NEW YORK (AP) 鈥 Giveon has been on a quest for musical and personal growth since releasing his studio debut three years ago. But the more things have changed, they鈥檝e also stayed the same.
鈥淭he girls didn鈥檛 stop,鈥 he said with a sly smile. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 even know if I grew in that area.鈥
That鈥檚 not necessarily bad news for the 鈥淗eartbreak Anniversary鈥 singer, because when it comes to emoting about the complexities of love and romance, the business of Giveon is always booming.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 wanna get to a point where I start talking about the same thing, but there鈥檚 so much still left to say," he said.
The seven-time Grammy nominee says plenty on his anticipated sophomore album, 鈥淏eloved,鈥 out Friday. He won鈥檛 argue that it鈥檚 another heartbreak manifesto, but he insists this project is more nuanced and introspective.
鈥淚 like to write songs about what people are thinking, but they don鈥檛 want to say out loud,鈥 鈥淪ome of these experiences aren鈥檛 that unique. I鈥檒l Google something random, like, 鈥榊o, my elbow itches on Thursday 鈥 what is that?鈥 Somebody鈥檒l be like, 鈥楳y elbow鈥檚 itching on Thursday, too!鈥 So, I鈥檓 like we all going through the same thing.鈥
Following 2020鈥檚 鈥淕ive or Take,鈥 the 13-track featureless album was crafted during a three-year period, with Giveon writing on every song. With the bulk of production handled by Sevn Thomas, Peter Lee Johnson and Matthew Burnett, the rich sounds of live musicians were recorded and songs began as jam sessions. It was a change for the 鈥淟ike I Want You鈥 artist who generally starts his creative process by first writing over instrumental loops.
Giveon鈥檚 identifiable baritone voice, wrapped around relationship musings, has consistently cut through the vibe-centered and party-focused R&B that鈥檚 dominated the past decade. Some fans and critics complain that vulnerability is absent among today鈥檚 artists, as phrases like 鈥渋f it don't feel like 90s R&B, I don't want it鈥 have become popular hashtags. Giveon evokes that golden era nostalgia, but you won't find him begging and pleading to lost loves in the music video rain like many popular artists of that time.
鈥淚f she鈥檚 upset, I get on my knees and lock my fingers and be like, 鈥楥ome on, please?鈥 She鈥檚 gonna look at me crazy,鈥 joked the 30-year-old. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 even like being outside in the rain no way 鈥 I don鈥檛 want to get sick.鈥
Ahead of 鈥淏ELOVED,鈥 Giveon released 鈥淭wenties," peaking at No. 6 on Billboard鈥檚 hot R&B songs, and 鈥淩ather Be.鈥 Standout tracks include the soulful ballad 鈥淣umb,鈥 and 鈥淚 Can Tell鈥 in which he desires to rescue a love interest from an unhappy relationship. 鈥淏leeding鈥 鈥 where one could argue there鈥檚 some pleading 鈥 is also a highlight, as he sings, 鈥淚鈥檓 stepping over pieces, broken heart鈥檚 on the floor / Cut my skin trying to make you whole again / So, I鈥檓 bleeding for your love.鈥
鈥淭hat's almost more than pleading. I鈥檓 damaged trying to help you get put back together ... it鈥檚 almost deeper and more vulnerable in ways because we could be taking the risk of being hurt as well,鈥 he said of the song while defending his musical generation. 鈥淚t鈥檚 easier to do that for something you've lost, but what if you feel like you really haven鈥檛 lost anyone yet? Worth getting pneumonia over?鈥
Currently, there are plans for a tour, and he revealed , a desire made known by the pop-soul singer in a previous interview with The Associated Press. Earlier this year, they joined forces on 鈥淎re You Even Real鈥 which reached No. 1 on multiple Billboard charts, including adult R&B airplay.
Giveon, who鈥檚 also interested in creating short films, is adamant about one central creative principle: timelessness. He鈥檚 always considering how his art will be reevaluated in the future.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 speak in a trendy way 鈥 I just speak my authentic language. If you go look at a text thread from 10 years ago, 15 years ago, I鈥檓 probably speaking the exact same way. So, I think authenticity is what makes sure it鈥檚 not dated,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 even like to cuss in my music ... that takes away from it, too. There鈥檚 no cuss words on here, actually. My granny will love it.鈥
___
Follow Associated Press entertainment journalist Gary Gerard Hamilton at @GaryGHamilton on all his social media platforms.