Talking With John Legend

The neo-soul crooner talks about recording with Kanye West, growing up singing gospel and why Stevie Wonder remains his idol

ROLLING STONEPosted Aug 11, 2006 10:56 AM

John Legend stopped by the Rolling Stone office to play us some new tracks from his upcoming album, due out this October. Of course, we wanted to hear his Stevie Wonder stories: He says Stevie is always giving people gifts and sharing his special secret potions for preserving his voice, one of which made Legend feel a little ill.

The real thrill was Legend's new album, which is going to surprise people in a good way. He hasn't given up the piano-based mellow soul of 2004's Get Lifted, but alongside those kind of songs are tracks that run the gamut from Sixties AM radio-pop to Jeff Buckley-inspired coolness. It features production from Will.I.Am, Kanye West (of course), Craig Street and Legend himself.

>> Listen to our exclusive John Legend audio interview. (RealPlayer required).

>> More: Check out John Legend articles, album reviews, photos and listen to tracks off "Get Lifted."

>> More: Listen to audio interviews with Coldplay, Pearl Jam, Flaming Lips, Nelly Furtado and others.