Interview: Detroit Artist/Producer TNV Talks About His New Album "Shine"
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“Shine” represents pulling out the positive from all the negative things we see today. So “Shine” is about celebrating the great moments of life.”
Big ups to you on the completion and release of your new album "Shine". How long did the project take to complete and what does its title "Shine" represent?
The album “Shine” took close to a year to complete. As you know this is the second album of 2020. I planned to release “Shine” in 2021, but with the pandemic going on, I felt very creative because of the crazy times we are in.
In 2019 I started the process of making two different albums with two different perspectives. “Shine” represents pulling out the positive from all the negative things we see today. So “Shine” is about celebrating the great moments of life.
Who were the producers that provided beats on the album and how did you decide which featured artists would appear on a particular track?
I produced, mixed and mastered each track. Every feature on the album is an artist who I personally respect and they carry the skill set lyrically that I was looking for. Because I recognized each features style, I handpicked each beat for their type of delivery.
How would you compare the "Shine" album to your last full length release "Dirty Beautiful"?
They are both a representation of my artistic motivation. “Dirty Beautiful” shows more of my grittier side and I lyrically navigate through obstacles. “Dirty Beautiful” I would say is a more serious feeling album.
I recorded “Shine” close to the same time as “Dirty Beautiful” but I knew I wanted them to be two different concepts. So “Shine” basically is the afterglow of “Dirty Beautiful”.
What was your creative process like for the development of the album's 17 tracks? Was there an overarching concept or theme to the album?
“Shine” had more features than any other album I’ve ever released, so that process was very tedious. Because I listened to each artist featured on a consistent basis, I wanted to make sure the feeling for each track fit them artistically.
Each beat I made for a feature had to be the right fit. So “Shine” musically is more soulful as well. Each drum pattern, vocal, chorus, instrument and sample had to match the concept of each song. I really feel it’s my best cohesive album thus far.
With "Shine" now released, what are some of your goals musically for the rest of the year, heading into 2021?
I’ll be putting on my producing hat the rest of 2020 and collaborating with quite a few artists. I’m always working on music and new concepts. Hopefully before the year ends I should have a instrumental beat tape ready to go.