Songwriting paved way for Ne-Yo

Ernest A. Jasmin, for the Northwest Guardian

Ne-Yo has blown up like few other artists in recent months, having scored a pair of chart-topping albums with “In My Own Words” and this year’s “Because of You.”

But many don’t realize the singer – born Shaffer Smith – was a hit maker even before he stormed radio airwaves with smash single “So Sick” in ’06. He’s also penned material for Beyoncé, Rihanna and Mario, just to name a few.

In the weeks leading up to Sunday’s performance at the Showbox, he called to discuss his success on stage and behind the scenes. And you’ll never guess who he might work with next.

You got dropped from a previous record deal. Was there a point where you knew things were turning around?

That was when I started really focusing on the songwriting. And shortly after I got out of that deal, I got my current manager. Me and him really put this whole thing together (with) songwriting for this person, that person. … By the time I got over to Def Jam, I wasn’t even thinking about being an artist again. I was so successful as a songwriter that I didn’t really need it.

I went over to Def Jam so that a friend of mine could get reunited with an old friend of his. … He started playing her some of the music that we were shopping around. Mind you, at the time I’m just a songwriter. … She basically challenged me to perform right there on the spot. So I got up, and I performed and she put me in front of (record executive Antonio) “L.A.” Reid the very same day.

Considering how you’d changed your mind-set, how’d that feel?

Everything happens when it’s time to. Had I not gone through what I went through at Columbia Records, I wouldn’t have had, for one, the gall to even go into Def Jam and say the things that I said to them. One of our first meetings I told them that, “I understand that you guys aren’t gonna let me do exactly what I want to do. But I’m not gonna allow you guys to turn me into a puppet either.”

You’ve drawn Michael Jackson comparisons, and on the new album you channel “Off the Wall” a bit.

Michael Jackson is one of the reasons that I sing. … My mom gave me Michael Jackson’s “Off the Wall” and (Stevie Wonder’s) “Hotter Than July” to study, saying that they have similar tones to yours. So if you study them it’ll help you get comfortable with your own voice. So with the record, I kind of did what I like to call an unofficial tribute – paying homage to the people I look up to.

You had a lot of success with your debut. How did you approach the second CD?

I had to take into consideration the fact (that) I have a bit of a sound now. There’s an expectation with the success of “So Sick.” People want songs in that vein. I definitely knew I had to do some songs within that realm.

But then … I cannot, cannot, cannot do the same song over and over. … My main hope for this album was that it didn’t go over people’s heads; that people paid attention to the growth as an artist.

Do you have styles you’d like to tackle but you can’t yet?

Oh, absolutely. I feel that I’m a songwriter. I’m not an R&B songwriter. I’m not a pop songwriter. I’m a songwriter. I can write a song in any genre of music.

I definitely feel that I can do a song with a Mary J. Blige, but then turn around and do a song with a Faith Hill or somebody; and then turn around and do a song with Green Day. Like, I could do that. I know the world isn’t ready for that yet. But I could definitely do it.

Do you have people from other genres approaching now?

Yeah, absolutely. I’m … writing songs for Celine Dion. And I was supposed to do stuff with Jonathan (Davis) from Korn.

Jonathan from Korn? Have you started writing?

We haven’t started doing anything yet. It was just a conversation that was had between my publisher and his publisher.

The biggest hit you’ve had to date is Beyoncé’s “Irreplaceable.” What was it like seeing that blow up like it did?

It was actually a shock that the song became such a female anthem because, when I first demoed it, … I wrote it from a male’s perspective. So it was actually a guy telling a chick “to the left, to the left.” But once I got done with it (I thought) “This song is gonna get any guy that sings it beat up by every woman he comes in contact with.” So we need to switch this around a little more. So I changed up a few lyrics.

Ernest Jasmin: ernest.jasmin@thenewstribune.com

What: Ne-Yo in concert, with Trey Songz and Paula Campbell (all-ages show)

When: 7 p.m. Sunday

Where: The Showbox, 1426 First Ave., Seattle

Tickets: $31

Information: 206-628-3151 or www.showboxonline.com