Aloe Blacc doesn't listen to artists that are only interested in fame.
The American singer/songwriter has been recording music for nearly 20 years but rose to significant prominence with his smash hit I Need a Dollar in 2010.
He credits his rise to fame with hard work and determination, and often made music without the assistance of a record label.
"There are a lot of recording artists who are signed specifically as a widget for sale, who just want to be famous," Aloe told British newspaper Daily Star. “They’re the ones I don’t check for and don’t listen to.”
“I had no label and I was doing all the writing and producing myself, going into the audience with a handful of CDs and asking people to buy my music. That’s the experience I had, understanding what it takes to sell music. Looking back, those were the important days which taught me the business.”
Armed with his insider knowledge of the music industry, Aloe has joined forces with Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine on season 6 of The Voice. He'll serve as a guest advisor, helping Adam manage the talent in his team.
His also been working with Pharrell Williams, who helped him record third album Lift Your Sprits.
“I wanted it to have the musicality of soul and the attitude of classic rock like Jimi Hendrix," he explained.
With his soulful voice, Aloe may have been pigeonholed into a certain genre of music. But when mega DJ Avicii transformed his song Wake Me Up into one of the biggest of summer 2013, the 35-year-old moved into dance music too.
“I thought it might be a big dance track but I didn’t think it was gonna be a big pop song," he smiled. “It has exposed my song writing and my voice to a lot of people but there are millions who are yet to find out I’m the singer.”
