Originally created for Meruelo Media's 93.5 KDAY | KDAY-FM (935kday.com):
Grammy-award-winning music icon Smokey Robinson recently made a special appearance on our Morning Show with Romeo to discuss his latest album, upcoming tour dates and his notable career collaborations.
Despite not releasing an album with original material in nearly a decade, Smokey Robinson revealed that he is constantly writing, always driven by his creative inspiration. His latest album, "Gasms," was born out of two previously written but unreleased songs that he felt compelled to bring to life.
When asked about his creative process, Smokey explained he has no set formula. Sometimes a melody sparks his imagination, while other times it's a phrase or a couple of words. He emphasized that he doesn't need to be in a specific place or mindset to write, highlighting the organic nature of his songwriting.
“There's no formula, man.” He said. “Sometimes it's a melody, sometimes it's a phrase or a couple of words. I don't need to be in a certain place or anything like that to write.”
During the interview, Romeo asked Smokey about the intriguing song titles on his latest album. Smokey drew parallels to his hit song "Cruisin'," which has often left fans curious about its underlying innuendos. He explained that the same curiosity surrounds "Gasms," and he intentionally wanted to spark intrigue while allowing fans to interpret the songs in their unique way. Smokey intended to let listeners find their personal meaning and connection with the music.
“They ask, ‘What did you even [mean] with Gasm then?’ I mean, whatever your gasm is, that's what I mean.”
Smokey Robinson also took a trip down memory lane, reminiscing about surprising his friend and talented songwriter D'Angelo on a TV show where he performed his rendition of "Cruisin'." He shed light on the process of artists choosing to cover his songs, expressing his love for seeing his music amplified by other artists and reaching a wider audience. Smokey expressed his gratitude and regarded it as a blessing whenever artists sample his songs, considering it a testament to the lasting impact of his music.
“When I write a song, I hope it's a song that people are going to want to sing and hear and play and do all it forever,” he said. “So when they sample my songs out of the billion songs that they had a choice to choose, and they got one of mine, that's cool, man. That's a blessing. I can't even tell you how wonderful that is to me, man.”
Throughout the interview, Romeo asked Smokey for his thoughts on various industry idols such as Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Barry Gordy. Smokey spoke highly of these legendary artists, acknowledging their immense talent and contribution to the music industry.
Smokey Robinson also revealed his collaboration with celebrated performer Anderson .Paak, disclosing that Dr. Dre approached him, requesting his songwriting skills to help catapult .Paak into mainstream radio success.
Wrapping up the interview, Smokey Robinson discussed the challenge of choosing his setlist from his extensive catalog of hits. With the addition of his new album, the setlist can vary from show to show. He shared that two songs from "Gasms" have been incorporated into his current tour, offering fans a chance to experience his latest album live.
For those eager to listen to Smokey Robinson's latest album, "Gasms," it is available for streaming on all major music platforms. Additionally, you can find his upcoming tour dates and stay updated with all things Smokey by visiting his official website at https://smokeyrobinson.com/.
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