Naviyd, Usher’s son, releases his debut single and acknowledges that he initially kept it from his parents
The 16-year-old wrote and produced “Smooth Blues” alone.
After the release of his first single, “Smooth Blues,” Usher’s 16-year-old son Naviyd is establishing himself as a singer, songwriter, and producer.
Based just on the title, one could conclude that the song is jazzy, but it’s actually more jazzy and lively. His soft vocals are laid down over a funky groove, giving the record a futuristic yet modern vibe. Like his father, there are unmistakable R&B undertones.
The rising star talked to VIBE about the creation of the song, which he both wrote and produced.
“In order to establish the benchmark for my style and how I really want it to sound, I wanted my debut song to be entirely written and produced by myself. In a sense, I believe that when you hire someone to create or make anything for you, they are unable to accurately convey what you really want. Naviyd clarified that only you can truly understand that.
Admittedly, his parents and other loved ones were taken aback by “Smooth Blues,” and he purposefully did so. “I didn’t want the people closest to me to interfere with my creative process, so I didn’t show them the song,” he said. I seldom showed my best friend; I didn’t show my parents. Since I can’t alter it at that point and it becomes fixed the way I wanted it, I wanted them to hear it with everyone else before offering their thoughts.
“I’m always open for improvement and opinions,” he admitted. However, I thought that other people’s opinions would distort my original idea for my first song, and I would have simply catered to what they had to say.
“To be honest, I wrote this song about something I haven’t experienced before, so during the writing process, my way of coming up with the story and progression was putting myself in the perspective of someone who has,” Naviyd said when discussing the story behind “Smooth Blues” and its production. I think a great quality in a writer is the ability to make a story out of nothing. In terms of production, I wanted this song to have a lot of layers and a narrative feel. To help the audience become more engrossed in the narrative, specific sounds or effects will be employed at various points throughout the song when various events are taking place.
Despite just being sixteen, he already possesses great talent, wisdom, and a promising future. Listen to “Smooth Blues” on all streaming services and above.
