We caught up with John John of the group Silk lately for an interview on Instagram Stay. Throughout our dialog, we talked in regards to the solo album he’s engaged on, new music from Silk, the historical past of how the group got here collectively and was found by Keith Sweat, the historical past of a few of Silk’s largest albums, and rather more.
YouKnowIGotSoul: Inform us in regards to the solo undertaking you’re engaged on.
John John: Oh man, I’m tremendous duper excited. It’s a undertaking that me and my brother tremendous producer Delite Allamby have been collaborating on. He’s with me on this journey to deliver again good soulful 90’s R&B music. We obtained a single we’re going to place out very quickly entitled “Do You Consider in Love”. You guys be looking out for that. We’re undoubtedly going to do a whole lot of particular issues. I’ve a 5 music EP I’m doing. It’s a kind of issues I’ve been considering of doing for a really very long time. I’m really enthusiastic about it. It’s going to be that particular child making love music you’re accustomed to listening to from Silk. It’s one thing I’ve been aspiring to do for a very long time.
YouKnowIGotSoul: Are you guys engaged on a brand new Silk album?
John John: Silk has been within the studio. Together with me doing my solo undertaking, we’ve been within the studio whereas additionally doing exhibits. We’re revamping every little thing and getting issues collectively. You’ll hear from us quickly. One other Silk album will certainly be coming.
YouKnowIGotSoul: Share with us the story of how Silk got here collectively as a bunch.
John John: The group was fashioned at McDonald’s! This can be a true story. A man by the identify of Delvis Graham, he’s not within the group, however he’s cousin’s with two members within the group. He was the supervisor at McDonald’s in downtown Atlanta. I used to be 15 or 16 and I used to be taking place there to use for my first actual job. Lengthy story quick, I used to shut the shop, I used to be an worker who after every little thing was completed closed down the shop. Each night time I used to sing as I used to be cleansing up. The man who was the supervisor who was within the group to start with heard me singing. He requested me if I had ever thought of being a bunch. I by no means did, however I used to be keen to strive. It began out with three members. This was again when expertise exhibits have been actually huge in Atlanta. He let me meet his cousin, which is Jimmy, who continues to be within the group. We sat behind McDonald’s and we tried to think about a reputation for the group, for 3 of us. I urged we ought to be referred to as “Three To Go” or “Three the Arduous Approach”. After some time, one of many guys stated since we wished to be easy and we harmonized very effectively, Silk is easy, why not Silk? It simply caught. That’s’ the place the group started in that McDonald’s in downtown Atlanta! I feel it’s a Georgia Energy electrical firm now.
YouKnowIGotSoul: Inform us about the way you guys obtained found by Keith Sweat.
John John: One of many guys within the group, Timzo, his brother labored for a furnishings firm. He delivered furnishings to Keith Sweat’s supervisor on the time. He walked into the home to ship the furnishings and noticed plaques on the wall of Keith Sweat. So he instructed Keith’s supervisor about Silk. She instructed him they have been having a barbeque and to deliver the group over, and Keith Sweat stated he’d be there. If Keith favored them, perhaps we may all do one thing collectively. At the moment, we’d been singing anyplace that anyone would pay attention, even trains! I feel we’ve sung at each church in Atlanta. The barbeque got here up and we obtained along with our greatest Sunday fits on. We went over and Keith Sweat was there. They’d a basement they usually have been upstairs speaking. This was when Keith Sweat was actually, actually standard. We have been scared to go upstairs so we ended up singing within the basement and he heard us from upstairs. He made his approach downstairs and earlier than it was throughout, he was singing with us! It was so surreal. From there, we simply by no means stopped working collectively, it was historical past. We’re nonetheless cool to at the present time! He’s nonetheless Poppa Sweat however he gained’t like that I stated that! He introduced us into the sport.
YouKnowIGotSoul: Discuss creating the debut album “Lose Management”.
John John: I keep in mind beginning it in Atlanta and ending it in L.A. It was a kind of issues the place we have been hungry and model new and we have been prepared. That album even from the beginning of it simply felt so particular. “Freak Me” was really the final music on the album that we picked. Lots of people assume in any other case, however we have been kinda towards it. I keep in mind pulling over on the aspect of the street after the primary single “Completely satisfied Days” got here out and keep in mind listening to ourselves on the radio. The entire laborious work and training and strolling to the prepare station paid off. And we nonetheless have gotten the identical 5 members from 1992!
YouKnowIGotSoul: What’s your involvement within the creation strategy of the albums?
John John: Clearly I sing. Lots of people don’t know I write as effectively. I wrote a little bit one thing on every of the albums.
YouKnowIGotSoul: Mirror on the third album “Tonight”.
John John: I keep in mind being put within the forefront of that exact album. All of us sing, and folks assume me and Lil’ G are the lead singers, nevertheless it is dependent upon the music. We’re all nice with that. I simply assume for that album it was at a time after we have been on the lookout for route, we have been coming into a brand new period of music and we wished to do one thing contemporary and modern and with endurance. I feel we set the bar so excessive with Keith. We wished to verify the sound was perfected. That album, producer “Delite” Allamby got here in. I didn’t know if he had the warmth when he first got here in. However he began taking part in issues, and he performed “Assembly in my Bed room”, and the music was wonderful. It drew us in. That was the preliminary considered mine. The “Tonight” album I take into account a breakout album for me. That’s one other that’s close to and expensive to me. It fell proper into place with the entire “Lose Management” with what we have been making an attempt to graduate to. We didn’t have a blueprint on the best way to get there however Delite introduced it to us. The whole lot labored out excellent. If I had 1 / 4 for each time any individual got here up and stated they’d a child to that album! *Laughs* Folks even say I owe them youngster assist!
YouKnowIGotSoul: How come Silk’s identify by no means comes up relating to the discussions of prime R&B teams of the 90’s?
John John: I do hear these discussions. That may be a laborious query to reply. Lots of people come as much as us and ask why we weren’t a part of sure excursions. We do what we will do, we will’t select who folks decide. I do know we’d completely love a number of extra accolades. It simply occurs. We’re engaged on being extra seen as effectively. We got here out within the early 90’s, music and radio shouldn’t be that approach anymore. The whole lot is digital and it’s a must to adapt to that world. We get collectively and discuss being extra seen to the followers.