Mario

Recently the3XGP.com had an exclusive interview with J Records R&B recording artist Mario.  Mario discusses his new album Go, featuring the hit singles “How Do I Breathe” and “Crying Out For Me”, him being the new Marvin Gaye, the transition from young R&B newcomer to leading R&B icon, the hit T.V. show “Dancing with The Stars“, collaborating with Lil’ Wayne, and his budding acting career!

DJ Glew: What’s going on everyone!  This is DJ Glew representing the3XGP.com.  I’m here today with J Records R&B recording artist Mario, with his current album titled Go in stores now.  How’s it going Mario?

Mario: What’s up everybody!  How you feeling Glew?  Nice to talk to you man.

DJ Glew: First off, congratulations on all your success!

Mario: Man, I appreciate it.

DJ Glew: It seems like you’ve grown a lot this album in terms of content and sound.  You’ve previously stated that the album is more personal, sexual, and passionate.  How do you feel about your album Go?  Are you happy with the way it turned out and the results in comparison to Turning Point?

Go was released Tuesday, December 11, 2007.

Mario: In terms of creation and creating a project absolutely.  I felt it was a way stronger project.  I feel like going into the record what I wanted to do and what I wanted it to feel like was obviously…I wanted it to feel passionate.  I wanted people to recognize that there are still real R&B singers around and there are still real singers.  I could’ve went more pop with the record and went more up tempo.  I could’ve kept it all in the club but I wanted to solidify my basis as an R&B singer with that record and I feel that’s what I did and I’m definitely happy with it.

DJ Glew: You mention real R&B singers, is that what you consider real R&B singers?  Not really club music but I guess ballads?

Mario: That’s still R&B but I’m talking in terms of what I wanted to do.  I think you can definitely keep it in the club and sing it.  Usher’s doing it right now with his single. “Love In The Club”, I feel like he’s definitely singing on the record, and some of his other records, and he’s making it work.  But in terms of what I wanted to do.  You know R&B…When I listen to R&B I think about people like Joe, Keith Sweat, and Gerald Levert, and you know people like that.  Marvin Gaye with the R&B soul.  I feel like I’m the new Marvin Gaye.  I’m those new cats that keep it singing.  When you come to the show and you’re looking for somebody to sing that’s what I do.  You know, that’s my way.

Mario - Crying Out For Me

DJ Glew: Alright, next question.  Many artists leak songs from their forthcoming album to test the market and get feedback from their fans.  But your two lead singles “How Do I Breathe” and “Crying Out For Me” were leaked 6-7 months prior to Go’s release.  Why the long delay and do you think this helped or hurt the albums overall sales?

Mario: I think it really hurt the album’s overall sales.  The momentum of the record wasn’t where I would’ve liked it to be.  But a lot of times in an artist’s career things don’t go as well as planned.  When the singles got leaked I wasn’t even aware of it maybe until a month or two after they got leaked.  But I wasn’t ready to go with the project…I wasn’t up and running, I wasn’t focused, and I wasn’t ready.  The project wasn’t ready yet someone put it out.  When it was finally ready to be released the singles were already leaked so it slowed down the momentum of the record but we still put it out.  And that’s what happened.  I would never put out a record when it’s not ready and I’d rather just start the whole record over and do a whole new record.

DJ Glew: So you’re saying, those records didn’t have the full potential they could’ve had…timing…wise.

Mario: Absolutely not.  Absolutely not.  People love those records.  Those are great records of where I was and where I wanted to be. I didn’t think “How Do I Breathe” was the right single to come with in the first place.  I’m not putting anybody on the bust but it wasn’t my call to make that the first single.  It was put out there to be tested and ended up being the first single.

DJ Glew: Well to join that question, how important is it for a record label such as J Records to coordinate with an artist such as yourself so that you are both in the same direction from a creative, marketing, and promotions perspective?

Mario: I think it’s very important but I also think it’s important for a label to communicate with each other and be on the same page as each other at all times too.  But sometimes it doesn’t go that way.  And I understand how hard it is and I know how hard it is because I’ve seen it with other artists struggle to make it through that age barrier where you’re still considered a kid or whatever.  If you don’t have an album coming out every year it’s kind of hard to show that growth.  Put out an album one year and then two years later or three years later put another one out.  You can’t really show that growth.  But what I’ve tried to do is go and do other things to show that I’ve grown.  Like films and get into movies to show a different side of me to show that I have grown.  And introduce my fans to me that way.  Even though doing “Dancing With The Stars” I tried to introduce another side of me and I feel people did get that.  So now coming into this next album I have a whole new focus and people be recognizing I have grown as an artist, and as an adult, and as a young man.

DJ Glew: Let’s talk about the next single. “Music For Love”, it’s said to be the third single off the album.  Can you give us details on the video.  Where was it shot, who’s the director, and what is the concept?  Any female starring leads in the video?

Mario: Well this single right here is as of right now is an unofficial single on the album we haven’t shot the video for it yet but I will definitely keep you posted on it.

LISTEN TO

MARIO - MUSIC FOR LOVE

DJ Glew: Moving on, you’ve made the successful transition from baby-faced R&B singer of “Just A Friend 2002″ to leading R&B icon of “How Do I Breathe”.  Young stars such as Bow Wow have publicly announced the difficulties with this transition in terms of being respected in and outside the industry.  Was this a hard transition for yourself to make?

Mario: Somewhat yeah. I mean, like I told you, it’s tough doing it you know…Some labels are not good at marketing a young artist.  They keep going about it real fast.  Throw him in a suit or make him sing about sex.  What’s important is to just be honest with your friends.  You got to make music that touches people.  Not just young people not just old people but everybody.  I think that’s how you grow by being honest and putting out real good music and knowing who you are in your music and not just recording any type of records.

DJ Glew: So you’re saying to make the breakthrough you have to be more diverse in content and what your ventures are.

Mario: Absolutely, you have to be more diverse in content but what I’m saying more than anything is you have to have a complete understanding of who you are.  And I think sometimes musically you can go backwards instead of going forwards in terms of content.  And you got to keep switching it up, you can’t keep singing the same things, you can’t keep making the same records because if you do, what does that say about you.  The way you connect with your fans is through your music, do your interviews too but your music is what your going to be hearing most of the time.

Mario with Karina Smirnoff on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars.

DJ Glew: Let’s talk about the hit T.V. show “Dancing With The Stars”.  A lot of people were surprised that a relevant recording artist such as yourself would make a career decision to be featured alongside celebrities of the past.  What made you want to join the cast of “Dancing With The Stars”?

Mario: It was a very diverse cast if you really look at it pretty much every ethnicity.  Well not every, but it was very culturally diverse.  It was an interesting opportunity because I have an album out right now.  I have a song that’s top 5 on the charts.  But at the same time I never considered “Dancing With The Stars” a reality show.  I felt like it was a show that you pretty much sat down and ate dinner with…I mean America sat down with you every Monday and Tuesday night.  And to be a diverse artist and multi-talented you have to show all of that and what better way to do it than with “Dancing With The Stars”.  Before I did the show, you didn’t see a lot of young artists even performing on the show but after you saw Omarion and Usher perform and I was hoping to be the catalyst for young artists to do something different and to branch out and try something new.

Mario & Karina - Dancing With The Stars week 8.

DJ Glew: Alright moving on, this question has to deal with Lil’ Wayne.  You and Lil’ Wayne collaborated on the “Crying Out For Me (Remix)”.

Mario: Ah man!  Wayne came in and blessed the song after hearing it on the radio.  He called me and went in the studio that night, recorded it, sent it to me.  It was tasteful. He did his thing on it.

DJ Glew: Well the best rapper alive right now is in some controversy.  In a recent interview with Foundation Magazine, Lil’ Wayne lashed out at mixtape DJ’s around the world. In the past, you have hosted a handful of mixtapes.  How important do you think DJ’s and mixtapes are to the success of R&B artists such as yourself?

Mario: I think when you collaborate with mixtape DJ’s and when you do something special that’s special for mixtapes and the mixtape world…People that love mixtapes.  I think it’s magical.  They show a more personal side outside the label doing something that’s strictly for your core fans that go out and buy mixtapes.  I think that’s special.  I don’t think they make you.  I don’t think they break you.  I think mixtape DJ’s and the internet are important if you use them the right way and if you can collaborate with them and if you are on hands with them.

DJ Glew: Let’s move onto the last question, let’s talk about your budding acting career.  You’ve previously starred in the films “Step Up” alongside Channing Tatum and “Freedom Writers” opposite Academy Award winner Hilary Swank.  Are there any upcoming movie or T.V. roles you want to let us know about?  I heard about Dragonball Z?

Mario: I did read for Dragonball Z but they didn’t want me for the film because they were having some racial issues.  They were trying to figure out if they wanted my part to be a Japanese dude or an African American and they said it was racially imbalanced.  But it was a film that I really wanted and I remember talking in an interview saying how I was really excited about it but I didn’t get the part.  But you know that’s a part of reading those scripts.  There’s a lot out here.  There’s so much competition but it’s definitely something I want to get into more. I’m looking at a couple projects right now but nothing is signed…contract or anything.

DJ Glew: Alright, well that’s about it. Mario’s third solo-album Go is in stores now.  Make sure you go pick it up!  Mario, I want to thank you for your time.  Go ahead and give your shout outs and MySpace.  Let the people know how to stay in touch!

Mario: Gotta keep in touch with your boy.  You can check out my MySpace if you want to, it’s myspace.com/mariojrecords.  And also the date for my tour is on that MySpace. If you wanna check out my other page there’s a link for that.  I always check it!  Letting all my fans know that I will be coming to you personally.  Alright, peace and love. Make sure you call into your local stations and request that record.

DJ Glew: For sure.  For sure.  DJ Glew, the3XGP.com, and Mario signing out.

Mario - Let Me Love You (#1 Billboard Hit, 9 consecutive weeks in 2004-2005)