The album is very naked. I've had some fears about how my fans will react to my music. Besides that, it's been six ... years. Will (fans) be checking for Eric Benet?

Tim has a vision like David. That it doesn't have to be a genre-specific album. Good music will find an audience. This isn't just R&B; it's a lot of stuff.

[But fans need not worry. His next album will have 17 songs and the layers come thick and fast.] The focus of the orchestration next time is brass. In the last year I took up trombone and a couple of other brass instruments, and I have been working on my drumming skills, ... So this time I'm drumming throughout the album. I'm also playing a lot more electric guitar, so it will be bit more rocking.

Chuck D. ... deeply understands the profound impact Internet technology will have on bringing an artist's music directly to fans, as well as the enormous empowerment the Web provides artists to that end. Our relationship with Chuck D. and Public Enemy will serve as a strong example of the alternatives rapidly becoming available to artists on all levels.

This album is, in a sense, closure to a chapter in my life. I've purged myself of some of the things I've been going through in the last five years. That's more important to me than the fear of not being accepted by old fans.

This album is, in a sense, closure to a chapter in my life.