Los Angeles, Nov 26: Taio Cruz could slow it down. It's just not the right time yet.
The British star behind the massive hit “Dynamite” says he's keeping the club-ready sound of his last album ‘ROKSTARR' going on his newest effort, “TY.O.” Cruz has a background in ballads and enjoys slower-paced music and says he's recorded an album's worth of “Motown-inspired” songs with no AutoTune—but he doesn't think it's quite time to release that music yet.
“I thought it was a little bit too early to just completely switch it and be something completely different. I feel like when you're in a relationship, you don't reveal absolutely everything about yourself on the first date,” he says. “So I felt like this new album is very much a continuation of the ‘ROKSTARR' album. And it's still in the same vein, it's still very up-tempo, still very fun, positive energy type of electronic-sounding records. And who knows, maybe on the next one we'll make it a little different.”
The lead single is “Hangover,” featuring Flo Rida, and while the lyrics are focused on drinking too much, Cruz says he hardly ever gets there.
“I don't ever drink enough to get hangovers. I have been a little bit tipsy, a little bit wobbly before, which was interesting and fun. But yeah, I generally don't go out and get crazy,” he said. “But I do have a vacation once a year. And this past year I went out with my managers and my friends and we all were in Ibiza for about a week and a half. And it was just going absolutely crazy. And I was definitely inspired by the antics going on that I had to write the song ‘Hangover.'”
The music video features comedian Bobby Lee as Cruz's assistant facilitating a wild night of partying that includes a ride on a yacht being towed down Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles.
“It was a very, very cool day and I think the people who were having dinner outside their restaurants on Sunset Boulevard had a great evening as well as they saw this massive boat drive by with loads of girls screaming and loud music playing,” Cruz said.
“TY.O” also features guest appearances and production from David Guetta, Ludacris, Dr. Luke and Cirkut. Don't expect any full-on balladry though—a fact that Cruz says upsets some of his friends.
Cruz has also made a name for himself as an entrepreneur, promoting the RXTR line of sunglasses and now watches that he hopes to expand into a fashion house.
“TY.O” is set for release early next year.
