The variations between loves and disappointments mark the exciting and dancing R&B of singer and songwriter Vedo. About to release his sixth album, “Mood Swings”, on January 13 of this year, he revealed the single “Do You Mind”, in partnership with Chris Brown.
In addition to repeating the partnership with Chris Brown (“Warm Embrace”, “Heartbreak on a Full Moon” and “Indigo”), he signs hits for Usher (“Don’t Waste My Time” ft. Ella Mai) and even tracks of tracks K-pop for iconic groups such as EXO (“Going Crazy”) and NCT 127 (“regular”). Recently, Vedo was nominated for Grammy for another partnership with Brown – “Warm Embrace” from the album “Breezy”.
Between drawing attention alongside Usher in his participation in The Voice to the present day, when he went viral alongside his mentor at NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert, Vedo was consolidated as a prolific composer that accumulates hundreds of millions of streams in his tracks And today there are 2.6 million monthly listeners only in Spotify, having São Paulo as the third city where your music is most consumed in the world. Check out the interview!
With a musicality that touches the feelings of disappointments and loves, his album “Mood Swings” showed the result of his persistence, especially for his partnership with Chris Brown. How did the story of this album happen and what is it to be finally finalized?
It is definitely an album that stands out in everything I did. I feel that you can see a maturity and evolution in each album, but this is different. This album was like a therapy, as a way of venting things that had never spoken openly in song mode and I’m happy that people were connecting so much.
The song in question that gathered him with Chris was “Do You Mind”, which with only 1 month of release, led more than 567,000 people to hear her on YouTube. What is the meaning of this launch in your career and what were the ways that led you to this single? For a long time, you had tried for this partnership, but Brown always claimed that it wouldn’t be the right time. Today, already with the music released, would you agree with Chris Brown about this being the right time and not in your last attempts? What did you do on January 13 a right time for this release?
I’ve disturbed him for a long time to make this song, which I always believed. It is a realization and a milestone for me to have launched it. I was very anxious about her insistence that wasn’t the time. I agree too much now. Many artists make songs with other much more famous artists and are in the shadow of this participation. And I feel that we take time for me to consolidate my name a little, that people recognize that there is Vedo and that this was not just a Chris Brown song. I respect his posture today because he could only have accepted before I stop disturbing him. (laughter)
Out “Do You Mind”, you have had other singles together, such as “Warm Embrace”, “Heartbreak on a Full Moon” and “Indigo.” In this case, how was the beginning of the partnership between you and how usually this artistic exchange happens between you both, which are already established names in the music scene? Regarding the other songs you have already released, what differential this new release could be contrasting with the others?
It is an inspiration within the middle of R&B and it is very gratifying to have it and other guys who inspired me, like Usher, as partners. Every time we collaborated I had that feeling of a larger artist taking a minor. In this I had the feeling of being side by side and it motivates me until following doing new and different things.
In addition to the partnership with Chris Brown, another great singer who has worked with you is Usher, where you signed as “Don’t Wast My Time” FT. Ella May, and even K-Pop hits, like “Going Crazy” from EXO. Both artists have different styles, and even K-pop, which originally from South Korea, has become a fever in the world. From this whole experience you gathered in your career, what is it like to be having this multicultural contact in your daily life?
I feel that Kpop’s culture is amazing. I always impress. It is type R&B and hip hop with steroids. Whenever I work with K-Pop I feel it is difficult after I come back to compose something more “simple”. Just to get an idea, I had to make a vocal arrangement for nine voices. This has changed my way of thinking a lot and it seems to unlock a skill in my mind, you know?
Another great event that made a prominence in his journey was the nomination to Grammy for the track “Warm Embrace”, also a partnership with Brown and which went to his album “Breezy”. How was the moment when you received this indication and what is it to carry this honor within your life, both professional and personal experience?
It was something that surprised me. This song I wrote a few years ago and thought the song was amazing. Time passed and I kept finding the song great, that’s when I offered Chris Brown that I raised the song on this grammy level. It is something that I will always be grateful.
In addition to working as a singer, you also have experience with composition, accumulating hundreds of millions of streams in your tracks, where only in Spotify, you already hit 2.6 million monthly listeners. In your opinion, what is the essential element that can not miss good music?
It’s the way you include yourself in music. You can listen to the music and be able to put your story there. I once heard a person saying that if you are not a trafficker, you will not relate to a song about drugs. Human relations, party hearts and disappointments are part of everyone’s life. It is a universal experience and connects us deeply. I feel this is what makes people relate to my songs.
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