4Music

After scoring a No.1 in the US with his debut single Whatcha Say, Jason Derulo has now set his sights on the UK. He tells us what he has in store for us with his upcoming album and how he feels about going on tour with Lady Gaga… 

Your single Whatcha Say uses a sample from Imogen Heap’s cult hit Hide and Seek. Are you a fan of her music, or did it just happen to work lyrically? 

Definitely a combination of the two. My brother had called me and said, “I’ve cheated on my girl and I love her so much. She’s left me and I don’t know what to do. I know if she gave me one more shot I’d be the man that she needed me to be.” On the sample with Imogen Heap, she was being sarcastic with “Whatcha say? You only meant well. Of course you did.” It really was like a perfect marriage as I thought my brother’s story was really compelling and relatable. It just happened to be magical. 

Did the song convince your brother’s girlfriend in the end? 

Yes it did! It did actually. They’re now engaged and they have a wonderful baby. 

And what does Imogen Heap think of the song? 

She’s in love with the track. It’s her favourite. 

Watcha Say has sold over 1.8 million copies so far. Did you think it would do as well it has? 

I only hoped that people would enjoy it. I knew that when I recorded it that it was definitely a spine-tingler, but you only hope that people take to your music and be so receptive. It’s really a dream come true. I had no idea it would happen this fast. It’s an unbelievable blessing. 

Do you think you can repeat your success in the UK? 

That would just be incredible if I could do the same here. That would just be another dream come true. America is awesome but I would like to share my music with the entire world. The UK is really, really important to me and I would like them to accept my music in the same way. 

You’re currently working on your debut album, which is due out next year. How is it shaping up? 

It’s definitely going to be pop through-and-through. It’s going to be me reinventing myself every single time. I have pop-rock songs on there, I have ballads, euro-dance songs on there. It’s just a compilation of totally different songs. When I put a song out, I want my audience to be like “Wow, what’s he going to bring out next?” It’s definitely not going to be watered-down versions of Whatcha Say. That’s just an appetiser to the main course. 

You’re also going to be supporting Lady Gaga on The Monster Fame Ball. Are you excited? 

I’m amped! I’m through the roof. I’m a big fan of hers. I think she’s just incredible, and it really forces me to up my game because when a performer of that magnitude is performing, she has a whole production behind her. I feel that I have to leave my mark and be stamped in all these people’s brains. It can’t just be “I saw Lady Gaga.” I want them to remember Jason Derulo as well.

 The single Whatcha Say is out now. Jason Derulo’s debut album is out next year.