It’s been a difficult 2010 for Mario. Indeed, the year has seen the R&B crooner struggle musically, going on to find public disfavour after being charged with assaulting his mother. Despite being vindicated shortly after, when her drug abuse was revealed to be the true issue, the dropping of the charges certainly didn’t make the headlines his initial arrest did.

In any case, the 24 year old is pressing on and beginning work on his 5th studio album. Not one to hold his tongue, however, he in a recent interview with VIBE magazine, revealed the continued “battles” he is having with his record label.

His comments after the jump…

Via VIBE:

What helped you refocus on music?

When you go through things like that, strength comes in. When you have to be stronger than people think you are, you just have to do it. I know theres something bigger for me out there and for my mom. I have a job to do… a very important job. And I love music. At the end of the day it all goes back to that. One of the most frustrating things is that when I make the music I wanna make it doesn’t always get out to my fans because there’s something called a record label that tries to change directions.

What direction are you trying to go with on this 5th album?

I wanna give as much honesty as I can. I want to be honest, but grab the attention of everybody, but still compete so when you hear it on the radio it’s pushing the envelope. The melodies coming out of me now are unorthodox— melodies I’ve never expressed before. Hopefully when I finally play it for my label, J Records, who’ve I always had a battle with… what they wanted, what I wanted… how they see me, how I see me… [they like it.]

How does your label see you?

More than anything it’s been a battle because I’ve been with them since 15. So now being a grown man and having experiences that people don’t even know about and wanting to share them… to them it’s a risk and they just want me to just stay strictly R&B. But I want to make records that people can relate to. If I feel like the world is going to end tomorrow, I want to write about that. And I feel like I have the talent for it. Like you cant tell Marvin Gaye to not write “What’s going on” so if you tell me I’m one of the greatest singers of my generation, than why won’t you let me emote and tell my story? My story isn’t about some young pop star who came through at 15 and made it. Nah. I got struggles. I went through things just like another young man in the streets. And of course I have my experiences with women, that’s not going anywhere, but that’s the easy part as far as writing goes. It’s about finding that happy music between organic real music and mainstream music.

Here’s hoping Mr Mario does find that happy medium which appeases both his artistic integrity and label’s needs. For, as new and established artists know, the “major label” is still a necessity in becoming both nationally and internationally successful. Matters may be changing due to the net and other independent tools shifting the power to(wards) the people. We are, however, not there just yet. Hence, for genuinely talented folk such as Mario – it’s about compromise.

HAPPYPERSON said:

It’s been a difficult 2010 for Mario. Indeed, the year has seen the R&B crooner struggle musically, going on to find public disfavour after being charged with assaulting his mother. Despite being vindicated shortly after, when her drug abuse was revealed to be the true issue, the dropping of the charges certainly didn’t make the headlines his initial arrest did.

In any case, the 24 year old is pressing on and beginning work on his 5th studio album. Not one to hold his tongue, however, he in a recent interview with VIBE magazine, revealed the continued “battles” he is having with his record label.

His comments after the jump…

Via VIBE:

What helped you refocus on music?

When you go through things like that, strength comes in. When you have to be stronger than people think you are, you just have to do it. I know theres something bigger for me out there and for my mom. I have a job to do… a very important job. And I love music. At the end of the day it all goes back to that. One of the most frustrating things is that when I make the music I wanna make it doesn’t always get out to my fans because there’s something called a record label that tries to change directions.

What direction are you trying to go with on this 5th album?

I wanna give as much honesty as I can. I want to be honest, but grab the attention of everybody, but still compete so when you hear it on the radio it’s pushing the envelope. The melodies coming out of me now are unorthodox— melodies I’ve never expressed before. Hopefully when I finally play it for my label, J Records, who’ve I always had a battle with… what they wanted, what I wanted… how they see me, how I see me… [they like it.]

How does your label see you?

More than anything it’s been a battle because I’ve been with them since 15. So now being a grown man and having experiences that people don’t even know about and wanting to share them… to them it’s a risk and they just want me to just stay strictly R&B. But I want to make records that people can relate to. If I feel like the world is going to end tomorrow, I want to write about that. And I feel like I have the talent for it. Like you cant tell Marvin Gaye to not write “What’s going on” so if you tell me I’m one of the greatest singers of my generation, than why won’t you let me emote and tell my story? My story isn’t about some young pop star who came through at 15 and made it. Nah. I got struggles. I went through things just like another young man in the streets. And of course I have my experiences with women, that’s not going anywhere, but that’s the easy part as far as writing goes. It’s about finding that happy music between organic real music and mainstream music.

Here’s hoping Mr Mario does find that happy medium which appeases both his artistic integrity and label’s needs. For, as new and established artists know, the “major label” is still a necessity in becoming both nationally and internationally successful. Matters may be changing due to the net and other independent tools shifting the power to(wards) the people. We are, however, not there just yet. Hence, for genuinely talented folk such as Mario – it’s about compromise.

Well the thing is, and no ill will towards Mario, but you cant have both at this point. Unless you are already well down the road, its impossible to have the artistic cred and still be on a label. Mario wasnt an artistic cred artist from the outset, he was part of the new thinking from labels so he really cant win by staying...I mean its not like he is a band like REM or Pearl Jam who can say "look, we have the following, either do it my way, or we'll put the shit out ourselves" i mean, that really is the issue, and Mario is ONE in a huge line of later 90's and 00's performers that are finding you gotta do this a new way, or just stop.

This is what happens when you join a label for the purpose of selling records and making money. When you get older and think the labels will support your musical vision, you shouldn't be surprised when they rather you make a record with a Minaj or a Lil Wayne to get a hit.

Timmy84 said:

This is what happens when you join a label for the purpose of selling records and making money. When you get older and think the labels will support your musical vision, you shouldn't be surprised when they rather you make a record with a Minaj or a Lil Wayne to get a hit.

yeah thats it in a nutshell, and something that alot of people dont get. The thing is that labels arent hurting, they still get paid, regardless of what they are selling, they will always find a way to package the right way, and make the most from it. No like i said no disrespect to Mario, im just into his work so i dont know, but he is gonna get caught in that wave brushing alot of artists out to shore and its up to them to suck it up and find what they want, do you want to sell and have the bling and media and video spotlights, or do you wanna do your vision, because the two USED TO kind of go hand in hand, but now labels dont wanna hear about your "growth" unless they can somehow sell that "growth", but you see that takes "work" and actually losing money to in the end have something longterm, thats now he things now.