Macy Gray tackles interesting subjects with her new songs on Big and opens up to collaborating with several artists and producers this time around.
Macy Gray's new record Big hits stores on the 27th and she promises fans a, "Very bold, very fresh sounding record." She says it's one of the best albums she's ever heard and was made without trying to please anybody. It's also the first record where Gray let others into her creative process. She had always been adamant about not sharing her lyrics or working with anyone else beyond one producer for her records. This was her choice because she wanted to make records that were more consistent the whole way through. There were no collaborations with other artists until her third album, produced by Dallas Austin.
"I just always had this thing for consistency, for songs to all have a thread, and to be more compact. For this record, I learned to be open to other people's ideas," says Gray.
With a Little Help From Her Friends
Loaded with the influences of others, it is. Big boasts the work of the A-list such as Will.I.Am, Justin Timberlake, Fergie, Natalie Cole, and producer Ron Fair (Mary J. Blige Be Without You). She also enlisted the help of newcomers Teedra Moses of TVT records and newbie producers Jared and Whitey.
"They're these really dope, brand new producers," Gray says. "And they did three songs on the album, three of the best: What I Gotta Do, Shooby Do, and they co-wrote on Slowly. They're just very amazing new producers. People know about them but they're not over-exposed yet. They're still hungry."
Will.I.Am is someone Gray has known for a long time, having guested on the pre-Fergie Black Eyed Peas album Bridging The Gap in 2000 on Request + Line. He was her inspiration for loosening up and listening to the ideas of other artists for Big. She initially planned to do the whole album working with just him, but departed from her m.o. when Will.I.Am took off on tour with the Peas.
"That is when I started with Justin Timberlake and these new kids Jared and Whitey," Gray says. "It took a really long time waiting for Will to get back off tour. I feel good that it's coming out at the right time."
Gray called Natalie Cole in to do harmonies on Finally Made Me Happy because she loved the "really exquisite" harmonies on an old record of hers. Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas recorded her part on Glad You're Here while in London, however, 95-percent of the album was recorded in studios all over Los Angeles.
The Stories Behind The New Songs
Songs on Big cover different subject matter in unusual ways, like Finally Made Me Happy, which is about how Gray was ecstatic when her husband left the marriage. "Back in the day/beggin' you to stay/ now I can't wait to see your back/ and see you leaving today." She says her ex-husband hasn't heard the song yet. But he just may soon, as the tune is now available for downloading on iTunes.
The song is a classy and refreshing way of telling your ex, "neener, neener, neener!" Maybe the single girl just out of a painful relationship has a new anthem to replace I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor. But this song is more of a classic R&B number with piano, strings, and the voice of Natalie Cole in the background.
Then there's Strange Behavior, a song chronicling a good relationship gone bad. "We were happily married/ until he waved a gun at me/ I said what's with all your strange behavior/ he said I love you baby/ but you got a big insurance policy/ and I really need the paper." It was inspired by Gray laying in bed depressed while watching one of those all-day A&E murder marathons.
"One day you can be in love with someone, marry them, and then sell them out for 20 thousand dollars," says Gray. "It's interesting what goes on in a love affair, how things change, and it can become really tragic."
Pre-Order Big from Amazon
Buy Finally Made Me Happy On iTunes
Because you can't wait for the album.
Macy Online
Who Does What on Macy Gray's Big:
Will.I.Am, Ron Fair: Engineering and sound production for Big.
JAWBreakers Production Team: Justin Timberlake & Will.I.Am - Okay, Get Out.
Whiteleaf Production Team: Jared & Whitey - Shoo Bee Doo, What I Gotta Do. Co-Writers on Slowly.
Teedra Moses, TVT Records: Lyrics -- Finally Made Me Happy, Ghetto Love.
Fergie: Background Vocals, harmonies - Glad You're Here.
Natalie Cole: Harmonies, ad-libs - Finally Made Me Happy.
Samples on Big:
One - Strings from Nat King Cole's Nature Boy.
Ghetto Love - Intro from It's a Man's World by James Brown.
Treat Me Like Your Money - Macy does a vocal sample of You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) by Dead or Alive.
