Interviews

Published on October 31st, 2022 | by MuzikScribe

The World According To Steven Russell Harts

Let’s hop right into this new solo LP, Gots ta Be — Conceptually, what does that title represent both to and for you?

Well, it’s a song that I wrote some years ago that I happened to really like; it actually came out on a group called B2K and was a hit for them, and I’ve always wanted to release the song myself…so here we are! Lol.

How then does this new material(s) either differ and / or compare to previous Steven Russell Harts efforts?

The new material is pretty much my same ole vibe for now. I like to do what’s comfortable for me as a creator.

On it, you collaborated with fellow group-mate Allen McNeil on a stirring rendition of the Michael Jackson classic,”Lady in My Life” — Talk to me a lil bit about this remake…

“Lady in My Life“ has always been one of my favorite songs, and ever since I met Rod Temperton, the writer of that song, I vowed to touch it in some way. When I started to produce the music for the remake I got the hunch to call my big brother, Allen, and see if he would get on the song with me since we’re both by-products of Michael Jackson and he agreed to sing it with me, and the rest is history.

As a songwriter, when you sit down to pen your lyrics where do you draw your inspiration from?

I draw from all the music that I’ve been exposed to in my life. No melody or lyrical concept is off-limits. I feel like all the music that made me who I am was given to me as a gift to draw inspiration from at any given time. I also draw from experiences I’ve gone through or wish I could experience, like fantasies or what have you.

Reflecting, tell me about your whole inception into music — When did you first become interested in it? And, how did it all begin for Steve “Random” Russell?

Well, my musical journey started when I was a child listening to my mother’s music and watching her sing until tears ran down her beautiful face; she gave me my passion for music very early in my life. I really became interested in becoming a singer when I was about 12 years young, I used to emulate MJ and I became very popular in my city, Pasadena California, and seeing how I made people feel, and how they responded to me made me want that for myself.

Now you’re a native of Pasadena, CA, correct? So growing up in the ‘City of Roses,’ who all did / do you consider to be your strongest musical influences?

My first influence was a guy named Donald Ray Dixon, an amazing Popper and dancer. I grew up at the Boys Club Of Pasadena, and there I was exposed to some great people that influenced my journey big time. Anyway, D. Ray was my childhood idol; he was such an amazing dancer that I wanted to be just like him…and eventually, he noticed that I was in awe of him and he took a liking to me and began grooming me into the dancer that eventually became the Pasadena Michael Jackson, and later the lead singer of the group, Five Of A Kind.

In having said that, how do you classify your overall sound and / or style?

Well, my main vocal influences were MJ, Howard Hewett, Charlie Wilson, and Johnnie Wilder (Jr.) [Heatwave], so I’m a mixture of all of them. MJ became my main sound somehow though. Lol!

What particular string of events actually led up to the initial meeting up with John “Jon Jon” Harreld, Rodney Benford, aforementioned McNeil & the late Reggie Warren and the ultimate formation of TROOP?

We all went to high school together; Jon Jon was one of my dancers at the boys club when I was imitating MJ, so I’ve known Jon forever. My initial start in the group was my encounters with Rodney; he was the one, he and Reggie, who went on TV and got the whole thing started. He knew that (I) was the perfect candidate for the group once things got serious, so he came to me and asked if I would be interested in being in his group because a producer saw the show and wanted to know if they could really sing.

Switching gears here…

Longevity, what do you attribute yours to?

Honestly, staying creative. I’ve always wanted to make some sort of impact on the world the way so many did on me. So I was dead set on doing just that. Going from artist to songwriter and producer helped keep me relevant for a long time…even to this day people know me for writing some pretty good songs, as well as being in Troop.

What do you want people to get from your music?

I want people to get Love from my music. I want people to get a sense of over-standing and medicine from my music. Music was medicine for me and my mom, so I want to give the same back.

On a more serious note, are you happy with the current state of R&B?

There are certain artists that I l really like, but the overall state of RnB, no! I don’t like how over sexual the lyrics are. I like to allow the listeners the opportunity to use their imagination when listening to my music. RnB now tries too hard to be street, and it’s chasing Hip Hop like a lost child and I don’t like that at all.

Do you have any other outside / additional aspirations, maybe even completely away from music?

Yes, I have a media company called BlqBox Original, and I currently am producing and directing independent films and documentaries, and I absolutely love it! I have an 8 episode series out now streaming on TUBI called Day Ones that is doing really well, and a 5 episode docu-series called Tales Of A Boyband, featuring Troop. I’m also working on my first horror film, so I’m loving the change from music.

Last year saw the release of your film, Day Ones — How has it been for you branching over into that Hollywood world? What’s that future looking like?

I actually love it! I’ve spent so much of my life creating music that to go and be creative in this way is refreshing, almost like reinventing myself in a way, you know? To be honest, since my mother transitioned a few years ago, my feelings for creating music changed dramatically…but I’m finding my way back. I’m producing my 9-year-old son, Ra El Harts, and it got me feeling excited again about creating music.

Outside production work you’ve been equally known for as well — Anything exciting to look out for in the coming weeks / months?

Yes, again, my son, Ra El, is the next thing on my musical agenda.

Your other two children are also in the arts — What are they working and / or gearing up for at this particular point in time?

Yes, my beautiful daughter, Sia Amun, is currently working on her new project called Bedroom Sessions, which is a series of releases to keep her content flourishing, and she’s touring as well. My beautiful son, Stevie Harts a.k.a. “PY” [Putyourheartintoit], just released his new single, “What I Look Like,” and he’s doing a wonderful job building his brand as well. I’m so extremely proud of my children.

To date, what has been your greatest career moment(s), at least thus far anyway?

My greatest moments have been having number one records, and getting Grammys for my work.

What’s an average day like for you?

At this point, my days are whatever I want them to be, I don’t put any pressure on myself to be extra ambitious or anything. I go with my own flow; whatever I feel like doing, thats what I do. If I don’t feel like doing anything at all, that’s what I do.

Please discuss how you interact with and respond to fans…

I’m a social media head; I love interacting with my fans on social media.

What is your favorite part about this line of work? Your least favorite? And, why?

My favorite part of what I do is creating. I’m so happy that I was able to attach myself to my talents in this life; there’s nothing better than creating and watching what the universe does with it. The worst part is people who don’t create music, but make all the money off of it which bothers me. They made a song worth 99-cents, and killed so many songwriters’ careers.

What advice would you have for someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?

Be very careful! Lol. You may wanna consult with your spiritual guides to make sure this is what you want because not going to a 9-5 job every day comes with much sacrifice and belief in self.

“Spread My Wings,” “All I Do Is Think of You” – many prefer y’all’s version over the J5 original – and “Sweet November,” are bonafide R&B classics — How did these particular songs come about? Who came up with the concepts? And, please describe for me the overall studio vibe on those fateful days?

Well, it was my idea to do all of these songs and as you see my hunch was correct! Lol. The sessions were amazing; being able to be exposed to the talents of a producer like Chuckii Booker was like heaven on earth. You just don’t know how amazing this guy is; he’s like Prince, yet not a lot of people know this, but if you know you know!

Is there any chance for a(nother) TROOP album?

It’s funny you ask, the guys want to do a new project as we speak. I’m just getting my mojo back, so that I can be at my best when I participate. But to answer your question, yes!

Lastly, what’s next for Steven Russell Harts?

What’s next for me is growing in the knowledge of self, being in alignment with self, thinking on purpose, feeling good on purpose and creating freely, while I’m still in this body.

Is there anything I left out, or just plain forgot to mention?

No, you pretty much covered it all.

Any “closing” thought(s) for our readers?

Yes, in closing I would like to say that it is key for you all to go within and get rid of as many outside influences as possible, so that you gain the ultimate relationship which is with yourself. You are a piece of source having this physical experience, able to create nothing into something with just a thought. You came to experience it all, so do so and enjoy your journey! I love all of you!