KULTURA / CULTURE
how unique it had made me. It makes the city move at a rhythm. It’s built in. For me personally, it made me respect the craft. If you’re going to be great, you’re competing against the best of the best. So, it just makes you push your creati- vity to the fullest." You’ve won multiple Grammy Awards across different categories. Which one holds the most weight for you, and did those accolades bring you more creative freedom or a new layer of pressure? "I think the first one holds the most weight just because it was the first. It wasn’t until I started to ignore the de- sire to want awards and accolades that I actually won. So, that actually didn’t bring pressure. It showed me that my key to success was being myself as fully and purely as I could be. It definitely bro- ught freedom for me." You’ve played some of the biggest stages in the world, but what kind of room actually makes you nervous today? Ten thousand strangers or fifty people standing close enough to see every expression on your face? "I think what makes me the most nervous is live TV. When it’s not only the people in front of you, but you know the whole world is watching all at once."
Is there a lesson or habit you picked up from working with a pop giant like Maroon 5 that unexpectedly helped you build your own solo career? "Well, I think what it did more than anything was satisfy my need for a lot of the success I had always dreamed about. By experiencing that success at such a high level, it allowed me to be free of pressure to create in my own solo works. So instead of trying to reproduce what I was experien- cing in Maroon 5, I’ve treated it more as two different sides of me and my career." You’ve spent a huge part of your life travelling the world. What has travel changed most in you? Your music, your taste, or the way you understand people?
"I think it’s the way I understand people. The nuances and differences are what makes the world so beauti- ful. Knowing that where you come from and how you think is only a small part of what the world really is. It made me think bigger. To figure out what some city is really about, I try to walk arou- nd and feel people. And also, I like to eat at places locals love. Also, quality and attention to detail never get old to me. Whether that be in design, mu- sic, food. I’m constantly impressed wi- th beauty in art." Imagine someone walks into your Belgrade concert knowing absolutely nothing about PJ Morton. What do you hope they understand about you by the time they walk out? "That I’m a real musician. And that I have a love for connecting with peo- ple through that music." This is your first time performing in Belgrade and your first encounter with the local audience. What do you know about us, and why Serbia? "I know that Djokovic is from the- re, haha. I honestly do not know much. I’m looking forward to learning. It was presented to me and I was like 'of co- urse', because I love to experience new places and new audiences." If I had never heard your music before and you could play me just one song to explain who PJ Morton is, which one would you choose? "I guess I would say First Began. It’s a love song. I write lots of love songs. It starts off with no beat, then has a groo- ve. So it has a little bit of all of me there."
54 | Intervju » Interview
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