Timbaland Talks About his New Projects & Opera Noir

Timbaland’s two Shock Value solo albums have expanded audiences for unlikely rock collaborators like the Hives, She Wants Revenge, Fall Out Boy, Daughtry, and especially OneRepublic, who became sensations thanks to Timbaland’s remix of “Apologize.” And of course, not only did Timbaland help pave the way for Beyoncé’s bold Lemonade set by imparting his influence on the risqué Beyoncé tracks “Drunk in Love,” “Partition,” and “Blow,” but way back in 1996 he played a huge role in the reboot of late R&B-pop songbird Aaliyah’s career, giving her a smoky signature sound to go with her mysterious persona and turning her into a superstar with hits like “One in a Million” and “4 Page Letter.”



So Timbaland is an ideal choice to host The Pop Game, Lifetime’s new music competition series, which is essentially a bootcamp for five aspiring teen artists and their parents. Even though odds are slim that The Pop Game Season 1 will yield music’s next American Idol-style sensation, the superproducer is enjoying the artist-development aspect of the process. “All the people I’ve worked with, they were special, But I never got a chance to work with them in the beginning. I’m having fun building and finding out what’s special [with these artists]. That’s something I’ve never experienced, really.”

Timbaland New Show "The Pop Game"

Timbaland can also relate to the contestants. He remembers when he and fellow A-list hitmaker Pharrell Williams were just a couple of high school kids in Virginia Beach, trying to get recognition for their pre-fame group Surrounded by Idiots. “Being from Virginia, we had to go hard to figure out stuff, We came in the game at a different time, where you had to be great or you wouldn’t get noticed. I wouldn’t get played on the radio if something did not stick out.”

Having a distinct sound has been key in Timbaland’s career, and that helped him secure another recent television opportunity: serving as music director for the Fox hip-hop drama series Empire, a role he held for the first two seasons. “I’m a risk-taker,” he says. “I reinvent myself. Empire was a stepping stone. I had other things that I wanted to do in TV and film, and [director] Lee [Daniels] was a great mentor for me.”

Combining music and film will be a big focus of Timbaland’s next album, the long-anticipated Opera Noir; the producer compares the ambitious project to Prince’s Purple Rain movie and soundtrack. Earlier in its development, Timbaland discussed Opera Noir with Daniels and Epic Records chairman/CEO L.A. Reid, and Daniels gave him some helpful advice. “He’s pointing me in the right direction, so he’s there for me,” Timbaland says. He credits Reid with helping him coin the album’s title. “I played the music for L.A. Reid,” Timbaland says. “He said it sounded like a ‘black opera.’ That’s what it is.” The release date is still to be determined.

Unfortunately, Timbaland doesn’t have any updates on the next release from his longtime musical collaborator, Missy Elliott, who recently dropped the hot new single “I’m Better” and announced her first concert since 2008, playing Los Angeles’s FYF Festival this coming July. “Well, that’s on Missy,” he says when asked about the status of new Elliott music. “She’s got to be ready to put that out. When it’s right, it’s right. She knows when it’s right.”

Timbaland understands. It’s been seven years since he released his last solo album, 2009’s Shock Value II, and he won’t release Opera Noir until he feels it’s ready.


via Yahoo.com

Timbaland Opens up About His New Album (Interview)

Tim will release his first project in eight years when the follow-up to Shock Value II drops later this year and the super producer is promising to change to face of music again. He’s tightlipped about the project, but says it will be full of new faces and, potentially, one UK superstar. After that, he’s rolling out the long-touted Opera Noir, which he describes as a franchise album. Find out more in our Q&A below.

What attracted you to The Pop Game?
It’s something I always wanted to do. This is my way of just giving back to music. I love it. It’s not about ratings, it’s about the love of music. I really love my kids. I want to get other producers to do the same thing, to help out with generations to come. You know, that’s what we’re here for. I want to see those kids flourish and make great moves because they’re always going to remember the help that I gave them, you know?

Are the challenges facing new artists the same as when you started?
The ’90s was the ’90s. That’s what we had to do. These kids don’t have to do that, but the difference is… that’s what we set up in the ’90s — for this time, for this era. Now, we have a job to do, to guide these kids to be the next future of music and then they have a responsibility, if the world is still here. They will remember what I’ve done and whether some star in ten or 15 years from now, there will be another group of kids doing the same thing and, you know, it goes on and goes on. The ’80s were the ’80s and the ’80s had less technology when it came to music. The ’90s had a little more and as it got to 2000, it started to get more extreme, and then as you see now, music is everywhere.

Are there any potential superstars on the show?
All of them could be stars if they’re on right, you know what I’m saying? They’re learning about themselves. What I’m helping them to do is learn about themselves more than anything, learning about themselves as artists.

Is your new album going to be the same concept at Shock Value?
Yeah, but its going to be a lot of new faces. I’m all about breaking out. I don’t like what I’ve already done. Of course, I have to research things, but I like to reinvent the wheel. So, yes, it’ll be a lot of different artists.

Can you mention anyone in particular?
No. Just wait and see. It will all happen. If you notice, I never talk about who I’m working with or what I’m about to put out. I just like to put it out.

I heard that Zayn’s on the album?

Since you heard, I’ll tell you. Yeah, I worked with Zayn. Just be on the lookout.

Why has there been an eight year gap between albums?
Because you have to live life. You have to prep yourself. You’ve got to prep for right moment and for the right time. Timing is everything. You can’t just put out, just to be putting out. I’ve never been wanting to put out. My goals are my goals. So, this time, when I leave I probably won’t stop. I’ll probably keep going for three years straight… just nonstop.

When I stop… you know that was a goal that I set out, you know? Me and my team, we decided to take a break. This is what I’d like to be. I want to live in the shadows, meaning that I want to put out great music like Calvin Harris and The Chainsmokers. I just want to do it in a different way, like how Future put out two albums back to back. It would be a dream to see all Timbaland on iTunes, see every song on that front page… Timbaland, Timbaland, Timbaland, Timbaland. I like to do stuff that’s a challenge.

Are you still producing for other artists or just concentrating on your artist project?
Oh yeah! Yeah! I’m telling you, it’s all going to come… it’s going to be like a whirlwind or like a tsunami. You know when I come, I come. Just like I came in 2007 and in 2013 with [The 20/20 Experience]. So, when I come, I come. We don’t play.

Speaking of that era… are you working on Justin Timberlake’s new album?
You wait and see, buddy. Wait and see. Everything we do, is so top secret, you know. I’m not one to hype stuff up, you know. I just like to put it out. I don’t like to talk about it. you know, I just put it out. But just know that the storm is… let’s just say it’s overcast and it’s right above me. [Laughs] That means keep your ears on.

You’ve worked with all the greats. Who’s left?
Just the new artists. The new millennials like Selena Gomez and The Chainsmokers … all the new people that are coming out. That’s who I’d like to work with, the newer generation.

What do you consider to be your best work?
Nothing really stands out. I just get into it, you know, it’s the beat that I’m mainly interested in… I try to be different each time. That’s it. I don’t have a favorite. Aaliyah will always be the top because that was the start of my career. Of course, that’s like the the start of Timbaland movement.

Her music still sounds as fresh today as when it came out.
Thank you. I’m glad that you like it like that.

Who is making the hottest beats today?
Everybody is doing a good job, if you hear it. Everybody’s putting it out there and letting people be the judge of it. I love everything that going on. You know, there’s some I like better than others and there’s some I don’t like.

Can you talk about your Opera Noir project?
That’s a separate project. That’s going to be the grand finale project.

Is it a concept album?
It’s going to be a franchise album. When I say franchise… people will try to be a part of what I started. People will be like, “I want to do the same thing.”

Via www.idolator.com

Cravetay recording "Same Direction" with Timbaland on #ThePopGame

Heres a clip of Cravetay in the studio with Timbaland recording "Same Direction" on the Pop Game. Tune in to lifetime every Friday 11p/10c

Timbaland talks about New Show #ThePopGame 🌟

Timbaland is looking for music's next big star in his new show 

 "The Pop Game." Timbaland Talks about work with five aspiring artists — some of whom have already amassed sizable followings online — to develop distinct vocal styles, collaborate in song creation, learn choreography, and command the attention of audiences.

He’ll work with five aspiring artists — some of whom have already amassed sizable followings online — to develop distinct vocal styles, collaborate in song creation, learn choreography, and command the attention of audiences.

via Kansas City Live TV 

See which performance @Timbaland​ was feeling on #ThePopGame. pic.twitter.com/McIEwsgOVJ

— Lifetime (@lifetimetv) March 2, 2017

 You can catch “The Pop Game” on Tuesday nights on Lifetime.  

Timbaland and Jojo

Timbaland

Timbaland ❌ Jojo 

SURPRISE! We got @iamjojo on the Pop Game tomorrow! Catch it on @lifetimetv at 11/10c. @MosleyMusicGroup @Bluestonepub @monomusicgroup . . . #thepopgame #lifetime #jojo #timbaland #newepisode #musicislife

A post shared by Timbo the King (@timbaland) on Mar 16, 2017 at 9:23am PDT

Timbaland & Nelly Furtado On "The Pop Game" (Sneak Peak)

Our Beloved Bird Nelly Furtado Will be a Special Guest On Timbaland's New Show "The Pop Game" on February 21st at 10/9c on @lifetimetv! , Timbo will bring Nelly to Guide and Help the New Young Talents on the Show after that They need to impress the Canadian Singer on Stage.

Timbo and Nelly Furtado on #thepopgame 💮🍸 #Timbaland #nellyfurtado

A post shared by Timbaland Fan Page (@timbalandpage) on Feb 22, 2017 at 6:46pm PST

and its The first Time they Reunited Since 2009 it's great to see this Iconic Parnership is Baack!

❤️❤️❤️❤️😘💃🏽🕺🏾

— Nelly Furtado (@NellyFurtado) February 14, 2017