EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH TIMBALAND

Kicking off his “new regime” of Mosley Music talent by featuring on Pepsi’s Beats Of The Beautiful Game album with his signing Rachel Assil and track Whoever We Are, we caught up with Tim to find out more about his next generation of artists and some old – and much missed – friends.

MTV UK: How did you end up featuring on Pepsi’s Beats Of The Beautiful Game album?

TIMBALAND: Well I sat down with Pepsi and they had a great vision, I saw the vision, and it was a good way to get my music out across the world. I felt like I had a great song with my new artist Rachel Assil that fit perfectly. 

MTV UK: Tell us a bit about the song, Whoever We Are…

TIMBALAND: I heard the song when Rachel did it, she played it on the piano and I just thought, ‘Wow, this fits the campaign.’ I sent it to Pepsi and they loved it.

"Beats of the Beautiful Game" is available to download from iTunes now.

MTV UK:  There are some other great artists on the Beats Of The Beautiful Game album, like Janelle Monae and Rita Ora; is there anyone on there you’d love to work with?

TIM:  Not really. I just want to work with my own people that are with me. I don’t want to work with nobody that’s not a part of Mosley Music. Not right now. I’m building a new regime. 

MTV UK: Can you tell us more about your new regime? 

TIM: You’ll see, in 2015, I’ve got mostly girls that are signed to me. The first two are very special. I probably haven’t seen this kind of special since Lady Gaga. Or Rihanna. They’re the only two in the last ten or 12 years who are special. It’s not about being good or great, it’s about being special.

MTV UK: It must be a really exciting time for you… 

TIM: It’s very exciting. It’s keeping me young, it’s keeping me fresh, it’s keeping me invigorated. Everyone I have around me is the future. They’re kids. 21, 22, 23. Everybody’s young. I might be the oldest one here! I feel like I’m in that movie Divergent, because the new generation is about to happen, and I’m just the father.

MTV UK: How was the experience of executive producing Michael Jackson’s final album, Xscape? 

TIM: That whole experience was stressful. For one, it’s emotional, because I’m dealing with death. I had to ask myself, have I dealt with Aaliyah’s death, and my other best friend Static’s death? There’s something very emotional when you hear Michael Jackson’s voice, but you don’t see him; that’s kinda scary. It’s Michael Jackson for God’s sake, why wouldn’t it be stressful? It’s his last album. It all worked out for the good. It’s a great album.

MTV UK: What’s the number one thing we should be looking out for from you in the next few months?

TIM: I’m gonna put something out, just a teaser, before the new year. Maybe two things. You’re gonna like it. 

watch Timbaland's Latest Video Timbaland Studio Session Outakes

Timbaland Music on Vimeo.

TIMBALAND

Timbaland Packaging A Movie For His ''Opera Noir'' Album

"The album that I'm about to put out—if you think my work on the Michael Jackson album is something you have no idea what I'm about to unleash," he claims of his upcoming project entitled Opera Noir. "The best way I can describe it is this is my Purple Rain. And I'm going to have a movie to go with it. And wait 'til you hear the director who is doing it. It's going to really bug you out!"

Timbaland adds that he's almost done with the project and hopes to have something released by the end of the year. But don't expect any trend-chasing guests to pop up on Opera Noir.

"I'll give it another two months because right now I'm putting the finishing touches on it," he says. "And the cool thing about it is there are no features, only me and my artists on it. This is some of the best music you will hear over the last 15 years. I've been going to different studios and letting different people hear the tracks. You can go around and ask. I've very excited about this album."  OPERA NOIR

—Keith Murphy (@murphdogg29) 

Vibe Magazine 

Timbaland - Whoever We Are (feat. Rachel Assil)

Single Cover

Check Out New Timbaland Single "Whoever We Are" Featuring Rachel Assil 

Off "Pepsi Beats Of The Beautiful Game" Album, Pre-Order it On iTunes Now

Timbaland On New Visual Album For World Cup 2014

Pepsi is pairing singers and filmmakers to release a visual album 
that celebrates soccer during World Cup

Spike Lee, Timbaland, Idris Elba and Kelly Rowland are some of the artists whose work is featured on the Pepsi-curated album, “Beats of the Beautiful Game,” to be released June 10. The soda company announced Monday its album will be a collection of 11 anthem-like songs and short films  

Each week, Pepsi MAX will premiere songs off the album

 as singles on the iTunes store 

"Beats of the Beautiful Game" Tracklist:

Janelle Monáe – "Heroes" (Filmtrack by The Young Astronauts)

Don Omar – "Pura Vida" (Directed by Jessy Terrero)

Rita Ora – "I Will Never Let You Down" (Filmtrack by Diego Luna)

R3hab feat. Eva Simons – "Unstoppable" Starring Idris Elba

Jetta – "Crescendo" 

Kelly Rowland – "The Game" (Directed by Spike Lee)

Santigold – "Kicking Down Doors" (Directed by Andy Morahan)

Timbaland & Rachel Assil – "Whoever We Are" (Directed by The Kolton Bros)

Pearls Negras – "Guerreira" (Directed by Cine Favela)

Jolin Tsai Yl-ling – "Now is the Time" (Directed by Cai Yiqi)

Hassan el Shafei – "Ahlam Men Gedial" 

TIMBALAND