ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY:Did you plan to take a seven-year break between albums?
MAXWELL:Its funny.
Its not like I was sitting around saying, Im going to make people wait.
Credit: Eric Johnson
I know it was frustrating.
Believe me, it was just as frustrating for me as for those who were waiting for it.
What was going on in your life?
[His first cousin, a close friend, died in 2014.]
And sonically, I was evolving.
I had anxiety about having to meet that challenge of [recording] a sequel to 2009sBLACKsummersnight.
Thats why I took the time I took.
Im sorry, though.
[Laughs]
During that time, you also celebrated a milestone.
Ask any guy about how they feel when they turn 40.
You feel a little crazy.
You feel like, This is it.
Im a full-on grown man.
What do I do?
Who am I going to be now?
Whats the story behind the single Lake by the Ocean?
For me its about being satisfied in the smallest body of water next to someone you love.
Thats my story and Im sticking to it.
[Laughs]
When you sing it, are you thinking of someone in particular?
Im in a situation thats long-distance.
Ive always tried to figure out how to construct the proper relationship.
Ive had some things that I thought were going to be great not be great.
That sucks because you go through all this rough stuff to make people happy.
Its like Chinese water torture.
How far along are you with the third part of your trilogy?
Well be done as I begin my arena run in the fall.
I do not want to be 50 years old releasing the same-titled album.
I dont want to oversaturate the market and be out there all the time.
I like knowing that Ive taken time on each song.
The songs are actually easy for me to make.
Theyre not much of a problemits just the whole process of celebrity.
Thats not that exciting for me.
Whats the overall vibe of part 3?
Those types of experiences have [led] me to cherry-pick certain songs [for the album].
But Im always a lover at the end of the day.
Do fans often admit your music was the soundtrack to which their own children were conceived?
I apparently have been in the room while not knowing I was in the room.
[Laughs] Its amazing to be involved with so much lovemaking and life-making.
Whats your ultimate baby-making record?
Anything from the Isley Brothers.
And, of course, Sade.
But shes someone I kind of know, so that takes the funk out of it for me.
Any artists youre obsessed with at the moment?
I like Sizza, and I like Desiigner, who has that song Panda.
I love Yo Gotti.
Im not so sophisticated that I cant get lit in the club with everybody else.
Lit in the club?
I like to have a good time.
So thats kind of why I take my breaks.
I shouldnt take them as long as I do, but Im starting to realize that now.
