Being a quarter of one of the most successful pop groups of the last decade would be enough for any person, right? 70 million records sold, 6 Grammys and a heap of chart records to their name (including the most successful single of the digital era, ‘I Gotta Feeling’), the Black Eyed Peas have become synonymous with catchy hooks and super-polished production values, both in their songs and their futuristic music videos. And Jaime Luis Gómez, better known as Taboo, is still hungry for more.
Following in the footsteps of Fergie and Will.I.Am, Taboo, is now eyeing solo stardom. With the likes of Alex Gaudino, DJ Ammo and the welcome addition of some surprisingly avant-garde collaborators, 2012 could very well be his year. Speaking to Taboo from New York, it was hard to miss the excitement in his voice when telling me of his upcoming album and his current club tour.
‘I love it man, it’s a dream come true for me!’ says Taboo.
‘I’ve been part of such a great band, the Black Eyed Peas, and what’s great about our group is that we can take a little break to recharge and do our own thing. We actually took a break in 2006 to recharge our batteries; Fergie did The Dutchess, Will.I.Am did Songs About Girls, we’ve always branched out and branded ourselves individually, so I feel that this year is my time to be able to do that. I always pay homage to the ‘mothership’ and where I come from’
‘Doing this DJ tour and working on a solo record is just a dream come true because I’ve held off from doing it for such a long time, and now it’s the right opportunity to do it’, Taboo adds
Taboo reveals that the solo project has well indeed been a work in progress; sourcing producers and musicians and looking for ‘the right sound’ before finding a perfect fit with Italian DJ Alex Gaudino, Black Eyed Peas collaborator DJ Ammo and more; working to mix his club-ready sounds with his signature Latin flair.
‘Me being a Mexican-American, I felt like I needed to pay homage to my roots’, Taboo notes. ‘I wanted to show off the Latino side a little more, but still keep it in the club because that’s where I come from with the Black Eyed Peas. We make club music. That’s where we live. That’s where I DJ and perform. I want to be able to hit both markets [Latin and club] as well as cross over internationally’
The lead single from his upcoming solo album, titled ‘WTF’, is produced by Alex Gaudino, best known for his songs ‘Destination Calabria’ and ‘I’m In Love’. Already giving fans a taste of the track on his club tour, Taboo has been pleased with the ecstatic reception from fans and club-goers.
‘I met Alex Gaudino in Spain at the Winter Music Festival. I told him about my solo project and he sent me over the demo of the track, and as soon as I heard it I knew that it was something special’, Taboo reveals. ‘I wrote the track with DJ Poet who’s part of the Black Eyed Peas camp, and I feel like it’s just the beginning of something. Whenever I play the track in the clubs, it gets such a huge reaction, and that right there lets me know that it’s a good way to start it [my solo career] off’.
He also hinted at some other songs from his upcoming album that he’s been testing in clubs across America, including ‘Crazy’, produced by DJ Ammo who worked on the Black Eyed Peas album The Beginning.
Taboo assures me that there’s no pressure to compete with his fellow band members or reach the dizzying heights of the Black Eyed Peas unparalleled success.
‘It’s a different lane. I’m not trying to put pressure on myself as a creative artist. I just want to give the ‘Peabodies’ and the fans something that best represents me as an individual. It’s my time to be able to step out and create my own sound. Something that has that Taboo flair but still represents the Peas, because I’ll always be a part of the Black Eyed Peas. It’s going to be something that represents the Latin side of what the Black Eyed Peas does.
In Australia this week to perform in clubs and give fans a taste of his new material, Taboo is eager to return to our shores and connect with his Australian fans.
‘I really want to be able to reach out and stay in touch with all my Aussie fans and Peabodies’, Taboo says.
‘I remember performing in Australia at the Big Day Out in 2004 and seeing acts like Metallica, Limp Bizkit, Rocket Science and The Mars Volta, Jet from Australia, I’ll always remember that moment. Being able to play the festivals and hanging out with all these cool bands. Another amazing memory I have was us filming our DVD Live from Sydney to Vegas. We loved the Australian shows so much we just had to dedicate a part of our DVD to them’
Taboo will be performing at Red Square on Wednesday, January 25. Doors open from 9:00pm
Follow Taboo on Twitter – www.twitter.com/TabBep, and subscribe to him on Facebook – www.facebook.com/TabooBEPofficial
More News
