RnB superstar Ne-Yo has been speaking to entertainment.ie about his new (well, new-ish) role with Motown Records. The Arkansas native is juggling his performing and songwriting career with a lucrative position as Vice President of the famous label's A&R. 

I wanted to ask you very quickly if I may about your position in Motown.

Yeah! I'm the vice president of A&R.

Do you ever sit back and get taken aback by how cool a position that is? This record company, their achievements over the last fifty or so years are just incredible.

I've definitely sat back for a couple of minutes and y'know, basked in the light. But you can't do that for too long. Motown, that's a huge name to uphold. The position I hold now is the same position as Smoky Robertson held and he's one of my idols in music. So y'know no pressure! The people you look up to, no pressure at all.

How much extra work have you taken on for this?

Well, Motown has a whole roster of brand new artists, I'm basically writing songs for everybody on the roster now. As well as putting my two cents in on the artist development. Now that's something the labels used to do back in the days, when we had a bunch of icons running around, and they don't do it anymore. It takes a lot of money and a lot of time, but at the end of the day it's an investment it's worth it. I've gained a bit of knowledge over the time I've been here so it's cool to take that knowledge and give it to some of the new artists.

You must have a unique perspective because you're in this position now but 13, 14, 15 years ago you were in their position, trying to get to the next level. Is there anything that you wish you could have told yourself then?

To be honest, no. If I had the power to go back to 15 years ago I would tell myself to do everything that you are planning to do. Everything that happens to you good and bad, leads to where you are. If you went back to change something, you might not be in the place you are right now. I definitely don't want that.

 

You can read the rest of Ne-Yo's interview with entertainment.ie right here!