Tanya M. Fowlow from HHNLive.com connects with emerging R&B artist Marcus Voyce to chat about his personal life trials, “bubble gum R&B”, and what seems to be holding up his already overdue debut album.

Marcus Voyce on the current state of R&B: “It’s lacking… Everything is mixed and vocals are sounding more computerized. We don’t hear the breath and the moans and groans that come from the raw vocals; it’s all edited today…”

Tanya M. Fowlow: Let’s just start with you telling the readers how and when you first got involved with music.

Marcus Voyce: Well I started singing when I was 7 years old in church. Basically my father had done music in the past and he’d played with people like Carlos Santana and I’ve always been around music my whole life so that’s where it all started.

TMF: I have to be honest; it’s sort of hard to picture you singing typical childhood songs like “Bah bah Black Sheep” or “London Bridges” so can you share a bit more about the style of music you were influenced by and maybe the style you were singing at that age?

MV: [Laughing] Actually, I’ve always listened to people like Al Green, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Teddy P, …that kind of music; R&B always touched me. I come from a cultural background my mother’s Trinidadian and my father’s Portuguese so I was always around black people and Portuguese people and they just tended to listen to music with soul. That’s basically what I started singing with,… that type of music.

TMF: So let’s move from youth childhood into your mid-teens. I read that you left home at the age of 16 and when you did life wasn’t so pretty for a while.

MV: Yeah.

TMF: Can you talk about some of the stuff you went through and touch on how you managed to turn your life around and get back into music?

MV: Ok. Music was secondary at first. I was a really good basketball player and I went around all of North America to camps and stuff; I was scouted by university schools ummm but when I was 16 I got my first gun charge. See, I was always doin’ that dirt in the street and when I got caught with that everybody turned their backs on me. It was my father that caught me with that gun…well actually it was my little brother that found it. Basically I did some time in jail and I could not go back to my father because of what happened, so when I came out of jail I moved out. I had no money, all I had was my music and that’s what kept me goin’. Even though I did some bad things in life I always had that feel - that music in my soul. Any time a bad situation would happen I would relate to lyrics and songs to get me through it. I traveled; I went all across North America just meetin’ people and gettin’ better at music.
TMF: Ok, so what artists inspire you the most?

MV: What artist…ummm… well right now I really like Usher. I think his vocals are delivered properly and if I wanted to be like someone it would be him. In the famales, of course, Alicia Keys. So those are like my two favorite artists. Writing wise though, Dream inspires me.

TMF: Nice. Alright though, you’ve been quoted as saying, “today’s R&B is bubblegum.”

MV: Yeah, it’s lacking!

TMF: [Laughing] Do you care to elaborate on that statement a little more?

MV: It’s not even R&B it’s the system, the machine – the entertainment business. What’s hot right now wouldn’t have a time back in the day. I think part of it is missing that real soul. Everything is mixed and vocals are sounding more computerized. We don’t hear the breath and the moans and groans that come from the raw vocals; it’s all edited today. Basically, what I’m tryin’ to deliver in my music, yes it gets touched as well, but its the lyrics and the rawness. Every word I have to make count. Many times I go across North America and I’m in the studio and they tell me how to sing and I stop everything and I tell them, “It’s me you’re working with not your career!” So, you understand what I’m sayin’? If they don’t like me then I’m not gunna work 'cause I’m the artist.

TMF: So if you had to pick one other R&B artist that’s not super famous, that’s not at an Usher or Alicia Keys status right now and maybe somebody a little more low key that you know of; who would you say is actually doing it right now besides you?

MV: You mean in my city, like in Toronto, or anywhere?

TMF: It’s up to you, anywhere I guess.

MV: Well, I mean…ok… I know a lot of singers in Toronto and I don’t really like them; not because I’m a singer but because they’re just Canadians, they’re not there yet. If there’s anybody in the city that I could point out it would be the other Voyce – Voyce Alexander. I’m sayin’ he knows how to put it down. Also, Omar, he’s on Canadian Idol right now actually. He’s helped me in my career to mold the singer I am; before I met him, yes my music was good, but it wasn’t where I’m at now. So those two guys and they influence me: Voyce because his name is also Voyce and we spell it the same and we use to sing in churches together at the same conventions so we know each other. [Laughing]

TMF: We’re talking about Toronto a little bit and you’ve mentioned a few things. You’re up there trying to do your thing, so tell me what’s the vibe like when it comes to music and specifically R&B.

MV: I’ve found out in Toronto that it’s hard to please this crowd but that’s ok. We really and truly need a real artist - a real person that’s not accessible; a lot of these artists are accessible. This city right now for R&B game, to me, is soft. Like people aren’t doin’ music the right way.

TMF: Wow! So, tell the reader’s about the pending Marcus Voyce album you are currently working on. What’s the title and when can we expect it?

MV: Well, we had an original date of May 27th this year but that got pushed back. Why? Because the people that I’m signed to… I’m signed to Cornerstone and we got distribution from EMI/Warner ahhh… the album I sat down and listened to it and it’s just not what I want. It’s more directed by my management and our representatives and I just felt like that product wasn’t hot enough for me to put out there. If I wanna be compared to Usher and J.Holiday and those kinda cats I gotta bring heat.

TMF: Yes you do! So, is there another expected date that’s been set?

MV: I’m sittin’ down with Spinz and now that I know my sound and what I’m goin’ for we’re revamping the whole thing. I’m sayin’ early 2009.

TMF: So is the title going to be Addicted still?

MV: I’m still lenient on that. Because my name is Marcus Voyce I might just have the album called MV, you know my initials.

TMF: Ok. In terms of producers, writers, and features who are you working with on your album? I mean, you mentioned Spinz but who else is up on there with you?

MV: Omar, Luther Brown, ummm I’m working with a lot of other people but I can’t really name them because of contract stipulations.

TMF: Hmm. Well, I do want to talk about the single that’s out right now; “Addicted” can you share a bit about that track?

MV: Yeah, that’s not really my single!

TMF: Ahhh ok?

MV: We just put that out to hear me as a singer. Ummmm my single’s about to drop, it’s entitled Shoot It!

TMF: So, is that the track that industry insiders have been talking about? I’ve heard a few people saying it’s gunna be hot!

MV: Yeah! It’s a big track produced by Spinz, written by me, and we got Kid Famous rappin’ on it.

TMF: Sounds hot!

MV: Yeah, that track right there is gunna make some noise! Let’s just say Toronto’s not ready! The video we’re gunna shoot for it is gunna be a bigger video than even Belly’s.

TMF: Ok, oooook, ok! [Laughing] Tell me about the music that’s out from you right now on your website and MySpace (www.myspace.com/marcusvoyce) what’s the general vibe?

MV: Ups and downs. Basically, when I do music I have to feel. I don’t do music without feeling; I don’t do it like that. The music that’s up there is about two years old, but I have a lot of new music that I’m not letting the masses hear yet. That music is basically my growth and I wanna show people how far I’ve come.

TMF: Alright, I’ve been hearing a little bit about a certain show you did where women were removing their undergarments and tossing them at you….[Laughing]

MV: [Laughing] Wow! How’d you hear that?

TMF: [Laughing] Well, let’s just say I did my homework!

MV: [Laughing] Yeah, we did a show last summer and yeah! I had bras thrown at me and when I went backstage (it was for a fashion show) I had girls asking me, “What’s up?” I’m married and I have two children and the whole industry is gunna know that, but that that doesn’t stop women from doin’ what they do. I make sure that they know that I’m a man and I want them to know that I’m a real man. That was an experience! My wife’s not a jealous type and she just took it as, “Yeah, that’s cool,” she loves me more because of that.

TMF: Wow! It’s nice to know that you are staying true to your wife! What does it feel like to have so much attention even in little situations like that when you’re doing shows? How do you handle it?

MV: I don’t really pay attention to it. Yes, when I step on stage I become Marcus Voyce and I gotta be flirtatious and all that but that’s just because I have to do it. That’s just the whole industry. Really, it doesn’t bother me because of the fact that it’s supposed to happen.

TMF: Makes sense. Before I get to the close of this interview, can you speak to the people who said you couldn’t make it, the people that said wouldn’t do anything, you know the people spoke against you? What do you have to say to them now?

MV: Hard work pays off and that’s what made me stronger. Not to say it’s because of them I made it but they fueled my drive. I’m not gunna look down at the people that said I couldn’t make it or said “he’s whack” or whatever; I’m basically gunna congratulate them when I get there!

TMF: In closing do you have any shout-outs or final words?

MV: Yeah, I’d like to shout out Spinz obviously! My manager P, my mix engineer Noah, obviously my wife and kids, my best friend Slim – his nickname is WhizKid he produces for me and he’s from my camp, Reema who is an artist I’m workin’ with that’s 13 and she’s a rapper; right now we’re starting our label and she’s gunna be the first outta what we’re starting! Also I’d like to shout out Kim Davis, JD Era, Black Market, Famous, Rez, Dj Starting From Scratch, Luther Brown he’s the man, and definitely Omar.