John Legend talks about his ambitious children’s album

Twenty years on from the release of his debut album, the career making “Get Lifted,” John Legend is entering uncharted territory. On Aug. 30, the R&B-pop singer will release his first-ever children’s album titled “My Favorite Dream,” via Republic Records: Kids & Family. Produced by the chamber pop polymath Sufjan Stevens, the record is lush, and centers on universal themes like love, safety, family and dreams across nine original tracks, two covers, a solo piano track and three bonus covers of Fisher-Price songs. Legend, who is a father of four with wife Chrissy Teigen — Luna is 8, Miles is 6, Esti and Wren are both toddlers — made it a point to write songs that worked for adults, too. Some will even resonate with those who might not have children. These are soulful, capital-J John Legend songs with poignant messaging.

The album needed to stand on its own. “To be able to craft a children’s album with as much depth and artistry, while finding the unique balance of making it bright and warm for little ones, is a true skill,” said Republic Records: Kids & Family senior vice president Bree Bowles. “There is an authenticity to the work which makes you feel part of his world and family.” This interview, in which Legend discusses “My Favorite Dream,” its lead single “L-O-V-E,” and the role his family played in the creative process, has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Why children’s music, and why now?

I’m in the thick of parenting, and we have some small kids — two kids under 2 right now, and then our older kids as well. And, you know, music is such an important part of our lives. And music is such an important part of the way we interact with each other. It all started when I was just playing a version of one of the songs that is on a Fisher-Price play mat: The song called “Maybe,” that a lot of parents of toddlers know very well. I was learning how to play it on the piano so I could sing it to Esti, one of our babies, and Chrissy recorded me learning the song and singing it to Esti on the piano. She posted it to her Instagram. And all my fans were like, “John, you got to do more children’s songs. You got to cover all the Fisher-Price songs.” And so, a lot of people were asking me to record some children’s music.

Does it require a different skillset, writing family music?

Well, it’s interesting because I’ve been writing for Broadway lately, too, and I feel like in some ways it kind of tapped into a similar skill set. It took me out of my own self, a little bit, and allowed me to approach the music a little differently than I would for a normal John Legend album. But also, the difference between this and Broadway — and the thing that makes it more like a regular John Legend album — is that I really thought about my own life, my own communication with my kids, the messages that I like to give them, and then I put that in song.

How did your kids inspire the album?

My kids do a music class. My toddlers, they do a music class with other toddlers. They play little shakers and teachers come and sing with them and play guitar. I wanted the first half of the album to feel kind of like that music class, more upbeat, a big singalong. And then the second half should be sleepy time. So that’s kind of the layout of the album. The first half is more fun and upbeat and like the music class the kids do. And then the second half is more like what you would play if you were trying to get them to calm down for the night.

Associated Press