Post by newmoney25 on Jan 14, 2011 19:12:40 GMT -5
First introduced to the world as the young, cute, singer, that could dance with the best of the best on Making the Band 4. Fresh out of high school, the Rochester, NY native could only have dreamed for an opportunity so great. His dreams came true when Sean 'Diddy' Combs announced that he had made the band and he became one of 5 members of Bad Boy Records newest group Day 26. The world was able to follow them as they recorded and promoted their debut album. Fans started to fall in love with Que not only for his talent, but smitten by his relationship with girlfriend Dawn Richard (Dirty Money.)
The golden days are now over. In the final season of Making the Band, Que was portrayed as the bad apple. It seems every episode he was complaining about something and was eventually kicked out of the group. I sat down with Que to talk about his life post Day 26 and what he has coming up in 2011.
Eb: It's a new year. 2011. Did you have any resolutions?
Que: Just to stay positive and keep grinding. Staying on the track that I am.
Eb: You recently dropped a mixtape called "Guitar Her" tell us about how the name came about.
Que: My cousin plays the guitar and I said yo this is dope I need to learn how to play this. So he was teaching me and I was thinking about the name 'Guitar Hero' but my cousin was telling me that the woman is the guitar. The guitar is a female and her body is my instrument. If you look at a guitar how it's shaped. It's shaped like a woman and the part that you play looks like her uuuuum... I don't want to get too rated R *laughs*
Eb: One of the songs getting a lot of feedback from the mixtape 'Medicine.' Did you write that record?
Que: No. I was working with Lil' Mo. I was part of the process putting the melodies together but the record was written by Lil' Mo's husband Phillip Bryant. I feel blessed that they gave me that hot record.
Eb: Being a solo artist what's the biggest difference before solo vs. being in a group?
Que: Freedom! To put your vision out and have people see it. I think that's the biggest and best part about being solo. Now when I say something or if see my vision a certain way it's not put down because the people that are surrounding me are people that believe in my vision so it's an easier process. Not saying that when I was with Day 26 it was all hell but it just makes more sense now and is a lot more peaceful.
Eb: Is there anything you miss about being in a group?
Que: *shakes head no and laughs*
Eb: 'Guitar Her' dropped a couple weeks ago and already over 369,000 downloads so congrats. Did you know that your following was still there since you didn't leave the group in the most positive light?
Que: Yeah, not to sound cocky or anything but I don't know. I just believe in myself and what I gave out was real. And real recognize real. My fans are real and they understand what's going on. I'm happy with the outcome and knew it was going to be big because when I was part of Day 26 and going from city to city performing I saw the fan base. So I knew they were there and if we couldn't get the business and brand right as Day 26, that if I left or they got rid of me that I'd be ok because of how much I believe in my dream. And when you display that on stage other people see that too so they follow you. If you're doing your thang on stage and your singing and your gifted, performing, turning, and your timing is perfect. People see that. They aren't not going to support that if it's real and genuine.
Eb: Is there anything about the Making the Band experience that you regret or would do differently?
Que: No. because I learned from it all. The good and all the bad. I was raised in the church. Not to get all spiritual but I was taught that God will make your bad...good. I don't look at nothing I went through as bad. I look at it all as experience to grow me up to the man that I am growing to be. I'm 22. When I got in the group I was 18. I look at is as a learning lesson and experience especially if your trying to be a business man and learn what the business really is.
Eb: With the experience you had and the role they gave you, would be do reality tv again?
Que: Maybe in the future if I was behind the scenes like Puff. If I was in charge of my own show and could put out what I want to put out I'm fine with it because it's fun. But as far as being the victim and looking crazy... NO.
Eb: Do you feel like there will ever be another Day 26 album whether it's with you or not?
Que: If business was right in the future. I never had a problem with the guys. I only had a problem with the business. The music and what we were doing, even though they weren't agreeing with the music I was putting out, I only had a problem with Screwface. Screwface was our manager and he was cheating us, his business wasn't right. I stressed the fact that I didn't have a problem with them, only with Screwface. We hired him. When you hire employees, you should be able to fire employees that cross the line. I never had a problem with Day 26. I see a future album if their business was in order but if it's the same stuff, I'm good.
Eb: Where do you want to see your career go? Did you put out the mixtape because you are looking for a major label deal?
Que: I'm in a happy place right now doing everything independent. I'm doing this mixtape because I'm putting out my vision and people believe in it and my product. I believe when you're building your brand people should respect your brand. I'm in a very happy place because I'm in charge of my business and if that means not being signed to a major record label because I'm not willing to be a slave, even though I respect the system, then I'm good. Because I'm in a happy place and people appreciate my music and that's all I want them to do. The fans are there, so if I don't get signed to a major record label, if nobody wants to work with Que, Que still gonna hustle, and Que gonna put out music because as you've seen from the mixtape I got a following. When you have a following nobody can stop you, and nobody can stop what God has for you.
Eb: What do the fans have to look forward to from Que for 2011?
Que: A lot of big things. I want to get back on stage. Promote positivity. I just want it to be right. I don't mind being signed to a major record label, it's just that it has to be right. It gotta make sense. I respect the hustle. I know what it is. But if it's not making sense for me and my family then its not making sense. We have to survive. We gotta eat. I'm working on a 'Guitar Her' EP unplugged show. Basically it's acoustic with my cuz, up close and personal, House of Blues type settings. Not really thinking about a record label to happen because I just got out of Atlantic system with Day 26 and I'm at place where I'm happy with what I'm putting out. But say for instance Jay-Z came along and was like yo... I would go to a situation like that because it makes sense. I want to be somewhere that is going to let the seed grow.
To check out video of this interview where he also speaks on his current relationship with his former group mates, Diddy, and more go HERE. Also if you haven't already go to www.guitar-her.com to download his new mixtape.
Continue reading on Examiner.com: Qwanell "Que" Mosley : Life After Day 26 - National urban music | Examiner.com www.examiner.com/urban-music-in-national/qwanell-que-anthony-life-after-day-26#ixzz1B3fAETrH