R&B group Day 26 is back with brand new music and a new album entitled: ‘The Return” [out in stores today]. The r&B group shot to fame in 2009 following their debut on Diddy’s MTV, ‘Making The Band’ show. They released two albums, ‘Day 26’, and ‘Forever In A Day’ both of which topped the billboard 100 list chart and they destined for platinum success. However, the group success reached a breaking point three years later and they decided to pursue solo careers instead.
Now, all five members Qwanell Mosley, Robert Curry, Brian Andrews, Michael McCluney and Willie Taylor are reunited and ready to bring R&B music to the forefront. I had the pleasure of interviewing Dy 26 [minus ‘Q’] recently to discuss their new album, current single, and much more. In response, I was shockingly surprised how candid each of the members were, and how they’ve evolved personally and professionally. The group also talked about what fans can expect from them musically this time around.
We’ve watched these men grow from boys to men in the public spotlight, and now Day 26 is back for the RETURN. Take a read at a few of the excerpts below.
On The New Album The Return:
Brian: We’re far from being predictable. You never know what you’re going to get from us.
Rob: What I really worked on for this group [in terms of my contribution] is my writing. I never stopped writing/ I wrote for other artist and even in the production arena we worked with ALOT of great producers and writers but it’s time for us to do it ourselves. On this album everybody helped.
Mike: Everybody has been working on their own stuff and each of us have our own niche. The reason why were all in a group together is because we can run this whole campaign on our own.
Willie: It’s like Christmas. You know, on the 24th you go to sleep early and you wake up early the next day… All things started to come together. The artwork, album cover and everything started to become the package that we imagined it to be. We have fans that have been with us since the first two albums and still listening to that music just the fact that we’re giving you another body of work since 2009 is EXCITING.
On Having Full Control Over New Album:
Rob: We have alot of creativity on this album….. I really think this helped us out more than anything. I never had to put my faith in another group member [i.e. Willie] to make this happen. We really didn’t have an idea that we could do this thing on our own. So for us to come together and respect each other. This situation [the return] made us closer. We really got it right here. That alone made me respect my brother. We said to ourselves WE CAN DO THIS!
Who’s is the most troublesome in studio?
Rob: If we’re in the studio, we can ALL be focus. But at some point I’m going to get a bottle of Ciroc and we got to get turnt up. Everybody is always focus but I’m probably the one that get’s the party started.
On Whom They’ve Worked With On The New Album & Artists They’d Like To Collaborate With:
Brian: This project we put this in our own hands. Each of us do music so preferable someone in our family, or some one whose talented we’d love to work with. One of the tracks ‘Rushian Roulette’, and ‘ You’re Worth It ‘ was produced by three of my cousins. Producer Marcus Divine co-penned our first single ‘Bullsh-t’, and ‘Lose Control’ [Silk cover track] Bruce Bayne, Track Sounds, and Blade, who produced our hit song ‘I’mma Put On Her ‘ .
Rob: I know a lot of artists like to get the big producers but honestly the fans really don’t know the producers, all they know is good music and that is something that we wanted to concentrate and give you guys really great music and that’s what we did. We took it back home.
Any Features On The New Album?
Brian: Right now, we have baby bash, he’s a big producer he has 13 million records worldwide and its great for a cross over market Our opportunity did not come like everyone else so it’s just excitement this time around. We’re about to give you a new body of work this year.
What’s a ‘Day 26’ concert like?
Brian: It’s an emotional roller coaster. We bring you up, bring you down and sometimes bring you in the middle. I am more than sure that NO ONE has ever walked away from a Day 26 performance and said that was a whack show, or they was not entertain. If you show me that person, I’ll Quit.
Rob: Alot of time when groups get together, a lot of times they try to capitalize on the having the crazy moves and pyro’s at the concerts. We different from what everybody else is doing, from the set up and performance. It goes back to good music. We give you that old Temptations and Jackson’s type of feel. We usually get the response similar to the “Five Heart Beats”.
On Performing at the 2014 BET Awards:
Brian: To me it means the world. For us to be gone for so long. BET is still rocking with us that meant the world to us. For us to be apart of the BET experience that is like WHOA. It’s unbelievable, and We’re just thankful and we thank GOD everyday for the opportunity.
Willie: This is our first time back to the BET Awards since 2009 when we took home the best R&B group award that year. Of course we didn’t have an album to get placed in any category but we just want to let everyone know that the best group has come back for the RETURN. I went to family members and asked honestly if you were a Day 26 fan what do you think of this new album and they loved it.
And there you have it folks. Listen to the full interview below: