John Legend thinks "honesty" is important in songwriting.
The ‘Love Me Now’ hitmaker always tries to be truthful and sincere in the music he writes as he feels it is "an artist’s duty to reflect the times that they’re living in".
He said: "I think we have to be honest in our songs. I always quote Nina Simone that it’s an artist’s duty to reflect the times that you’re living in."
And the 38-year-old singer – who has nine-month-old daughter Luna with his wife Chrissy Teigen – insists that doesn’t mean songs need to have a political edge.
Speaking at a TimesTalk event this week, he added: "It doesn’t mean that every song has to be political, but it does mean you should be honest with how you’re feeling and what’s important to you. If that incorporates what’s happening in presidential politics and national politics, then so be it.
"I think a lot of us as artists are going to be reflecting on what’s happening in Washington right now. We don’t know what’s going to happen yet. The thing about that guy [Donald Trump] is that he’s very unpredictable, he made a lot of promises but I don’t know if he intends to keep them. Some of his promises are terrible, so I hope he doesn’t keep them. I’m not clear on what his presidency is going to be so I’m not clear on how artists are going to respond, including myself."
Meanwhile, John previously confessed he was rejected by "every major record label" when he tried to break into the music industry.
He explained: "I got turned down by every major record label who I met with – including Sony [Legend’s current record label] – and you know, I had to keep persisting despite the no’s and wait till I got to yes."
John Legend: Honesty in music is key
