Usher Wants His Talent To Speak To The World
He has been a star ever since he emerged 18 years ago on the American talent show Star Search. Born in Dallas and raised in Chattanooga and Atlanta, Usher Raymond IV – the honey-voiced, ultra-smooth lover man of modern R&B – has racked up 45 million album sales and five Grammy awards.
He’s an actor, singer, composer and producer, as well as a mentor to his discovery Justin Bieber. To top off his successes, the basketball team he co-owns, the Cleveland Cavaliers, have won their NBA division for the last two seasons. But all of Usher’s musical successes can be traced to an unerring ability to connect with a female fanbase.
“The guys weren’t so fond of me when I was younger,” the 31-year-old agrees. “I had to win them over in time, but the women were always there. You gotta go after the women first.
“Once I had them, I started making music that spoke to men so that they would understand and stop feeling negatively about me.”
With steamy soul-baring romps such as the multi-platinum Confessions album, Usher has always made affairs of the flesh and heart central to his work.
“Being single was a matter of choice not to be married,” he says. “I didn’t go into marriage looking for it to fail, but unfortunately it didn’t work out.
“I’m not looking forward to rushing into a new marriage. I’m just taking my time. I’ve got a lot to focus on right now – I’m not only balancing a career, I’m balancing a life.
“That’s a lot of what Raymond V Raymond is about – balancing my life and my passion with what lifestyle is calling me.
“The entertainment lifestyle can be very taxing. You are in the club, you go all round the world, you are on stages, but there’s the other side too which is very personal.”
Usher says he always knew that he was not destined to live a normal life, and that he sensed superstardom was in his grasp.
“I was eager to do something incredible and impactful as an artist,” he says. “I had a talent and I wanted to use that talent to speak to the world. I wanted to use my voice to sing the songs the world could enjoy, grow from and love.
“I think music is best used as a keeper of all great emotions, whether it’s love, fun times in the club, the attitude and arrogance of opulence – whatever it may be, music holds all of that. As a young child I always wanted to be the greatest that I could.”
His prime childhood influence was Bobby Brown, the troubled ex partner of Whitney Houston. Usher now numbers Brown among his friends, but Bobby doesn’t seem to have coped so well with the pressures of fame.
“When I saw Bobby as a solo artist, I knew that was what I wanted to do,”
Usher admits. “I’ve always respected him as an artist.
“But no man can judge another. We all have our own life experiences that teach
us and either we learn from them or we become a victim.”
Although a TV talent show brought him to prominence, Usher has been critical of American Idol while understanding such shows have their value.
“There are many ways that artists can be introduced,” he smiles. “Shows like that can be a good way of introducing artists to the pressure of being on the spot.
“You can hide behind a camera or online, but when you get in front of an audience, can you still capture them? That’s the question.”
With his discovery of 16-year-old Canadian prodigy Justin Bieber, Usher has moved from star to being a star maker.
“He had star quality from the moment you saw him,” Usher explains. “Some people are just born to do it and he was definitely one.
“I have always attempted to be a mentor to people who need help, and youth is something that I have made an investment in through my philantrophic efforts and foundations.”
Apart from making music, starring in a run of Chicago and mentoring Bieber, Usher also manufactures scent for men and women. And, of course, he wears his own brand.
“Nobody wants to be next to somebody who doesn’t smell good, right?” he laughs. “So I wanted to create something I thought would be sensual, sexy, confident, fresh, enticing and erotic at the same time. It’s all about extending the experience of the music.”
His lust to succeed seems limitless.
“I’m always challenging myself to be the greatest that I can be,” Usher declares. “I learn from the experiences of those that have gone before me and in order to make it to the next level.”
