up getting on the album. He is on “1000” and I actually haven’t met him yet but he put his verse on there and I was like I love it, let’s keep it! Shaggy came in at the last minute. I was doing radio shows and we ended up crossing paths a whole bunch of times and finally were like we should collaborate. He was working and I didn’t think it would happen but he ended up turning it in. With 2 Chainz, B.O.B and Elijah [Blake] it was really encouraging to have people want to be a part of my project like if I asked them to because it has been a long time. For someone to take that leap of faith and go “it has been a minute but I want to hop on this,” was really encouraging.
Has Sage the Gemini inspired any of the songs at all?
Sparks: He inspires me all the time. Its funny because I’ve been trying to retweet everyone going crazy over the album and somebody was like “it’s a break-up album” and I’m like this isn’t a breakup album! This is a “hi I’m here and I’m back better than ever.” He definitely inspired some of the love songs and when I sing them I think about him.
Do you have any in-studio rituals?
Sparks: I’m actually probably one of the more weirder artist. I don’t have candles and usually the studio is warm because cold kind of makes my vocal cords tight, so I prefer it a little bit warmer. My poor engineers and the people that sit in the studio are dying of heat stroke and I’m standing in there like can you turn it up please and they’re just like “what?” But I don’t really do anything crazy. I’ll go in there and listen to it a couple times, if I didn’t write it and I go in and kind of just do my thing. When I’m writing it’s just different for each day depending on who I’m writing with and if I’m writing about myself, cause sometimes you come in with an idea. Sometimes you sit down and talk to everybody and an idea comes from that. It’s different each time.
What are your thoughts on Idol ending this year?
Sparks: I’m sad! They dominated television for 15 years and that is huge for any tv series. But it’s really sad because I’m all for the shows that give people a chance to live their dreams. American Idol was pretty much the OG of that. I was a huge fan of the show before I even auditioned so it’s just really crazy. It’s been a big part of my life for a really long time and its really bittersweet that it’s gone. I’m hoping they bring past winners back and other contestants or alumni I should say; I don’t know the creatives, but as soon as they call I’m up for it.
Describe the album in three words!
Sparks: Journey, pretty and emotions.
Be sure to pick up Jordin’s new album, which is now available everywhere!
Right Here Right Now Track listing:
- Work From Home featuring B.O.B
- Produced by Key Wane
- 1000 featuring J-DOE
- Produced by Dem Jointz
- RightHere, RightNow
- Produced by Dem Jointz
- Double Tap featuring 2 Chainz
- Produced by Jonas Jeberg
- Boyz In The Hood
- Produced by Jonas Jeberg
- Silhouette
- Produced by DEEKAY
- They Don’t Give (written by Babyface)
- Produced by Babyface
- Left…Right?
- Produced by Crada
- Casual Love featuring Shaggy
- Produced by Dernst Emile II
- Unhappy featuring Elijah Blake
- Produced by Trakmatik & Rochad Holiday
- Tell Him I Love Him
- Produced by The Underdogs
- 11:11
- Produced by SALAAMREMI.COM
- 100 Years
- Produced by Key Wane
- It Ain’t You
- Produced by Dijon “DJ Mustard” McFarlane & Mikely Adams