If you're wondering when Janet Jackson
will hit the music scene again, look toward sometime in 2004.
One of her longtime producers, Jimmy
Jam, says that's probably the most logical time date
for Miss Jackson to drop her latest LP.
"The record is really
in its infancy, which means that we've done probably six or
seven songs," Jam said of the album last week. "There
is no distinct musical style yet. It's all over the place,
from songs that I would call classic Janet songs, meaning
that they could've been on any of her [earlier] albums. Some
of the songs have a definite sort of ambient quality to them.
We've been listening to a lot of everything from Zero 7 to
Télépopmusik, [so] there's a little bit of that.
There's some house stuff, which there always is [on her albums].
There is going to be some more guitar-flavored things.
"It's kind of the
way [her] albums always start," he added. "There's
not a clear direction yet. We see what sticks. We're doing
a bunch of songs and seeing what we like. We've already thrown
some [songs] out. It's sort of still the discovery process.
We're not going to [put the album out] till next year most
likely anyway. We've been working in New York the past couple
of weeks, we're going to work in L.A., in Miami, we're probably
going to work in Minneapolis. So I think the music will take
on different elements as we take on different environments
and work with different people."
Jam said that since they
do not expect to put the album out until next year, they can
work at a leisurely pace and really focus on penning good
lyrics.
"The approach we're
taking is that we're trying to write really good songs and
worry about the production later," Jam said, "because
production is one of those things you want to be up-to-date
[on], cutting edge. The way we produce a record now isn't
necessarily how we'll produce a record six months from now.
That's how fast things change. But the song, if [the lyrics
are] great, is gonna be timeless and work."
So just what is Janet
going to be singing about when we hear the project? Whatever
comes to mind.
"Her albums are
always what she's thinking at the moment," Jam said.
"Her thoughts may change six months from now. Her biggest
thing is to be honest with her fans. Whatever stuff she wants
to talk about, it's coming from her heart. I anticipate that
we'll be working on the record for the next three to four
months. Then we'll have a direction and finish it off. The
record will be done by the end of the year and [will] probably
come out next year. If we felt we had something strong enough
as a single, I would guess we could have a single out before
the end of the year and the album at the beginning of next
year."
Jam said it's too early
to discuss Janet's collaborations with people other than him
and partner Terry Lewis. Producer 7 Aurelius has said that
his handiwork may pop up on the album as well.
"Expect the unexpected,
man," said 7. "Really, she's totally an amazing
artist, and I love the fresh, envelope-pushing vibe she brings
to the table. She's just really on some cutting edge, hard-hitting
dance music, and I think you are going to be really surprised.
You should be excited. It's going to be crazy."
- Source: MTV News
Future
hall of fame jazz trumpeter Wynton
Marsalis has taken the same path as Patti Labelle
has odne and inked a deal with Blue
Note Records, with sessions for his label bow expected
to begin this summer. Marsalis was signed to his previous label,
Columbia, over two decades
ago by current Blue Note president Bruce
Lundvall, who at the time was Columbia's general
manager.