Regarding the song selection of his album, Five, he said, “It allowed me to go back to my roots. It has 18 tracks and it is my fifth studio album. It is really a celebration of eight years of this career that I started in 2009. I wanted to give fans a lot of music, which is why I did 18 tracks, and I wanted to give them a lot of variety.”
Royce continued, “For me, it was all about blending cultures and blending music and bringing all these different artists and genres to my world, the bachata world. That was the idea from the beginning: to bring a little bit of everything into this record. I’m happy that everybody has been supporting it, liking it and receiving it.”
Two artists in particular that he collaborated with on this studio effort included Latin music queen Shakira and Zendaya. “It was a pleasure. Zendaya is a sweetheart and very dedicated. She wanted to nail the Spanish down to the accent, and she was working hard in the studio,” he said. “It was awesome working with Shakira as well. She was involved with the music and the production. She was dancing bachata in the music video.”
Ironically enough, Royce listed “Deja Vu” and “X” as his two personal favorite songs on the album. “I think Shakira sounds beautiful on it, and ‘X’ is one of my favorites too. I love the blend of the vibe and format of the song,” he said. “The idea with this whole record was to do a song for everyone: there are heartbreak songs, more mature songs and songs for the club. We wanted two to three songs for different demographics and for different people.”
Each day, Royce is motivated by his fans and family members. “The other day I went back to the projects in the Bronx. I hadn’t been there in eight years, and going back there, and knowing where I am from, that’s what motivates me,” he said. “It’s a feeling that I got out of the Bronx and this is what I worked for. I try to find that passion in everything I do.”
Rihanna and Ariana Grande are his two dream female collaboration choices in music. “There are so many talented women out there that I would love to work with,” he said.
On July 26, Royce will be headlining The Theater at Madison Square Garden in the heart of New York City. “We are starting from scratch with the production and set-list. I can’t wait to bring a new show to the rest of the country and the world,” he said.
For his dedicated fans, he concluded, “Thank you for all the love and support. I can’t wait to be on tour and to put out new music.”
To learn more about global music star Prince Royce and Five, check out his official website.
