The Recorder recently sat down with multi-platinum selling artist Ginuwine to chat about the moves he is making in his music career and personal life. Ginuwine gained fame in the late ’90s and early 2000s; his songs “Pony” and “Differences” have both made their way to top spots on the Billboard Hot 100.
Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper: You have been in the music game for a very long time. What are your tips on staying relevant?
Ginuwine: I think I came in during an era when music was respected on a different level. I am now able to sustain and continue to go on with my career. Nineties music was my generation, and I think a lot of people would agree that music was totally different. It had a little more meaning, and you could understand what the people were saying. Now they are longing for that type of music again, so when they hear my songs, it puts them in the mood of being in the ’90s. I wrote a lot of my stuff, and people can really identify with what I am saying. It’s just staying real and continuing to do good music. That’s the reason you stay relevant.
Your song “Pony” gets a lot of play to this day, and a lot of people have redone it. How do you feel about that?
That’s a song that changed music for me. I am glad to be a part of it, and it will be here long after I am gone. I will never get tired of that. It was a different sound. I am always appreciative of people doing that song and remembering me as an artist, because that song has gotten me on shows I never would have thought I would be a part of, such as “Parks and Recreation” and a lot of things urban artist don’t get on.
What is one of your favorite projects you have worked on or songs you have done?
The first CD I did was my favorite. You don’t worry about the business; you are just creating and having fun. When managers and employers come around, it stops being so fun, because everyone is thinking about money. It makes it hard for an artist to really enjoy himself or herself unless they have a great team. While making the first CD, I wasn’t worried about anything; I was just able to create.
This is the time of year when a lot of people reflect on what they are thankful for. What are you grateful for in your life?
I’m grateful for health and that I am able to be around my kids. I am grateful for travel, and making money doing what I love.
In recent years, there have been issues with you group TGT, some blog sites have reported about your marriage issues, and you have had nude photos leak. How do you always come out on top in these situations?
I think these things come with the territory in this business. Relationships come and they go, and when it comes to TGT, sometimes friends can’t work together. As far as (the photos), what I didn’t like about it was when I had to explain it to my kids. I have always stayed clear of stuff like that, but unfortunately, you can’t trust everybody. I am embarrassed, but not ashamed. A lot of people have done that when you trust someone. But you can’t trust everyone, and in this case we weren’t seeing eye to eye and she got mad. At the end of the day, I explained it to my kids, and I’m good.
How do you stay positive when things like that happen?
You have to have thick skin in this business. The internet will kill you or blow you up. You just have to deal with it and not let anything break you. The worst part of my life was losing my dad and my mom, so if I can get through that, I can get through anything.
What is next for you?
Next year I am pretty sure I’m going to come out with a new CD, and I am thinking of dropping a song before Christmas. I will see what people like and where I fit in. If it goes well, I will drop a CD. I will still be doing animation. I like doing animation; it’s a hobby of mine. I am trying to get a show on Comedy Central or one of those networks. I am staying busy writing and all of that type of stuff.
See Ginuwine perform
Celebrate the season with Ginuwine, Eric Benet, SWV and more at the Holiday Affair concert presented by 106.7 WTLC and BOOM 102.9. This event takes place Saturday, Dec. 3, at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Tickets start at $29 and can be purchased at tlcnaptown.com. Doors open at 6 p.m.
