Pick a song you’ve heard multiple times on the radio over the past few years. If the record reached #1, chances are that it was penned by none other than Sean Garrett. Responsible for 13 –no, that is not a misprint—number 1 records since 2005, Garrett no doubt receives holiday cards from the likes of Usher (Yeah!), Chris Brown (Wall to Wall), Fergie (London Bridge) and Mary J. (Work That).
Like so many writer/producer musicians before him, Garrett will attempt to incorporate his true passion, singing, into the fold as he releases his debut album, “Turbo 919,” later this summer. Leading off the album is the Ludacris-assisted, “Grippin’,” which has already begun to have a tight hold of listeners at radio nationwide.
Sean Garrett Interview Transcription
DJ Booth: What’s goin’ on everybody? It’s your boy “Z,” doin’ it real big, and joining me inside the DJ Booth is a man who has helped Beyonce, Chris Brown, Usher, Fergie, and countless others achieve platinum-plus success. Please welcome one of the most talented songwriters in this industry, Sean “The Pen” Garrett – how you doin’, my friend?
Sean Garrett: Yeah, what’s happenin’, what’s happenin’?
DJ Booth: What’s poppin’ is your new single, “Grippin’,” it’s grippin’ a hold of everybody’s interest all across the radio. You’ve gotta be excited about this record and what you’ve got comin’ up this year.
Sean Garrett: Yeah, man, I’m really excited about “Grippin’.” I wanna put in a big shout-out, first of all, to DTP and my main man, Ludacris, for showin’ me so much love and supportin’ my project. This is my first single, what we call, “Grippin’.” [singing] Grippin’ on the bed… That’s for all them ladies out there. You all know we do. But I’m really excited. The album’s called “Turbo 919.” It’s already been compared to some of the great albums. And I’ve just really been blessed, man, that I really have had the opportunity to put it together a really diverse, very exciting album. I’m really appreciative of the opportunity to get out and show the world what I’m made of.
DJ Booth: Well, it sounds like a great combination. Sean, you know better than almost anyone the type of guaranteed money in back-end publishing that writers receive, so after all your success as a writer up to this point, why record as an artist?
Sean Garrett: Well, ‘cause I’m definitely a true artist. Probably my best comparison as an artist would be Kanye West. Kanye’s doin’ it out of love and respect. I look up to Kanye, ‘cause Kanye definitely did exactly what I plan to do. He was always boxed in; that he was only a producer, and he could never get on the stage and rock a party, rock a show, rock a stadium. And not only has he shown that he’s hot, but Kanye has shown that he’s one of the best in the game. From his concepts, to his songs, to his anthems, to his stage show, he’s a true visionary, and that’s what I consider myself. Just the fact of being boxed in as a songwriter-producer is just not all of my talents. And my fans truly deserve to get all of Sean Garrett, and that’s what you’re gonna get on “Turbo 919.” Y’all gonna be listening to my album and I guarantee there won’t be no more conversation on if Sean Garrett can sing, ‘cause, trust me, it’s live and direct. I’m gonna give the ladies something they can definitely appreciate on more than one or two or three songs. I’m definitely gonna give the club something that they can completely appreciate, from here to Paris, whether it’s an urban club or a pop club, or whether it’s a top 40 club or whether it’s a house party, we definitely got joints on my album that’s gonna keep a lot of energy, keep the drinks flowin’, and keep people smilin’ and havin’ a good time.
DJ Booth: So what you’re sayin’ is, this album is not gonna be fast-forwarded at all, right?
Sean Garrett: Oh, no. Trust me – as you can see with “Grippin’,” I put that record out first because I wanted my urban community to know I appreciate their support of all of the stuff I’ve done in the beginning. I could’ve put out a record that was a top 40 smash, but I didn’t want to supersede myself; I wanted them to know that I’m still here. I’ve been really, really blessed and really successful, but I’m still here, and I’m still a hitmaker that’s focused on the grassroots of music, and that’s puttin’ something on the radio that people are gonna have fun to, and just enjoy.
DJ Booth: As we mentioned, the album is not gonna be a fast-forward type of album, so let’s rewind a second. I read you almost gave up on music. You graduated from college; you took a job as a mortgage broker in South Carolina. I’m sure you’re glad that did not work out…
Sean Garrett: I don’t know who said I almost gave up on music. Ain’t never no givin’ up on music when it comes to Sean Garrett. I am music, I breathe and sleep music. But you’re right: I did have to do what I had to do. I have a little boy, so I gotta take care of my son and takin’ care of my family is really important to me. I felt like it’s about priority; I had to prioritize my life and prioritize myself, and sort of put things in the position that they should be in, and [then] go for my dreams. It was really unfortunate that I lost my mom two years back, and that sort of prompted a different mindset for me and my life, and it gave me the go-ahead to completely go for everything. After losing your mother, someone that you’ve never, ever, ever dreamed of losing, it just kind of changes your perspective on things sometimes, and it gives you this type of energy that you just can’t stop – you can’t stop, you want stop.
DJ Booth: Well, I’m sure, and I have no doubt, that Mom’s lookin’ down on us doin’ this interview right now, very proud of her son and all of his accomplishments thus far. Let’s move forward a little bit. You’ve written for such a diverse group of artists. Explain, Sean, the process of writing a record for, let’s say, a pop artist like Britney, as opposed to maybe a rapper like Jay-Z or Nelly, or an R&B singer like Mary J., and then compare that to how you went about writing the records for you.
Sean Garrett: Well, it all starts with the love and respect for music, first of all, and the next level is just the love and respect for your fans and the love and respect for the artists you’ve been workin’ with. I have been fortunate enough to work with a lot of the artists that I really appreciate and I respect. You take all of that experience and you take all of the dos and the don’ts, and then you go and construct your own album, and you know how to put together a dynamite album. You know how to make people feel upbeat, you know when you’ve had ‘em up for three or four singles, you’ve got ‘em jumpin’ and goin’ crazy, and you want to take them down for a little bit, and make ‘em feel comfortable, and make ‘em relax with their girl or their guy. I’m kinda like the black James Bond. So that’s my persona; “Turbo 919” is like my alias. It’s really about the future, it’s really about creating something that touches on the past, that gives you that feeling when you used to listen to some great, great songs on the radio and just could not turn it off, and you was like, “Damn, I wanna hear that record again, I wanna hear it again, I wanna hear it again!” Those are the type of records I put on my album. And then I got some stuff that takes you to 2020, like “Turbo 919.” I ain’t even gonna talk about it, just trust me when I tell you, when y’all hear “Turbo 919,” y’all gonna know what time it is. And I don’t do too much talkin’ – I let the record play for itself.
DJ Booth: You let the music speak for you.
Sean Garrett: Yeah, absolutely.
DJ Booth: We keep on talkin’ about the title of the album, “Turbo 919.” Does “919” stand for North Carolina’s area code?
Sean Garrett: [laughter] I’ll say the song “Turbo 919,” is definitely talking about a girl I know from that area code.
DJ Booth: Okay, so I cracked the code.
Sean Garrett: Yeah, but then at the same time, my alias is Turbo 919, and that’s just pretty much, like I told you, I’m like the black James Bond – I’m real dangerous, I’m real strong, I definitely have a romantic side, I definitely have a sexy side, I’m definitely a gentleman, you know, ninety percent of the time. [laughter]
DJ Booth: Okay, so when you meet someone, are you introducing yourself as “Sean Garrett,” as “The Pen,” or as “Turbo 919?” Or does it matter where you meet them?
Sean Garrett: Well, I’m being honest with myself, I’m being honest with the world; I’m a very diverse person. You might catch me as Sean Garrett, “The Pen,” or you might catch me as Turbo 919. When I’m in artist mode, I’m definitely Turbo 919. I’m definitely high-energy, I’m definitely keeping it really, really sexy, I’m definitely keepin’ it real strong, and I’m fearless.
DJ Booth: Well, you’re on the phone with me, you’re that guy, but I’m curious: am I talking to Sean, am I talking to The Pen, or Turbo 919? Or all three, put together on the phone with me?
Sean Garrett: Well, today you got a special day. You’re talkin’ to every last one of those guys right now. ‘Cause we’re talkin’ about “Turbo 919,” the album, we’re talkin’ about Sean Garrett, The Pen, as a songwriter, we’re talkin’ about Sean Garrett as a humanitarian, we’re talkin’ about Sean Garrett, the father. So we’re talkin’ about a lot of things right now. Most definitely, you’re very lucky today; you got everything you want, right here on the phone.
DJ Booth: Well, I’m certainly countin’ my blessings, and I appreciate that. I read that the album’s set to feature a wide array of guest verses, and production work from the likes of Pharrell, you got Akon, Lil Wayne, Stargate, Rodney Jerkins. Did you let anyone else co-write material with you, or is this album only written by yourself?
Sean Garrett: Well, you know what, it’s ninety-nine point nine percent written by Sean Garrett. The Avila Brother’s were some very, very good friends of mine, and they came through, and really assisted in me producin’ this really great record on my album called, “One Day,” that I’m very proud of, and it’s a song that I wrote that was inspired by my mom. ‘Cause I know my mom always wanted to see me married one day. It’s a song that I wrote with her in my heart. But the rest of the album is completely upbeat, it’s bangin’ in the clubs.
DJ Booth: Well, it sounds like you have a fresh new sound on your hands, very futuristic, and I’m happy to hear that, because, of late – and I don’t know if you agree with me or not – the industry has become somewhat stale, dry, even monotonous. When you decided, “I’m gonna develop this project, and I’m gonna give it a specific identity,” what helped you to go in this direction?
Sean Garrett: Well, just like you said, I think that some of the comments that you made are true. It’s become a business. I was just havin’ a conversation earlier with the publisher, and we were speaking, and there were saying that there’s another publishing firm that’s went to stating music as “content.” When is music content? Music is music, man. I don’t care how technically-inclined we become, I don’t care how many computers come out, I don’t care how many new software packages come out; at the end of the day, music is music. And we all were brought up on music, we all dreamed of music, we all make love to music, we all live and party and do all of this. Music is so important in our lives. And I think when you start taking that for granted and start putting business over music, and then you tend to get this stale scenario. You take the love, and the appreciation, and the soul out of music when you start putting business before it. It’s important for us as creative people to accept and respect the fact that we have been given the opportunity to provide a service, and that is to completely continue to give great music, energetic, innovative music to our fans. And unless you’re doin’ that…it has a lot to do with the support that you get.
DJ Booth: No, I agree. I think you were about to say, “You might as well not do it,” and I agree with that assessment had you said that. It’s very formulaic. Sean, if the project succeeds like you’ve convinced me it will, people are going to say, “Sean should have done this so long ago.” But, if the project doesn’t do as well, both commercially and up to your standards, people might say, “You know, he should’ve just stuck with writing for other artists.” Are you prepared for reactions to both of those conclusions?
Sean Garrett: Yeah, but, you gotta look at it, man – you never can win by bein’ on the bench. I’ve already succeeded as a songwriter-producer. I’ve had thirteen number one records in the last four years, and I’m still doin’ records for my peers every day. I feel like, if you want an opportunity to hear an album just as good as Justin Timberlake’s, or just as good as Usher’s album, or just as good as any of the great albums that’s out at this time, you’ve gotta open your eyes to people that create that music, and give them an opportunity. Just like Timbaland – there was a lot of people sayin’ that Timbaland’s album wasn’t gonna be, he’s just a producer, and look what happened: he sold over five million albums worldwide, and people are still jammin’ to his music every day. I’ve proven myself as a hitmaker, now I’m gonna prove myself as an artist. All I’m askin’ people to do is just listen, you know? If you feel this is not what you’re interested in, I can totally appreciate the fact that it might not be your cup of tea, but I doubt it.
DJ Booth: Well that confidence is gonna get you far. Your resume certainly speaks for itself. Sean, give everybody a website or a MySpace page, so they can find out more, of course, about this debut, “Turbo 919,” droppin’ this June.
Sean Garrett: Yo, I’m tellin y’all right now, I love and respect every one of y’all and I appreciate every piece of support that y’all have been giving Sean Garrett and all of the beautiful artists that I’ve worked with in the past and the future. Y’all can always go to seangarrettmusic.com and pull me up. Pay attention to what’s happening - “Turbo 919” TV, Sean Garrett music. Stay tuned, ‘cause it’s definitely comin’ to a city near you.
DJ Booth: Sounds good, Sean. I wish you nothing but the best of luck and I thank you for joinin’ me today, inside of the DJ Booth, my friend.
Sean Garrett: DJ Z! [laughter]
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