Crush
Jeff Fusco, Getty Images
I feel great. I love being a surprise again. I was always kind of anonymous, now I don't even look much like the guy people didn't recognize [laughs]. With this the audience might not even know me by name so if they enjoy it there's a tangible feeling of shock that I really enjoy.
Can you describe the sound you're going for now? How do you apply that to the upcoming 'Soul Punk'?
Less than going for a sound I just wanted to make what I wanted to listen to. My dad listened to a lot of '70s fusion jazz, I was really active in political punk, but I also really dug Prince and Michael Jackson. Somewhere in there is my love of Bowie's late '70s experimentalism and the lyrical wink of Tom Waits and Randy Newman. Whether or not all of those things come across, that mess of influences definitely informs a lot of my sound.
Watch Patrick Stump perform 'Spotlight' live.
In the video 'Patrick Stump Makes a New Album' you show off how you can play each instrument. Is this how you completed 'Soul Punk?' Did you work with anyone?
I wrote, produced, and played everything on 'Soul Punk' which was something I always wanted to do. I set out to track music that sounded like it could easily have been sequenced on a laptop (like most pop records these days) but actually perform live instruments to get there.
You've been posting a lot of home performances on your website, like your 'A Cappella Grammy Medley'. Is that a part of your DIY mentality? Do you still feel like you're a part of the DIY punk community?
I did want to play with that a little. It doesn't get much more "Do It Yourself," than beatboxing the entire song. I don't know if I'm still part of the DIY punk community. I know I came from it (especially some of the bands I was in before Fall Out Boy), I know I still feel as strongly about DIY ethics. The older I get though, I find I like being more subtle with my anger. Maybe it's more punk rock to scream it from the rooftops, but I feel like you've got a bigger audience to hear a message if they don't all immediately realize they're hearing one.
Several of the tracks from 'Truant Wave' really show off your handle on soul music. What was your inspiration behind the EP?
I wanted to set the tone, lay out my party platform, so to speak. I wanted to put out high-energy R&B music with lots of analog synthesizers and subversive lyrics. The one major difference between 'Truant Wave' and 'Soul Punk' is that on 'Truant Wave' I invited collaboration. I really dug working with Om'Mas Keith on 'Cute Girls,' and D.A. Wallach on 'Big Hype.'
Kellie Pickler Gets Puppy Surprise After Moving 'Dancing With the Stars' Performance
Kellie Pickler Named 'Dancing With the Stars' Champion
J. Cole Performs 'Born Sinner' on 'Late Night With Jimmy Fallon,' Reveals Competitive Spirit Against Kanye West
Blake Shelton Joins NBC in Organizing Oklahoma Tornado Benefit Concert
Chief Keef Receives Apology From Katy Perry
Charlie Sheen Gets Back To His Roots
Beyonce Releases New Anthem, 'Grown Woman'
That's An Interesting Look, Madge
Toby Keith Returns to Help Family, Friends in Moore, Oklahoma
WHOOPS! Obama Makes Big Gaffe
Black Hippy Release 'U.O.E.N.O.' Remix
Candid Portraits Of Strippers After Hours
Mariah Carey's Dress Busts Open During 'GMA' Performance
16 Pasta Dishes Worse Than Yours
Blake Shelton's 'Healing in the Heartland' Benefit Show to Include Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert More
Mariah Carey Curses And Busts Out Of Dress On Live TV
AMAZING PHOTO: UFO Spotted Over San Diego
Killed Soldier In London Attack Identified
Abercrombie Announces Plummeting Sales Amid Controversy
What It's Like To Talk To A 2-Year-Old
Luke Wilson Caught Staring At Fan's Chest
Best Friends Reportedly Die Holding Each Other In Tornado
Danny Tanner Is Fighting With Topanga
Rapper Accused Of Faking His Own Death To Escape Payments
New Trayvon Martin Evidence Features Incriminating Photos, Texts From Teen
Jury Foreman: '18 Days Of Testimony Hurt' Jodi Arias
Teenager's 'Awww'-Inspiring Drawing Wins Big At Google
Surgeons Remove Giant Hairball From Tiger
Brave Woman Stood Down Armed London Attackers
WATCH: Police Force Shows Up To Support 5-Year-Old Who Lost Her Dad
Jodi Arias Jury DEADLOCKED
Mum-Of-Two Faces Down Woolwich Attack Suspects
'DWTS' Shakeup Ahead?
5 Comments