Pardon My Blog recently sat down with R&B legend Craig David to speak about the ‘Tower Suite Five’ movement, his upcoming album and the possibility of a collaboration with Drake!
PMB: Hi Craig, so why have you decided to swap the beautiful Miami weather for the cold of London?
Craig David: I’ve got a studio in London along with Marshall, who is a singer/producer, who I recently signed to my publishing company. I’ve been working with him closely as I previously worked with him on my second album, so yeah good to be back.
PMB: How are you received over in the states compared to back home in London?
Craig David: Well, because that’s home and I’ve been in the writing, recording and my creative zone for a while now, it’s different in Miami because it is just fast paced. When you are hot and current over there everybody is into you, you could be Phil Collins, they’d recognise you but they’d just be like… ‘Do your thing.’ The hysteria only happens around the people who are on radio and are current, as I’m not on the radio all the time now, it’s the perfect environment to live and work in. It is a nice balance, but London culturally is home.
PMB: It seemed like a transformational period for you moving to Miami, you went out there and then months later pictures surfaced of you ripped to shreds, is that part of the lifestyle?
Craig David: There was definitely a mind/body transformation. On one hand, ego wise you are aware of your surroundings, but I changed my mindset to everything I’m involved in, not just the gym. If I was to go to the gym then that means my nutrition and lifestyle needs to also change rather than just going in the gym and flinging weights around, which the majority of people are doing with no form. It helped me with my music as well as it allowed me to focus and become more diligent as an artist.
PMB: So tell us about what you’ve teamed up with KISS FM to do and the Tower Suite Five movement..
Craig David: Well, TS5 started off as being a pre-party in my home, a little fun before we decided to go out. The clubs don’t pop off until after 1, the bars are a bit ‘lounge’ and play too much house music, so my thing was where can I find a place that plays good R&b and hip-hop… From TLC No Scrubs, Usher You Remind Me, Fat Joe Lean Back, Biggie 10 Crack Commandments so I decided to do private sets in my house, people loved it the word spread and then we approached KISS FM and wanted to translate it over in the UK and it happened.
PMB: When I hear ‘Miami House Party’ I just think, girls gone wild! Is there that sort of element to it?
Craig David: I mean, I’m not seeing the breasts coming out as quick as those girls gone wild girls, but don’t get me wrong I’d love to get the parties that hyped. To be honest, there are some beautiful women in Miami, but there are times when I’m in my own home and I’m just thinking, ‘Wow this is nuts.’ Think about it there is the fraternity from Brazil and Spain… It’s just crazy.
PMB: It must make you not even want to go out to the clubs as well…
Craig David: That’s the thing, come 1:30 I don’t even need to. The one positive is thatI can go out and then housekeeping can clean my suite and then it’s like nothing has happened because the worst thing is waking up to mess.
PMB: So what is your ultimate goal as a DJ?
Craig David: It’s not so much a goal because I know I can mix well, I’ve got a good understanding of what a crowd like and that is one of the biggest things as a DJ. Everyone wants to be a DJ, everyone says they are a DJ and now with the internet it allows everyone to access the tools the top DJs use. Ultimately, I feel as if I have something very organic and authentic and if I was to go to a big club I’d lose all of that.
PMB: So if you had to choose one song that you’d know could save your set, which song would that be?
Craig David: We were speaking about this earlier, but I think Fat Joe‘s Lean Back. When the intro comes in you just get hyped and then when it drops, it’s over. It’s good to know you have a certain number of songs in your arsenal that could save your night.
PMB: Let’s move on to your own music, it seems like a few R&B legends are making a return, Justin Timberlake for example, can we expect a new Craig David album?
Craig David: The new album is what I’m working on right now with Marshall, hopefully for a 2013 release. It will take the R&B route as that is what I love, the direction is kind of a selection of songs that will eventually cement into an album.
PMB: Can we expect you to revive the garage scene on your new album?
Craig David: There is a garage feel on the album, I just need to make the production a lot fresher.
PMB: What about the rumours of a potential collaboration with Drake? He referenced you on Closer To My Dreams, so can we expect a link up?
Craig David: Weirdly enough over New Years was the first time we met. I think the guy is on top right now, he is a lyricist and has this R&B twist, so when we met we had this mutual admiration for each other. We got introduced at a restaurant and we exchanged details and when I’ve got the right record at least now I have his contact. On a record with me and Drake we’d have to go all out.
PMB: That would be a great collaboration. Now it’s time for a quickfire round…
PMB: Chief Keef or French Montana?
Craig David: French Montana
PMB: Drake or Chris Brown?
Craig David: Drake
PMB: 50 Cent or Rick Ross
Craig David: 50 Cent
PMB: Rihanna or Beyonce
Craig David: Beyonce
PMB: Good choices there. Lastly if you could leave a final message with your UK fans what would you say?
Craig David: Thank you for the continued support, I read the tweets and it’s noted. People just want good music and hopefully I can deliver that with my next album.
Words by Kristian
