Jeremih on New Album 'All About You'

Jeremih released “Birthday Sex” in 2009 and it was an instant hit — everyone was singing it… even if it wasn’t their birthday. Today he’s following up strong with his sophomore album, “All About You.” His lead single. “I Like,” featuring Ludacris, displays a more mature Jeremih. He sat down with ESSENCE.com to chat about “Birthday Sex,” his new album, and all the attention he receives from the ladies… ESSENCE..com: Tell us about your new album “All About You.” Who is the “You?” Jeremih: “All About You” is my sophomore effort; the first album was titled “Jeremih,” for people to see my name and see me as an artist and what I can do. This album I just wanted to dedicate to my fans — so my fans are the “You.” ESSENCE.com: Do you plan to go in a different direction this time around? Jeremih: My previous record was a bit scattered. I don’t make just one type of music; I don’t make one sound of music. With this album, I wanted to show my fans what I can do, but to the second power. Now there are records on there that show vocal growth, lyrically I wrote it all, for the most part I wrote the entire thing. And usually I write what I feel. I’ve lived a new lifestyle over the past year and I wanted to speak on that. ESSENCE.com: In what ways have you grown since “Jeremih” was released? Can fans expect a more mature you? Jeremih: Indeed. Musically, vocally, my voice has the ability to do many things and I give you a taste of many tones. And with this album I think, musically and with the depth of the lyrical content, it’s double the first album, if you ask me. ESSENCE.com: How do you handle all the attention from the ladies? Jeremih: I’ve never been bad with the ladies before my fame. Now it is times a higher power. It’s pretty cool. I don’t really feel like I need security when I’m out at shows, if anything just fan patrol. They have been showing nothing but love. That’s comes with the territory — with the type of music I make and how it makes them feel. I’ve been able to handle it. ESSENCE.com: Do you get tired of singing “Birthday Sex?” Jeremih: Yeah, I do.   ESSENCE.com: What inspired “Birthday Sex?” Jeremih: (laughs) When I write, I like to use metaphors and innuendos…that’s just how I write. I wrote that record, not thinking that it would be as big as it was. I wrote what I felt and what I pretty much do to my woman, not as her only gift on her birthday, but definitely the icing on the cake.