VIBE.com had a one-on-one session with the singer/actor/songwriter and chopped it up about his solo project, his marriage to once-upon-a-time group-mate, Claudette Ortiz, and his feelings on the Chris Browns and Marios of the world.
Vibe.com: What inspired you to come out with a solo album after having worked with so many people, and being once part of City High?
Ryan Toby: When you’re working with so many talented people on a regular basis, you think wow, I helped these people, lyrically, melodically, vocally. So I’m thinking to myself, when I’m in the studio, I don’t really need anybody to help me do any of that. So I said I wanna just try to do it myself. When that bug is in you to entertain and be on stage and everything, you can’t deny it, I couldn’t deny it. I had to scratch that itch.
What are your expectations for the album?
Ryan Toby: I just wanna make people feel good and give the brothers something that they can play. They may not know what to say to their girl, and when you didn't know what to say, you just put Babyface on. Since he [isn’t around anymore], I said I wanna give these young brothers something to say to the ladies, something respectful, not this, 'hey shorty, come here, shake it, back it up,' you know?
With that said, there have been some comparisons to Usher. Who has influenced you in your musical journey and who do you aspire to emulate if any?
Ryan Toby: My influences go further back than from just right now. If the skirt were to be lifted on a lot of these artists in the industry, you’d find out that there are a lot of other people behind them. So it’s not like they sound like you, you sound like them. And I’ll kinda leave it at that. (laughs)
One of the tracks on this album is a remake of Stevie Wonder's “All I do.” Why did you feel the need to have that song on your debut album?
Ryan Toby: I did the song, “All I Do” basically in honor of Stevie Wonder, who was one of the greatest ones to ever do it. I grew up listening to Stevie Wonder. I feel like we needed a good remake nowadays so I wanted to grab something from the past and put a new twist on it for all the young kids really, who never heard Stevie Wonder's music.
Is there anyone you would like to collaborate with for future projects?
Ryan Toby: Yea, I would love to get in the studio with Beyonce, people from the past, like Prince, Michael Jackson, I dunno if that’s ever gonna happen. Then there’s a lot of artists that are not with us anymore like the Marvin Gayes, and Donny Hathaways and people that I wish I could write songs for. As for nowadays, I would love to get back in the studio with Mario, Alicia Keys, you know, all the great ones out right now.
What inspires your music? Your lyrics? Do they come from purely personal experiences?
Ryan Toby: I have a really deep spiritual relationship. I believe in God, Jesus Christ is my savior and ever since I incorporated Him into everything that I do, the lyrics come from anywhere. It doesn’t even have to be a personal experience. We all deal with the same issues so I get inspiration from anything. I could be watching TV, I could be looking at my kids, or my wife, who's really the inspiration for a lot of songs.
Talking 'bout your wife, any chance for a City High reunion?
Ryan Toby: When the group first got put together, it was three solo artists and we were just using the City High album as a launching path for our solo careers. We were hoping to get more albums out of the situation but when you have three solo artists in a group and everybody’s itching to do their own thing, the first chance we got, we let it go. So I dunno if the City High reunion is gonna come around anytime soon. I mean definitely, I wanna get this outta my system, I know that my wife wants to get her album out too, you know. And then maybe after that we might talk about doing it.
How do you deal with traveling so much and having a family? Is it stressful?
Ryan Toby: It’s not stress. I miss them so much when I’m gone. You know I get my energy and really a lot of my creativity from my kids. Like the different voices and characters and the different things I try to implement into my record-making process. You know, singing silly songs, watching Barney. So I miss my kids, they give me energy.
How do you feel about all the youngins that are coming out now?
Ryan Toby: I love it! I work with a lot of them. Omarion’s a great guy, Mario’s a great, wonderful talented dude, Chris Brown can sing his behind off and dance. I’ve worked with Bobby Valentino, so I’ve worked with all of them. They’re all hot to me. I think they’re all hot and I like getting with the younger guys and passing on the knowledge and information that I had. That’s what I feel like we’re here for, you know, each one teach one so, I love working with all those guys. I always tell them stay focused, don’t get too caught up in the business, take care of your gift and sell a lot of records.
The first single, “Just My Thing”, when will it be released?
Ryan Toby: We’re probably gonna go to radio in the next couple of weeks.
And lastly, you've done movies, produced for mulit-platinum selling artist, toured with City High, and now dropping your solo project. What else is left for Toby to conquer?
Ryan Toby: That’s a great question, cause I’ve done so much before the age of thirty. I’ve done a movie, I’ve toured the world, been nominated for a Grammy, sold a million records, written on two albums that have sold an excess of 20 million copies. I’ve been blessed. The only thing that I had on my to-do list was a solo album, which I’m doing now. I hope this album does well and I could just be a full time dad. I’ve been in the business since I was sixteen years old so I wouldn’t mind taking a little break and then coming back in a year.
Read more vibe.com online exclusives.
home
