Interview by: Scrappy • Design & Layout by: Chelsea Coolsaet
Jason DeRulo’s self-titled album has spawned top records on the charts, including his current smash hit, “Solo”. Born Jason Joel Desrouleaux, he is of Haitian descent and was raised in Miami. At age 17, he was already writing songs for the likes of Mary J. Blige and Lady Gaga, and also collaborating with rap cats like Diddy and Birdman. He signed a record deal with Beluga Heights/Warner Brothers when he was 18. In my years of interviewing artists, it has been extremely rare to interview someone who is completely open and unassuming. A 20 year-old prodigy with the world still ahead of him, chopping it up with my man, Jason DeRulo, is not a professional endeavor, but a personal
treat!
Scrappy: Marketing convention says to tie your logo into a sound. If you execute them simultaneously, it’s
extremely powerful. You got everybody sayin’ “Jasssonnnn Deruuullooooo!” (Scrappy sings his name)
JD: (laughs) Wow! That was very nice; you ever had some voice lessons?
S: You’re kind. Are you still living large down the road from us in Miami?
JD: You know it! I have a place in Miami, a place in LA, and a place in New York.
S: I’ve read a few articles about you. My favorite was in USA Today titled “On The Verge”. Impressive that you hit the booth after hearing a sound and have the innate capability of creating an entire song, chorus, verse and all – from the top of your head. I‘ve heard of a singer maybe pulling that off once in a lifetime, but you do that with every single song you flow on. Much respect!
JD: Thanks, Scrappy! Yeah, basically, I’m writing songs. I think being in the booth and just goin’ off what’s on the top of my head is makin’ it really conversational. I think it works better because it comes from truth. It’s not diluted by paper, erasing what I had before, it’s really the truth and I’m not editing myself.
S: Most people are calculating and analytical when it comes to music. They get a piece of paper and they’re writing a bunch of stuff down. It takes a hell of a lot of talent just to go in the booth and spit. You’re
telling a story from your heart and your mind is quick enough to sing along with it.
JD: I know, I know, I know… it’s a gift from God! I’ve been doin’ it my whole life, so it’s not something that I took up yesterday. (laughs)
S: What’s really ironic is that when you write for other people, you probably don’t approach it that
way. Do you actually have a pen and a paper when you’re writing for, Lady Gaga, for instance?
JD: Yeah, you do have some constraints. You don’t wanna change them at all. Their fans love them for that specific spunk that they have, you wanna keep that and then just add the Jason DeRulo stamp on it.
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S: Writing for other people is an imaginative and sometimes haphazard process. Ludacris will be driving his Lambo down Peachtree Street and write on his knees. One knee is driving the car, the other knee buoys his pad of paper. Eminem writes verses on napkins at the restaurant. Where did you craft for Kayne West, for instance?
JD: I write in a booth, whether I am free styling for me or styling something for another artist. I’m not that kind of pen and pad everywhere I go person. I wanna have focused energy. I make it happen in the booth – in my lab (laughs). I might scribble a phrase or two down, but I don’t really memorize the lyrics until the whole song is done, then I have to go back and memorize the song to be sure.
S: You went to an art academy at a young age, you’re singing, you’re dancing, you’re writing for other people, and I know that you’re very fond of acting. How many times have you heard the word prodigy, my bruthaaaa?
JD: (laughs) Man, you’re awesome. You do a great job with this and you have a lot of energy, Scrappy! Just wanted to let you know.
S: Thanks a lot, man, I appreciate it. You know why? ‘Cause I’m a fan. I’m passionate about you, buddy. You’re not just a compelling artist, except for the ballet dancing in your “In My Head” video!
JD: That means the world to me. Thank you.
S: I peep your videos, check for your YouTube series and have seen your concert footage. You’re very nice, vulnerable, affable and approachable. You’re the guy next door! So many times, even with artists your age, they get kind of distant. But I don’t feel that way about you. Is it because you were brought up down-to-earth in Miami? Your parents? Your Haitian culture?
JD: I come from a really loving family. I’ve never had a chip on my shoulder. I worked really hard for everything that I have, so it’s not really something that was given to me. But I can never take anything that I have for granted. I’ll always just be me, you know?
S: I saw you on American Idol. Because you can dance, I was hoping for more of that and a Janet Jackson headset. Have a little microphone on your mouth attached to your ear and pay homage to Michael Jackson.
JD: That is crazy that you say that! I just ordered one of those wireless headsets!
S: I’m assuming you had the gloves on as a tribute to MJ, but you were wearing two gloves. What’s up with that?
JD: Yeah, and the gloves light up! I forgot to turn them on before I got on stage! I was really mad about that, but it’s all good.
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