Ella Mai spoke with Billboard’s Chelsea Briggs on the red carpet at the 2018 American Music Awards on Tuesday (Oct. 9), chatting about her forthcoming debut album, collaborating with John Legend and touring with Bruno Mars.
Speaking about her self-titled LP that’s dropping this Friday, Mai tells Billboard, “I’m lost for words, I’m so excited…I’m super excited because I can’t wait for everyone to hear a full body of work. I’m also a little bit nervous because it’s always a bit vulnerable putting your work out, but I’m more so excited than nervous.”
The singer reveals that she considers the most vulnerable moment on the record to be the very last song titled “Easy,” a stripped-down love song that is unlike anything she has previously released.
Mai also discusses collaborating with John Legend on the album. While the two were unable to be in the studio together due to scheduling conflicts, she was thrilled that he agreed to contribute to the song.
“He heard the song and was so excited about it, and cut it almost straight away,” she says. “We had the vocals back, I think, in two days, which for someone of his stature, I was like, ‘This is insane!’ I’m so honored to have someone like him (on it). He’s such a legend and the song is amazing. It’s so beautiful, it makes me cry almost every time.”
Asked what she has learned from her tourmate Bruno Mars, the “Boo’d Up” singer also responds, “The energy. Always bring your A-game, your energy. It doesn’t matter how tired you are. His show is incredible. You would never know that he is tired…He’s a great person, he’s so friendly, so nice, and so humble.”
You can watch the full video interview with Ella Mai above, and check out a clip of her AMAs performance below.
