John Legend Hopes His New Album Becomes a Timeless Family Classic

John Legend sits in his family home.

For the last 20 years, John Legend has built a legacy on love. The EGOT winner is known for his romantic ballads and wedding-worthy songs. Nowadays, he’s drawing inspiration from his family, as evidenced by his new album, “My Favorite Dream.”

The father of four’s new project, his first children’s album, got its start last November after he posted a viral Instagram video of himself performing a cover of “Maybe,” his 1-year-old daughter Esti’s favorite Fisher-Price song. Encouraged by the Mattel kids brand and fan comments calling for a full children’s album, Legend told HuffPost he was inspired to make it a reality, involving his wife, Chrissy Teigen, and their children in the process.

“My family’s so, so intrinsically involved in it because they’re the inspiration for it,” Legend, 45, explained. The album was released on Friday, a few days after an intimate listening session at his Beverly Hills home.

The collection includes nine original tracks, three bonus Fisher-Price covers (“Maybe,” “Friendship,” and “Great, Great Day”), and two other covers. Legend tested all the songs on his family as his “first focus group.”

John Legend playing with his 1-year-old son, Wren Alexander Stephens, at their family home.

“I wrote songs based on a lot of the messages that we give our kids anyway,” Legend shared. “And Chrissy was the one who encouraged me to record the cover of ‘Maybe.’”

Not only did Legend use his family as inspiration, but he also brought them on as musical collaborators. The album’s lead single, “L-O-V-E,” features vocals from Teigen, their 6-year-old son Miles, and 8-year-old daughter Luna, who also designed the song’s cover artwork. The album cover features a throwback photo of a toddler Legend, taken by his aunt, Patricia Lloyd.

Family ties are a vital part of “My Favorite Dream,” celebrating music’s role in the Legend household. Additionally, indie-folk musician and producer Sufjan Stevens played a significant role in realizing Legend’s vision.

“I started to think about who I wanted to produce the album, and my first and only choice was Sufjan Stevens,” Legend recalled. “I felt he would create beautiful soundscapes and make it dreamy and whimsical. I reached out, he said, ‘Yes,’ and I’m so glad he did because I’m really proud of what we created together.”

John Legend and his daughter Esti Maxine Stephens.

In his decades-long career, Legend had never made a full-length children’s album before “My Favorite Dream.” But he had dabbled in children’s music with selections for “Sesame Street” and “SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical.” This new project was a refreshing change for him.

“I like to keep things interesting and challenging, and keep pushing myself to try new things,” he noted. “I hadn’t done anything like this before, so it was cool for me to try. I made a challenge for myself to write original children’s songs that were beautiful and special.”

Though the genre shift from his usual soulful R&B style was a challenge, Legend seemed confident in his new album, balancing sunny songs and tranquil tracks while maintaining his trademark sound.

“I set the standard high for myself,” Legend explained. “Even though it’s for children and families, I wanted it to be music parents would enjoy too. I didn’t lower the bar; I just aimed to make great music.”

With “My Favorite Dream,” Legend aims to show the world the joy music can bring to children’s lives, much like it did for him growing up. He believes his children’s album has “something for every kid and all that they go through.”

John Legend playing his piano at his family home.

Dec. 28 marks the 20th anniversary of Legend’s “Get Lifted,” the double-platinum debut album that launched him to superstardom in 2004. He has big plans to commemorate this milestone, which also falls on his 46th birthday.

Reflecting on his debut album, Legend said, “I wouldn’t be where I am without the success of that first album. ‘Ordinary People’ was the biggest hit from it, but the entire album made a huge impact. I won three Grammys and was nominated for eight, setting my career up really well.”

This success allowed Legend to test his newfound freedom as a recording artist after initial rejections by big record labels.

“Success on the first album gives you a lot of freedom,” he said. “The label trusts you, and you don’t face undue pressure. That success allowed me to experiment, grow as an artist, and have fans ready to join the journey.”

Legend’s journey resumes this fall with a series of piano shows across the country entitled “An Evening with John Legend: A Night of Songs and Stories.” The tour features reimagined versions of his greatest hits and unexpected stories from his life and career.

“I talk about the whole journey,” he said. “At 20 years in, I’m just grateful, reflective, and celebrating all that has happened.”

As he approaches his 10th album, Legend remains motivated to continue making timeless music. “We are fortunate when our music is timeless, and people can remember what it meant to them,” he said. “And hopefully, ‘My Favorite Dream’ will be that kind of album for kids and families.”

Source: HuffPost