112 – Interview

At the time I got to speak with the amazing R&B group 112, their album debuted at the number two spot on Billboard. Pretty amazing for a group that started out just around the time when they were as concerned about the eye chart for their drivers license test as they were about the chart at Billboard.

Now in their twenties, 112 has certainly grown up, and you don’t need to see their faces to know that. Their music has become particularly grownup yet still brings that charming quality along with it. Members Quinees Parker (aka Q), Marvin Scandrick (aka Slim), Mike Keith, and Daron Jones gave me a grand opportunity when we sat down for a recent chat. We didn’t find out what makes the world turn or figure out if there really is life on Mars. No, more importantly, we found which member is disturbed, which is the player, which is honest, and which likes, surprise, country. Now those are revelations.

Congrats on debuting at number two on Billboard this week.

Everyone: Thanks.

What do you think it was about this album that brought it out with such a bang?

Mike: I think it’s because we’ve got some recognition, but also because it’s a damn fine album.

How involved were you guys in the making of the album?

Mike: Ninety-nine point nine percent.

From the writing to the producing?

Slim: All of it. We wanted to make this our album so we made sure we were a part of every aspect from the beginning to the end.

Does that make this album anymore special than the previous?

Mike: No, because they are all special. I mean, if we didn’t make a good first album, there wouldn’t be a second, and if we didn’t make the second good, this album wouldn’t be here now. So, to us, each holds its place in our hearts.

I wanted to throw out a few songs and get your initial reactions.

Mike: Don’t throw too hard.

(everyone laughs)

“It’s Over Now”.

Mike: Daron, you want this one.

Daron: It’s about letting something you love go.

“Peaches & Cream”.

Daron: That is about the act of love making, well, in one form or the other.

(everyone laughs)

Is it something you felt you couldn’t touch in the past?

Mike: I don’t know that we really stayed away from it in the past. The song just worked and we’re men now, no reason to hide that.

“Player”.

Q: It’s about telling women the truth. If you love her, put a ring on her finger. If you don’t, just tell her you want to play some more. She’ll respect you more for being honest. But it’s also about knowing there is still some life you want to live and that you want to make sure you got it out of your system.

“Dance With Me”.

Slim: It’s about just having fun. And if you find a girl who wants to party all night, you know, and later meet in the special place, well, that’s alright too. (laughs)

As writers, is it important that listeners hear what you are saying or is the musician in you happy if they just love it without knowing why?

Mike: You know, we really want them to hear what we are saying. If they take the time out to hear what we say, I think a lot of good can come out of that. It’s nice if someone can just bump to it, but there are more to our songs.

Do fans every come up to you and tell you what a song’s meant to them?

Daron: All the time. We’ve got some stories.

Mike: There is one guy who said he has two kids because of us.

I bet there is more than that.

(everyone laughs)

Slim: They’re named after Q and Daron.

So instead of Generation X or Generation Y we can call the next generation Generation 112?

Mike: You said that, not us.

(everyone laughs)

Does being in a group make it easier to handle the ups and downs?

Mike: Yeah. Especially if one of us has a tough time, there are three others to help us out of that. And if there is business to be done, we know that the other guys will be there to back us. There are a lot of benefits to being in a group.

If you had to write a press release about each other, what would you say?

Mike: We’ve been together since we were kids, so it’d take years, not just one line. But I can say this for sure. I love these guys.

Slim: They’re great. Nothing is better than being around them and making music with them.

Q: These are my boys and it’d be impossible to just say one or two things about each.

Daron: We’re definitely like a family. And we’ve grown closer and closer over the years. They’re my brothers.

Is there any music that you might be listening to that we’d be surprised to find out?

Daron: I’m listening to Leann Rimes.

For her voice or the style of music?

Daron: Both, actually.

Slim: And she is pretty hot. (everyone laughs)

Q: I don’t know what is in my cd player right now to be honest.

Mike: I’m listening to Dido and I’m really into this band called Disturbed.

Really?

Mike: Yeah.

Do you listen to that style of music often or was it just that band that turned you on to it?

Mike: Actually it started with Nirvana a while back.

Slim: Actually he’s just disturbed.

Mike: I am disturbed. I’ve got issues. (everyone laughs)

Slim: I’m listening to all sorts of hip-hop.

If someone mentioned the name 112 with another band or two, who would you be most flattered to be mentioned in the same sentence with?

Mike: The Isley Brothers.

Daron: Definitely the Temptations. They are just icons. They’re music that my mom listened to and I still listen to.

They wrote timeless music.

Daron: Exactly, and that is what I want 112 to be. But also I would be flattered if someone mentioned us in the same sentence as the Beatles.

So fifty years from now you want to be relevant to the music you influenced?

Daron: Exactly. I don’t know that I want to be an icon, but if we could have write music that was that timeless, it would be amazing.

For the generation of singers and musicians that you are now inspiring, what would you tell them?

Mike: To follow your dreams. Don’t let no one tell you that you can’t do what you dream of. Because you can. There might be a lot of obstacles in your way, but if you dream it, then you can make it happen.

+ charlie craine