YouKnowIGotSoul recently had a chance to catch up with Antoine Dunn backstage following his performance at SOBs for Sol Village (see recap here). In our initial interview with Antoine (click here), we got some background on him as an artist and talked about his great debut single “Can’t Forget”. This time around he discussed all of the details on his upcoming debut album “Truth of the Matter” including the meaning behind the title, who he worked with, the sound he’s got on there, and more.
YouKnowIGotSoul: Talk about your upcoming album “Truth of the Matter”. How did you choose that title?
Antoine Dunn: “Truth of the Matter” basically came about just being about life and going through a lot of things in life like trials and tribulations. Sometimes the truth of the matter is that you just try, you always just give it your all no matter how hard.
YouKnowIGotSoul: What can we expect on the album?
Antoine Dunn: You can expect to find something new yet familiar. It’s a new, fresh sound but at the same time it does have some elements that people are used to hearing and are familiar with. There is a lot of r&b and soul, and also some nontraditional pop ballads. I look forward to people hearing that.
YouKnowIGotSoul: I know a lot of people have been waiting to hear more of you since your released the great single “Can’t Forget”. When can we expect this project?
Antoine Dunn: The project will be out May 22nd. It will be everywhere, everyone just pick their favorite online retailer and I’m sure it will be there. Make sure you check for that.
YouKnowIGotSoul: I know a person you work primarily with is Edwin “Tony” Nicholas. Besides him are there any other producers or collaborations you have on this album?
Antoine Dunn: I only have one other producer that I worked with, Jerry Lang, the co-writer and co-producer of the single “Cant’ Forget”. So the three producers on the record are me, Tony and Jerry Lang.
YouKnowIGotSoul: Since Edwin “Tony” Nicholas produced most of the album with you, that’s a rarity these days in r&b to find an artist work with basically only one producer on album. On some of my favorite albums over the years, that was the case. Do you think that’s something that’s missing today in r&b?
Antoine Dunn: Absolutely. I think that’s something that’s missing across the board, not just with r&b. With other genres where you have a collection of producers who already have completed works and they send it around and submit it. This project was really cool that me and Tony had a chance to handcraft each song. We got a chance to really get to know each other and know how each other works. It really worked out good for us.
YouKnowIGotSoul: You’re a younger cat, 23 years old, but you’re an old soul. How do you feel that your music can appeal to a wide range of audiences?
Antoine Dunn: I am young, I’m not too old. *Laughs* The music, the fact that you have a young face and you’re connected to music with a deep message, I have a lot of people that I look up to in music that were really retro artists like The Stylistics.
YouKnowIGotSoul: You were recently on tour with Anthony Hamilton. How was that whole experience?
Antoine Dunn: Going out with Anthony was probably the best touring experience that I’ve ever had. One, because Anthony was one of the first guys that I really listened to on the contemporary front of r&b and soul; I knew his whole catalog. So to get a call saying “You’re going to be going on tour with Anthony Hamilton” was nothing short of amazing for me. It was a great experience; every city was something new and something fresh.
YouKnowIGotSoul: Anything you’d like to add?
Antoine Dunn: May 22nd, “Truth of the Matter” at online retailers. Everybody make sure you keep rocking with YouKnowIGotSoul.com, I love you guys, I appreciate all of your support.