It’s not usually that an artist’s debut LP consists totally of Christmas songs – however James Fauntleroy isn’t any odd artist. Practically a decade after the discharge of the unique Warmest Winter Ever, the four-time Grammy Award-winning R&B singer-songwriter is making his formal debut as a lead solo artist with The Warmest Winter Ever. The steamy new undertaking compiles the primary two Warmest Winter tasks with 9 model new songs — eight out at this time and yet another coming alongside the set’s full launch on Dec. 8 — excellent for a sultry Christmas between the sheets.
The announcement of The Warmest Winter Ever comes precisely one week after Fauntleroy picked up his seventh profession Grammy nomination. Acknowledged in finest progressive R&B album for his bossa nova-inspired Nova collab album with Terrace Martin, the nod marks Fauntleroy’s first Grammy nomination as an artist. The acclaimed musician has received 4 prior trophies due to his writing contributions to Justin Timberlake’s “Pusher Love Woman” and Bruno Mars’ 24K Magic (“That’s What I Like”; “Finesse”). That’s no small feat for somebody who claims that “for the final 20 years,” they’ve “been telling all people I’m not an artist continuously once they ask.” With extra beforehand launched music making its strategy to DSPs quickly, Fauntleroy is ready to actually step into his personal as an artist – and he’s redefining vacation music as he swaggers down that path.
Stuffed to the brim with jaw-dropping harmonies and hilariously sultry wordplay, The Warmest Winter Ever finds Fauntleroy inviting his viewers to broaden their understanding of what vacation music can sound like. Why cease at “O Holy Night time” and “Deck the Halls,” when you’ll be able to croon “carry that s–t to Santa” to your particular somebody? The primary two Warmest Winter tasks primarily characteristic cozy, acoustic-forward preparations, and the ten new tracks broaden that soundscape right into a wonderland of skittering bass and intimate a cappella joints. Take “Sleigh,” a tongue-in-cheek harmonic rhapsody that solutions the query: What wouldn’t it sound like if James Fauntleroy took “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” and completely freaked it?
In a wide-ranging dialog with Billboard, James Fauntleroy discusses the making of The Warmest Winter Ever, why Mariah Carey is “top-of-the-line writers within the historical past of man,” working with Beyoncé and the state of male R&B.
Billboard: What’s up with you, man? How’re you feeling?
James Fauntleroy: I’m excited, man! I’m pleased and stunned that I’m nonetheless within the recreation. Appreciative, you recognize, so I’m feeling a number of gratitude. I’m going from my first artist-led undertaking — ’trigger the jazz album, or I suppose R&B album, was [with] Terrace — getting nominated for a Grammy to now my first album although I’m rattling close to 20 years within the recreation. That is gonna be my literal first album, so I’m tremendous excited. I’m a brand new artist. That is my gonna be my first undertaking.
Why is now the time to carry The Warmest Winter Ever to DSPs?
We had a gathering this morning, [and] I discovered this previous tweet of Rihanna posting concerning the first [Warmest Winter] undertaking and since I knew it’d been out for some time, I did the maths and I used to be like, Rattling, this was 9 years in the past! The primary undertaking, I put out 9 years in the past, and I put out the opposite one someday between then and now, and mainly these tasks are my first official releases.
I’ve been placing music out the entire time, [but] there’s one different undertaking that I hear about all all year long, yearly, although it’s like 13 years previous. That is one that each one year-round individuals are telling me it’s July and [they’re] nonetheless enjoying the Christmas album. It’s so mind-blowing that music has the ability to be one thing that folks care or speak about after — particularly now when s–t comes out and you turn your playlist up the following f–king day – every week. A giant a part of wanting to place these items on DSPs is simply to indicate all my core followers appreciation as a result of although the s–t’s on SoundCloud, for no matter cause, they’re all the time like, Please put this on Spotify, please put this on Apple Music!
I’m simply slowly beginning to put all these songs on DSPs, but in addition give them one thing new, as a result of one other a part of my compulsion to launch is that whereas I do it as a result of I find it irresistible and I receives a commission to do it, it’s additionally as a result of I do know so many individuals examine me from them telling me and in addition from my ears. That was a giant a part of why I began my college known as the 1500 Sound Academy. I additionally really feel compelled to take it to the following stage for individuals who I’ve impressed. A pal of mine [named] August 08 — he simply received caught within the crossfire within the hood, a few [months] in the past and handed away — I met him when he actually ran as much as me within the airport and he was like, “Oh my God, I’m such an enormous fan, I by no means even considered making music till I heard your music and I received your album cowl tattooed on my leg!” He opened up his denims as a result of they have been already ripped and I didn’t even say nothing but, and he stated all of this. Then he went on to have success as a author, received signed to Def Jam, had a music with Jhené Aiko.
I take into consideration that sort of factor particularly because the Web and life and music undergo rising pains. I’m all the time attempting to consider sustaining the artwork kind and pushing the envelope ahead. Possibly all people on Earth doesn’t hearken to it, but when it will get to the precise particular person and has an impression on them, then you recognize that makes it price it. So these are all the explanations. After which I discovered the precise group, actually. Everyone thinks I’m attempting to be mysterious, however actually I’ve been ready for the precise time, the precise platform, and the precise group to place one thing out that’s giving my viewers the extent of high quality that they count on from what my music seems like.
Does it really feel bizarre having your first official solo album be a Christmas file?
No, it feels pure to me as a result of after I’m fascinated with it when it comes to my legacy — not what I’m attempting to construct, however the place I’ve come to at this level — I feel that it’s so uncommon to have your first album be your Christmas album, however contemplating all of the s–t I make, it makes it the right first album. I’m all the time looking for methods to specific that there’s extra, that you recognize that I’m completely different, that I’m doing one thing. As a author — that’ll all the time be the core of what I’m doing — I find it irresistible as a result of why I even began doing it was it was by no means about attempting to f–king take a small proportion of that Mariah Carey cash, which, oh my God, I’d like to have a few of that, however it was actually about discovering new methods to inform tales. It’s simply a chance to have a brand new subject; discovering one thing new to wrap the artwork round is my major technique of developing with new artwork. This undertaking, it’s 25 Christmas songs, like, is it actually 25 issues about Christmas to sing about?! I don’t even know. [Laughs]. They’re all about Christmas, however they’re all so completely different from any Christmas music I’ve heard, so that they’re doing their job of serving to me push myself ahead.
I had a number of enjoyable making all this s–t. It’s so enjoyable to make music with no stress. I produced, I feel, each music on right here. Possibly there’s like a couple of that I introduced in some gifted musicians, and there’s two songs with different folks’s voices on them. I simply had a blast doing what I wished and attempting to determine how one can do one thing completely different from what I’ve performed up to now.
This file has some steamy joints on there. What impressed the sonic world of The Warmest Winter Ever, and what was it prefer to return to that place for a 3rd installment?
Once I’m fascinated with the place I need to draw inspiration from my tasks, at its core, it’s all about drawing from references. There’s Stevie Surprise all the way in which as much as the Timbaland-Missy s–t. There’s a bunch of various references technically. So far as the inventive inspiration, it’s much less music and extra movie.
Within the music “Neck,” you recognize, I’m imagining the film Elf. “Christmas Checklist,” that’s a music the place I’m speaking about selecting up a gun, and that’s a special sort of film. However then you definitely even have “Miracle,” the place within the second verse, I used to be fascinated with The Santa Clause. I’m fascinated with Black films like Soul Meals as a result of after I’m pondering of a music, I’m doing a number of visualizing, which is the place I’m pulling a number of the descriptive lyrics like, “She’s Grand Theft Auto 5 stars unhealthy” — I used to be laughing whereas I wrote that. It’s actually simply attempting to create a film as a result of that’s how I view music.
Sounds such as you have been in a really cinematic headspace. Any music movies on the horizon?
I’ve so many concepts! Do I manage to pay for to do all these issues? Completely not. So it’s actually based mostly on how folks reply to it. “Sleigh,” as an illustration, which is possibly my favourite music on the entire thing, is definitely about imagining that Santa Claus labored at FedEx and he’s about to exit to do a cargo and he has Mrs. Claus with him and his supervisor or no matter, he’s like You possibly can’t take this girl out. He’s like What?! If she don’t go in there, we ain’t going nowhere. That is how I do it. The message is a few relationship that empowers you and strengthens you and provides you the flexibility to do magic. If I might do a video, it might be UPS Santa with an actual ultra-bad Mrs. Claus along with her arms folded. [Laughs].
“Sleigh” can be considered one of my favorites. Speak to me about crafting your vocal preparations and background harmonies? Who’re you constructing on and emulating?
The purpose of the music is identical because the purpose of the preparations, however the preparations are the first. The lyrics are actually essential, however these are inclined to hit you after the third or fourth pay attention. The primary purpose is to catch you with the association and the music. My primary purpose earlier than streaming, however particularly now, is you really want these motherf–kers to play that s–t greater than as soon as. My purpose is to make a music that you simply need to hear once more. What’s using this music? How is that this of service to folks you recognize?
Usually, the use I’m aiming for is that it makes you’re feeling good. It provides you an escape out of the second you’re in, makes you be ok with your self, and makes you consider one thing otherwise, it’s world-building.
On the technical facet, there’s an increasing number of s–t happening. There’s an increasing number of components coming in. I inform my college students and folks this on a regular basis, I often take into consideration the completely different notes within the harmonies as completely different folks. They’re completely different background singers, so typically I’ll pronounce what I’m saying a bit of otherwise. I’d use a special dynamic. On “Sleigh,” I actually overtly did it. Within the second verse, the way in which I sang the primary line and the way in which I sang the second line is 2 completely different folks. The primary line is all smooth and fairly, after which the following one I’m singing 3 times louder. It’s simply all these dynamics that I’m attempting to show your consideration to.
Now, I’d be remiss if I didn’t ask this because you do sing “Sleigh like Beyoncé” within the music, so have you ever labored with Queen Bey lately?
The very last thing we did was that music with Nas and Jay-Z [DJ Khaled’s “Sorry Not Sorry”]. I sang the hook. That was the primary music I ever put out that I didn’t write, really. They despatched that to me performed already and simply requested me to place my voice on it and [there’s] Beyoncé on the finish which sounds epic.
As I used to be saying earlier about service, it’s actually to make whoever is enjoying Beyoncé, the listener who’s Beyoncé in that second, have the chance to really feel that. I’m all the time gon f–okay with Beyoncé on no matter s–t she’s doing, however the concept got here into my thoughts due to what she represents.
Since that Nas music, I’ve labored on some s–t for her, I’ll say. However no person is aware of what’s popping out aside from her, so I actually do not know.
The brand new tracks kind of depart from the cozier, extra acoustically intimate vibe of the primary two tasks. Was that an intentional selection or was that merely the place your coronary heart was in the course of the artistic course of?
No, it’s tremendous intentional as a result of for those who hearken to the primary [project] and the second, you’ll be able to hear my development as a producer as a result of I’m simply beginning to take beats severely. I like after I look again at these tasks that they’re time capsules of the place I used to be in that second, what I assumed was cool, and what my capabilities have been. Actually, the primary one, I’m enjoying the guitar and I don’t know how one can play the guitar. [Laughs]. I’m additionally enjoying the guitar on this one, however it’s 10 years later. So I nonetheless don’t know how one can play the guitar, however you’ll be able to hear the expansion.
What are a few of your favourite unique up to date Christmas songs? How concerning the classics?
So far as up to date — I can’t wait to listen to [this one] as a result of you requested me about harmonies and the core of all that’s Brandy. Let’s simply hold it actual, that’s the foundation of my fashion typically – I’m tremendous excited to listen to Brandy’s Christmas album.
I’ve heard some good Christmas rap songs over time. I’ve heard some good up to date [songs], however I’m attempting to think about one thing aside from this Brandy s–t. I feel my favourite up to date Christmas songs are my very own. So far as my favourite classics, after all, Mariah Carey. I’ve had the pleasure of working along with her a few instances, and he or she’s all the time fairly upset that no person acknowledges that she’s top-of-the-line writers within the historical past of man. Once I hear her snapping about that s–t, I’d be like You proper, man. F–okay that! as a result of they isn’t placing almost sufficient respect on this motherf–ker’s identify. Not even shut, bro. After which after I labored along with her, I used to be like, Oh, [she] actually does write? She’s not simply an artist who desires to put in writing to get the cash, she’s an precise author who can simply sing her a– off. She’ll all the time be primary, actually and figuratively and philosophically.
I actually love [Paul McCartney’s] “Great Christmastime.” “This Christmas,” that’s a basic. The trendy Christmas music Chris Brown put out known as “It’s Giving Christmas,” I like that one too.
You simply picked up your first Grammy nomination as an artist and your first Grammy nom this decade. How does that really feel? Particularly in relation to your profession longevity?
Man, I can’t imagine it. I’ll inform folks on a regular basis, that the standard lifespan for an individual like me within the enterprise, it’s like one to 3 years. Even for a giant act, for those who get one yr, you probably did it. I’ve been doing this s—t for like 18 years. I used to be not anticipating to get nominated for a f—king Grammy as an artist as a result of I’ve been telling all people underneath the solar for 18 years or nonetheless lengthy that I’m not an artist. I’m an artist, however I’m not knowledgeable recording artist. It’s extraordinarily thrilling to nonetheless be within the recreation in any respect. A month in the past, Saturday Night time Dwell had a Donald Trump joke about “No Air,” and I’m like Yo, that was my first hit music!
For folks to nonetheless give any quantity of consideration or dialog or something for something I’m doing is such a giant deal to me as a result of that’s the half that by no means will get previous as a result of they simply don’t have to try this. Which means it actually had an impression on them. To be this late within the recreation and nonetheless have new achievements and new alternatives and new potentialities occurring is basically such an honor.
R&B has been in an amazing area recently with artists like Victoria Monét, Coco Jones and SZA killing it each critically and commercially. The place would you prefer to see the journey go subsequent?
My hope is for those who hearken to SZA’s improvement over time, it’s gotten to a top quality stage that I feel is basically admirable and respectable and severe – and nonetheless, she’s rising. Each style experiences some extent the place it goes off of the tracks of the mainstream and it sort of turns into this remoted place the place it may well simply develop by itself, and sometimes which means folks take note of it otherwise. However it additionally signifies that the style has the liberty to develop with out the stress of success, so the creators usually are not fascinated with it like that.
R&B hit that time. I’m extra actually fascinated with R&B because it pertains to gospel as a result of gospel music has been capable of develop a lot that you’ve got — even because the ’90s, however from the ’90s until now — this gospel tangent that’s really jazz. Kim Burrell‘s doing jazz s—t up and down, left and proper. All these sorts of singers are, not simply her, however like the entire style of gospel that she began, it’s all closely jazz-based. I really feel like R&B went by means of a bunch of various rising pains attempting to determine what was going to occur when it wasn’t the Confessions period — that’s pop at this level, we’re solely calling it R&B as a result of Usher’s Black, however that’s one other dialog. It was on the peak, after which it skilled what each style that reaches that stage experiences, which is simply too many opinions from individuals who aren’t in it, as a result of now it’s making a lot cash. When [R&B] went by means of the struggles it went by means of, it had a chance to evolve and I feel what it changed into is gangster rap.
Future, Migos, Drake is essentially the most overt as a result of he’s really singing, however that’s what occurred to R&B, bro. It changed into gangster rap on one arm and it changed into [what] they name progressive R&B on the Grammys. However is that what is definitely? It’s simply the liberty that the style is allowed when it’s not underneath the scrutiny of the machine to develop to such some extent that it may well concentrate on the standard. I feel that that’s the place we’re at. I feel it’s been occurring. It was occurring the entire time, like when the business stopped f—king with it, it didn’t go away. I actually really feel like what we’re going to expertise going ahead is a mix of each.
Music has been happening within the business because the Nineteen Twenties and although the hit songs have modified over time, tempos, matters, no matter, the purpose of the music hasn’t modified. It’s to make folks really feel a sure means and these are the substances that I feel are going to provide us extra numerous and extra attention-grabbing types of R&B going ahead, and so I’m personally going to proceed to place that s—t in my music and present as many individuals as potential that there’s extra.
I named solely ladies in my earlier query as a result of I wished to dig into your tackle the state of male R&B, particularly in relation to ladies’s dominance within the style for a lot of the younger decade.
They gotta begin speaking to ladies, bro. I can’t say it any less complicated than Drake is the largest n—a, and who’s his demographic? Which of his songs are the perfect ones? As a result of he received a number of songs speaking to n—as, however which of them matter essentially the most? Which of them make him Drake? It’s simply being conscious of who you’re speaking to. I received’t identify their legendary names — however I talked to a number of legendary folks about when it occurred and why it modified and, mainly, when gangster rap got here in, all of them began saying the identical factor. Girls have been like “We don’t need that smooth s–t no extra.”
Nonetheless, ladies are having such a huge impact on what males are doing. You need to look previous the statistics. You need to look previous what the info is telling you folks need and take into consideration first, who’re you? They should concentrate on what we all know is true. Sure, you can also make cash giving folks the world to flee into the place they are often Scarface and be going further arduous on h–s and beating folks up and killing them and s–t and that could possibly be enjoyable. However you may additionally simply watch Taken. You’re not gonna get the identical feeling out of your goal, which is ladies. There’s two ladies for each man, and also you’re not gonna get the identical response out of a lady that watches Taken versus The Pocket book.
I feel that’s a part of the explanation why the male artists are struggling. We want extra. It ought to simply be who you might be. And I feel that’s actually the difficulty with any fashionable artist, it’s like, Are you doing one thing that’s gonna matter? Are you doing one thing that’s going to set you aside? Or are you doing what you heard yesterday? As a result of in at this time’s world, that’s simply not going to be acceptable. You don’t need to be a replaceable slot within the playlist to have an extended profession, so I feel the R&B guys are figuring that out, however it’s going to be a course of.
Trying past the vacation season – as soon as the decorations are taken down – what can followers count on from you within the new yr?
I’m about to actually be an artist, bro. How else can I present the folks [who] supported me and made my life into what it’s, my appreciation? I put my full energy, thoughts, creativity and power into giving them what they’re asking for. I’m actually about to be placing out music and doing exhibits — I simply did the primary present I’ve performed in years at a jazz competition with Terrace singing a number of the Nova songs a few days in the past. It’s time. There’s some extra music that’s been out that I’m gonna lastly placed on DSPs. I did a joint album with somebody that I feel individuals are gonna be actually stunned and enthusiastic about, and it’s performed. I’m actually about to start out giving all people my interpretation of what albums ought to sound like on this planet I’m attempting to create and we’ll see the way it goes, however I’m excited!
Right here’s the total tracklist for The Warmest Winter Ever:
*beforehand unreleased
1. Unwrapped*
2. Unhealthy Unhealthy Unhealthy*
3. Magic*
4. Convey That Shit to Santa*
5. Mrs Claus*
6. The Neck*
7. Miracle*
8. Christmas Checklist*
9. Sleigh*
10. Good Or Not
11. Physique Warmth
12. Religious Present
13. Is It Morning But
14. It Rains In all places
15. Christmas Lights
16. Christmas On a regular basis
17. Christmas Everynight
18. Give You Love
19. The Current
20. Stocking Stuffer
21. Dreaming
22. Like Summer time
23. Mistletoe ft. Maeta
24. Open Up
25. You Can Get It
