In a recent interview with MTV, super-producer Rodney ‘Darkchild’ Jerkins revealed new details about Janet Jackson’s much anticipated new studio album, which he’s working on. Peep the full report below:
When we caught up with producer Rodney Jerkins on the VMA red carpet in September, he was already hard at work on Janet Jackson’s next studio album. Now the super-producer is opening up a lot more on exactly what fans can expect for Janet’s 11th studio album.
Janet is like my sister now,” Jerkins told MTV News on Wednesday (October 21) at his Los Angeles recording studio. “We definitely have this incredible chemistry, this bond — I think we musically connect, crazily. I knew it — it’s funny ’cause I predicted this. Five years ago, people used to ask me who I wanted to work with, and I was like, ‘Janet Jackson.’ And I was so passionate about that because I’ve always been a fan of her music and what her and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis have done in the past. And I felt like, knowing she wants to try new things, that I feel I can get it and I can deliver it for her,” he said.
DarkChild explained that fans can look forward to an emotionally driven album.
“Since we’ve been working … I feel like the studio has become a second home for her because with the whole situation with Michael [Jackson] happening, and I feel like right now, emotionally, she can come here and let all her feelings out. I got her writing again — she has the pen and the pad in her hand.”
But it’s not just the recent passing of her brother Michael that is fueling the content of Jackson’s album. Fans are going to see a side of Janet that they’ve never seen before, thanks in part to Rodney’s persuasion.
“You gotta understand, she lost her brother. She was in a relationship for seven years that’s over now. There’s things that she told me that I didn’t even realize. You know, certain [things] like self-esteem that I didn’t even realize that she dealt with for years that you know. … She’s working on her book and she’ll deal with that in her book, but also in songs, certain songs we’re dealing with that head on. And sometimes it can be a touchy subject for us to even go into, and I kinda had to persuade her, ‘Let’s just go, let’s talk about that.’ And she’s been doing it, and she’s a pro about it.”
Although Rodney says you can expect some up-tempo dance tracks on the new album, it won’t have the futuristic sound we heard on her last project, 2008’s Discipline.
“It’s funny, ’cause when we just started the project, she was like, ‘I wanna do 10 dance records, all up-tempo to dance. Let’s just go dance,’ ” Jerkins said. The sound is inspired by worldwide influences, from African rhythms to Brazilian and Latin music, and RJ said we can expect features on this album like a Pitbull track that was recorded last week.
“But she hits me today and she says we need to do some mid-tempos as well,” Rodney continued. “And I’m glad for that because there’s a time when you listen to a record that you wanna mellow out and she always gives us those great smoothed-out mellow records. So now that she’s in that zone, it’s like ‘Yes!’ ’cause we can focus on that. But I’m still gonna keep the beats hard underneath ’cause she’s still a dancer at heart.”
Jenkins and Jackson co-produced her recently released single, “Make Me,” which will be included on her greatest-hits compilation Number Ones, due in November. A release date has not been announced for her yet-untitled studio album.
To say I can’t wait would be an understatement! I really feel this will be the album we’ve been waiting on Janet for – a largely up-tempo record with qualitative lyrical content. Roll on 2010!
Your thoughts?
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YESSSSS i can’t wait. the promos better be sick.
SO MANY WORDS HE SAID “VELEVT ROPE PART 2”
I SOOO CAN’T WAIT!!!
I LUV JANET SOOO MUCH!
THAT’S RIGHT “ROLL ON 2010”!!!
This album will be Janet’s COMEBACK and people will def embrace her again. Her last good album was def Damita Jo. It will def be number 1 so can we say 7 #1 Albums Coming up for our girl Janet!!!!!
She looks SO damn classy in that picture.
That said, I’m all for an up-tempo Janet album, doing what she does best. I do really just hope she keeps it 40 years old though, I’m not even going to lie. I like Madonna, but she stays trying to make music you’d expect from a 20 year old and I really hope Janet doesn’t follow suit because she doesn’t need to. As long as that doesn’t happen, I fully support this new effort.
I’ve always said you can never count anyone out. Janet’s been through a great deal personally and professionally in the last 5 years. She is more than deserving of positive energy and ultra success. Though it’s fairly easy to ask what more can an artist of her eminence offer, it’s quite obvious that Janet is not only still in demand, but also remains innovative, influential and incomparable in today’s industry. I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m going to separate myself from those who are riding on expectations; conceptually, sonically and visually. I mildly got caught in “the big fuss” with Janet’s last 2 efforts, but I won’t allow that to happen this go round. I’m going to enjoy Janet’s upcoming offering wholeheartedly and without any presumptions. I’m uber excited about new music, new videos and new live performances, as well as her book and various other endeavors. I’m with SAM, Roll on 2010.
“This is sick” lol
HAZEL I LOVE YOU!!!
OMG SOOO EXCITED FOR MY JANET TO PUT OUT ANOTHER ALBUM!!!! AHHHHH CAN’T WAIT!!! MISS HER MUCH!!!
B**** U DIDNT TALK ABOTU HER WEAK WHISPERING VOCALS BUT U HATE ON RIHANNA::::HYPO
F*** U SAM WITH UR “REVIEW IN A BIT”-S*** AKA NOT DOIN UR JOB:
I think it’s time to post about Kelly Rowland.
Janet Jackson is F***** LEGEND, SO HATERS GET A LIFE AND CONTINUE WORSHIPPING THAN GOAT RIHANNA. WHEN RIHANNA CAN SELL 100 MILLION ALBUMS WORLDWIDE AND BE IN THE ENTERTAINMNET BUSINNES SINCE 7 YEARS OLD COME BACK AND TALK !!!!!!!!!!!!
Janet jackson 100 million albums? Oh please your such a joke! There is one legend who achieved that and it happens to be her brother!
I hate rihanna also though.
Yes, bring on 2010!!!! It amazes me that people can hate on actual numbers. 100 million albums is CORRECT!!! It’s in numerous Press Releases and articles. Get it right!!!
The queen is coming back. Can’t wait.
Beyonce has done it again!! “Video Phone” feat. Lady Gaga—->>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vtzd6WUndY
Just a heads up for those who feel the need to defend or praise any artist: why is it necessary to degrade any individual? I don’t know if it’s the older I get or the more that I experience that allows me to stand on the outside and SMH. It looks and sounds foolish. At the end of the day everything is subjective. It’s art and it is and will always be interpreted differently. We ALL certainly don’t dress alike or wear our hair the same way, so why would it not be the same when it comes to music and what genres we gravitate towards. I believe in having an opinion, but i also believe in having respect. Maybe Sam should look into this as well, since some of the visitors find various words offensive. That also goes for the many visitors, including myself. It’s all about respect. I’m an advocate for free speech, but as I’ve said before, there are respectful ways to say and do things without sounding malicious. What’s the point in calling each other names, because we feel so passionately for an artist, even more, what’s the point in attacking another artist? Love & Positivity my friends. We don’t have to agree, but let’s show some respect. XOXOXO
Can”t wait see what JJ has store for the world musically in 10.
I can’t wait for this album. I’m so glad she is working with Darkchild and Jam/Lewis….I know its gonna be Fiyah!
JANET IS SO PRETTY
THERNBSTARZ.NET
She crashed into my heart!!! I can’t wait for the return of Miss Jackson!
JJ you have rock my world since after I got over with Michael Jackson in ’93. Ever since you danced our hearts from around the world. I hope that your album will do the same in ’10. I can’t wait to get your greatest hits album on Nov 17th & I’m just going to listen to your whole album like it was yesterday! I can’t wait listen to your another album on that day also
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