- Mon, 2007-10-01 09:00
The Latino and electro influenced Tired Of Being Sorry (out Sept 24th 2007) is the second single from Enrique’s already gold-certified new album Insomniac, the eighth studio record from the Madrid-born, Miami-raised singer who has now sold over 20 million records worldwide.
I Like Music caught up with Enrique Iglesias to talk about his new single, album and his advice on achieving success.
"I Like Music because.... it can be like therapy.” Enrique Iglesias
ILM: Your new single, Tired Of Being Sorry’ is out now. It’s Latino and electro influenced. Can you tell us how that track came about and describe it’s whole vibe?
Enrique: For me that track it was always, I always loved it there was something dark about it but still uplifting in the chorus. What really drew my attention was just how for me it’s one of the best choruses on the album. Its not your typical lyrics either.
ILM: On your already gold-certified new album Insomniac, which track did you enjoy laying down the most?
Enrique: It’s hard to say. Track number one was fun, Ring My Bells, I liked Tired Of Being Sorry a lot too and there’s a ballad, track number 12 Don’t You Forget About Me, that was fun.
ILM: This album is your eighth studio record. Is there anything you learned about the whole music making process on this one that you didn’t know before?
Enrique: Definitely. It’s not so much learning something I didn’t know before but sometimes you don’t push yourself. So it’s about not giving up. Before I used to give up a little easier, when I recorded songs I didn’t like or if I didn’t feel good about it when I was singing it right away. But sometimes it’s better to breathe and come back to it and try it two, three, four or more times and make sure 100% that you don’t really feel it. At times in the past before I think that maybe I would dispose of songs too early as I wouldn’t give them a second chance.
ILM: I read that you struggled with a concept for the album for the last three years, but made the right decision when you refused to make it hip hop and kept your own unique signature style. You must be glad you did as it’s charted at #5 one of his highest UK album chart positions ever.
Enrique: I’m happy with it; but it wasn’t so much about a musical style. I made a choice to take my time on this album and write as many songs as possible. It wasn’t so much about the musical style that I was embarking on with this album.
ILM: You have now sold over 20 million records worldwide. Are you enjoying the journey so far and finding time to smell the roses?
Enrique: Yeah, in the last three years, I’ve tried to learn that you have to enjoy it; especially when you’re young and you’ve had success, I’ve learned to enjoy those happier moments a little more.
ILM: You chose to keep you ambitions secret from your family and recorded your demo using the pseudonym 'Enrique Martínez'. You recorded your first album in total anonymity, choosing to downplay your lineage, the first batch of radio spots identified you only as Enrique. You were clearly determined to succeed without using your family name. What’s your advice to young people on following their dream career?
Enrique: I know that it sounds cliché and cheesy when people say ‘follow your dreams’ but I strongly believe that you dream it, you think it, every single minute. I’m a firm believer that the more you set your mind to it and the more you think about it, the closer you get to it. You have to have that focus, dream and goal and obviously strong discipline too.
ILM: Your ownheadline tour kicks off in South Africa and comes to Dublin in November finishing in London. What do you look forward to most about playing live?
Enrique: For me that’s the fun part. I like the interaction with the audience. I don’t mind touring. The work comes before the touring. Touring is a lot of fun for me. For me that’s play time.
ILM: Please describe the Enrique Iglesias process of making music? Does it tend to be lyrics or melody first?
Enrique: It depends. Sometimes it’s simultaneous, sometimes it’s the melody, sometimes it’s the title, so it varies. A lot of times it’s simultaneous; it starts with that first line and just flows.
ILM: Lots of songs these days have a focus on relationships because we all have them, be they with partners, family or friends, do you have lyrics relating to relationships that you feel people can relate to (your own songs or songs you’ve heard that have related to you)?
Enrique: There are a lot of songs about relationships when you listen to music. That’s one thing we all have in common, we all have relationships, so I can relate to a lot of them, I think it’s too hard to pick just one.
ILM: Please describe your ideal night out and the friends you’d have with you, and also describe your perfect night in and the people you’d have share it with you.
Enrique: My perfect night in is to hang out in my room in bed and watch TV. My perfect night out… I like hanging out with my friends who I don’t get to see much of because I’m touring. I like going to the movies too.
ILM: You’ve worked with Whitney Houston duet, Kelis, Lil' Wayne, … any dream collaborations?
Enrique: I’d really like to work with someone like Bruce Springsteen.
ILM: Now that would be a hot collaboration. We’ll cross our fingers that happens.
Enrique: Thank you.
