It’s an exciting time to be connecting with Shawn Stockman, who many of you know from years of being a member of Boyz II Men. After more than thirty years in the business, Shawn is at a pivotal moment in his career, as he embarks on a much anticipated solo journey. Most know foreword as being the introduction to a book, but that title fits this project so well. This is definitely a re-introduction for Shawn. Fans are now getting the opportunity to see what he’s made of as a soloist. No longer does he have the luxury of asking his bandmates if something sounds right, or whatever the case may be. He gets to figure it all out himself. Shawn has put together what I know will be heralded as an amazing project. I truly believe fans will agree that it’s well worth the wait. Shawn and I talk all about the album, the process of putting it together, how the coronavirus has affected his process, and more. We has a great conversation, and you can catch it all below!
Note: track back to our intro page to listen to full audio of our conversation!!!
Shawn Stockman: How you doing man?
U.G. Digital Magazine: I’m doing amazing man, how about you?
Shawn Stockman: I’m good, James, right?
U.G. Digital Magazine: Yep, I’m James.
Shawn Stockman: OK, Cool.
U.G. Digital Magazine: So listen, man. I’m majorly excited about this opportunity of connecting with you today. I look back over my life, and at my love of music, entertainment, and journalism, and I circle back to people like you who have truly have inspired me to do what I do and follow my dreams. I was in the 9th grade when Cooley High Harmony dropped, and I’m 42 now, so 30 years of classics man. I just remember not having a lot of money, but rushing to buy the cassette, and getting reamed for spending all of my money on the album [laughing]. I’m just appreciative for everything you’ve done for the industry, for the culture, and everything. You have truly inspired me to do what I do.
Shawn Stockman: Thank you for that man. Thank you. You know, stories like that never get old. A lot of people think it’s corny stuff to say, but I’ve seen and experienced enough to know what to appreciate and what to cherish. I’ve won a lot of things, but I’ve lost a lot of things too, James. It’s nice to know that even throughout these years, the work you put in is received. We all want to be appreciated. You saying these things is a blessing to me and a testament that what I’ve been doing all these years has not gone unnoticed. I mean it, so thank you for saying that to me and letting me know in some respect that I did something right.
U.G. Digital Magazine: I think a lot of times artists don’t truly get or understand how much they inspire. I just had a collision this past Saturday, and through all the mess that obviously comes with it, the exciting thing that kept me going is “I’m connecting with Shawn on Tuesday”. This all excites me that much.
Shawn Stockman: Aww man…
U.G. Digital Magazine: It’s cool though, and I try to start my conversations this way by saying thank you. A lot of people wouldn’t pursue their dreams in this way without people like you to look up to. You’re on your first solo release but it’s not the first album you’ve recorded….
Shawn Stockman: Well thank you so much, I’m glad you’re OK, but actually, this is the first album I’ve recorded. A lot of people think I’ve recorded an album before. I’ve recorded songs, but never a full length solo record. I’ve been on soundtracks, and special projects, but this is actually my first shot at this.
U.G. Digital Magazine: What brought you to that place now of wanting to do a solo project now?
Shawn Stockman: It’s about timing. Everything in life is about timing, and it just wasn’t the right time. It would have been cliché to try and do a solo record on the tail end of my group’s success. To me, that’s kinda advantageous and ambitious in a negative sense, because it’s living off the hype. My music would never have it’s fair shake because I’m popular in that moment. At that time, people would probably buy anything from me.
U.G. Digital Magazine: …then it’s like you’re competing with yourself as well.
Shawn Stockman: Well the truth is, you’re always competing with yourself. In this particular situation, it’s better because it’s not about anything else aside from me wanting to be creative, and me wanting to grow and develop as an artist and a person. As musicians, we go out on stage and our job is pretty much PR. We’re out there selling ourselves. Whether with my group or by myself, we’re selling ourselves to people for them to not only hear the songs, but enjoy us enough to come see us again. I put myself in this position because I wanted to see how it felt to not have the luxury of having two amazing singers by my side. I wanted to do this on my own, and this is a life lesson. Its not just about coming out with a solo record or making money, which is another reason I waited because it’s not about money. This isn’t about having to do this to pay the bills. The bills are paid. I wanted to do this because hopefully it will transcend me as an artist to be able to do things outside of what I’m most known for.
U.G. Digital Magazine: We won’t say hopefully though. It definitely will. I’ve heard seven of the eleven tracks, and it’s really amazing. I love the fact that it doesn’t sound like Boyz II Men. You have a lot of groups where the members venture out solo, but it sounds like the group. I think you have your own sound and now the fans get something new but equally amazing.
Shawn Stockman: Thank you. That was intentional. The intention was to let people know who I am as an artist and as a human being. This allowed me to stretch out. I didn’t have two other guys with me. It was just me, and even the process of recording the record, there were times, most times, when it was just me and the engineer. Sometimes it may be the producer, Tim Kelly, who produced a lot of songs, but there were also some that I did. That felt so nice to be in the studio and not have influence from anyone. I could sit there and introspect, and do what was best for me. At the end of the day I have to sing these songs so they have to come from a real place, so people don’t think I’m just singing a record that some producer made. I have to be involved in every song.
U.G. Digital: It comes across tremendously organic. It’s like it truly authentic, and it’s not anything that was just thrown together for you by other writers. It sounds natural.
Shawn Stockman: Thank you.
UG. Digital Magazine: It’s funny because I just gained access to the album yesterday, and I keep replaying it, thinking I may get something different each time I listen. The only thing that really changes are the favorites. Right before you called I was playing Shawn-Na-Na. Yesterday I started with All I Do, and from the first verse it was really dope. It’s not Boyz II Men. It’s really dope. I don’t know what I like the most.
Shawn Stockman: You don’t have to choose man. Like them all [laughing]...
U.G. Digital Magazine: I haven’t been in that place in such a long time where I’ve picked up an album, and the whole thing was dope. You worked with Raphael Saadiq on this project, which also drew me in. He’s someone that I buy anything he puts out. Boyz II Men, the same thing. I’m waiting to hear the other four tracks that aren’t on the teaser. I’m eager for that.
Shawn Stockman: I thank you for liking the songs that you do. Seven out of eleven ain’t bad.
U.G. Digital Magazine: Right.
Shawn Stockman: I’m doing good. If you don’t like the other four, I’m still in a good spot [laughing].
U.G. Digital Magazine: Well we know that won’t happen [laughing]. But you spoke abut life lessons. What have you learned from the solo experience?
Shawn Stockman: Patience. That’s the most important thing I’ve learned in life. Everything doesn’t always come when you want it to come. It doesn’t mean that because you didn’t get it, you won’t get something better along the way. I know it sounds corny, but it’s so real.
U.G. Digital Magazine: Maybe to somebody younger, but not to me at all man.
Shawn Stockman: Yea, real talk. I mean, because there’s a lot of things I expected to happen sooner, or I wanted it to happen sooner, or why isn’t this happening now? It’s because it was better happening at this point. So I learned patience. I learned how to just sometimes wait things out and allow things to happen naturally. Let God do his thing. Let him put certain pieces in place, and allow certain things to happen for the bigger picture to develop. That can only happen with patience. Every action doesn’t always require a reaction.
U.G. Digital Magazine: I like that. Sometimes you just have to sit and wait.
Shawn Stockman: Yep. You gotta wait. Just because somebody said something or did something to you doesn’t mean you have to do something to them. A lot of times, it just takes a moment to see who, what where, why, and when. You gotta do that. Patience is hard as well. A lot of times, everyone’s first reaction to someone’s action, especially if it’s negative, is to clap back. Sometimes you gotta wait and let God do it.
U.G. Digital Magazine: That’s perfect advice. I just want to hit on promotion a little. With so much happening with the Coronavirus, how has it affected your promotion?
Shawn Stockman: I hate to say this, but it’s actually better. It’s allowed people to actually focus on the music and artists that they normally wouldn’t have. The world moves fast. Everything happening has actually slowed it down and allowed people to look around for a second and see, oh it’s not just about this artist. I’m not speaking just for myself. It’s helping a lot of other artists who may not have had the ability to promote, or the budget, or the means to do it. You know, people being able to sit and listen to other acts they may not have listened to before, they may stumble across my record. Everybody gets to sit, listen, and appreciate. I can hang my hat on my project and know that if you’re in an environment where you’re able to listen to music, and listen to it nice, you’ll enjoy my project.
