Latinos In The US: Prince Royce Talks Music, Inspiration And Future Plans [EXCLUSIVE]

Prince Royce has skyrocketed to fame since 2010 when he release his two singles, “Stand by Me” and "Corazón Sin Cara." Both songs reached No. 1 on the Billboard Tropical Songs chart while "Corazón Sin Cara" hit No. 1 on the U.S. Hot Latin Songs chart. Yet, Prince Royce's rising success did not stop there. The singer released his second studio album titled “Phase II” on April 10, 2012. The 13-track album incorporates a variety of music styles from Bachata to Mariachi. “Phase II” contains songs in both English and Spanish. Now, fans are eagerly awaiting the arrival of his first English album, which is set to be released later this year. Latin Times sat down with Prince Royce to discuss how he first became interested in music, what inspired him and what his plans are for the future.

LT: Let’s just jump right in, shall we? What are you currently working on?

PR: I just finished shooting with Pepsi. It was exciting for me to work with Pepsi. It’s a huge brand that has worked with so many successful artists, so I definitely am excited about my new Grammy commercial, and I’m even more excited about the Super Bowl. I was working with football players who appreciate music, so the commercial is a mix of sports and entertainment. It’s a lot of fun, and it felt really genuine, the laughing was real and very natural. I think that's the best thing about Pepsi.

Prince Royce will be appearing in the Pepsi commercial during the midway portion of the Grammys on Sunday, Jan. 26. The commercial intends to get fans excited for both the performances during the show, while also creating a buzz around the Bruno Mars halftime show at Super Bowl XLVIII at Met Life Stadium. Prince Royce worked with Deion Sanders, Terry Bradshaw and Shannon Sharpe, who he describes as professionals who “know how to have fun.”

LT: In addition to all your work with Pepsi, what other projects are keeping you busy?

PR: “My album coming out this year is going to be a pop English album, a totally different genre and a whole new side of my music from what I have done in the past. So, I am thinking that my fans are really going to enjoy it. Currently we are in the writing and recording process and I am eager to get to work with both English and Spanish recording artists for some collaborations.”

LT: Now that you are in the midst of writing and recording your new album? What is your process?

PR: Many things inspire me. Sometimes I’m just walking down the street, and a song title hits me. And I jot it down in my phone quickly. But other times, it could be something personal to me, or even to a friend and I want to tell that story. Sometimes songs come from a melody or simply just one word. The writing and recording process is the aspect I enjoy the most about music, and especially my music.

LT: If you could pick any artist to collaborate with on your forthcoming album who would it be?

PR: If I could pick one artist that I really admire to collaborate with on my upcoming album, I think it would have to be Rihanna because she is so talented. I admire her versatility with her rhythms. She can transition from a ballad to a dance song so seamlessly. I would love to work with her.

LT: What other artists do you admire, whose music inspired your sound?

PR: Growing up I listened to Usher, Marc Anthony, Jay Z, everything from pop, to rock and meringue. I simply started singing in the shower at 13 years old, and then in high school I took a poetry class, which led me to getting creative with songs and lyrics. At age 15 though, I really started getting curious about the idea of me being a singer.

LT: In addition to the artists that you admired as a child, what else inspired you growing up?

PR: I grew up in the South Bronx, and I grew up listening to a lot of different genres, but every summer I would visit my grandparents in the Dominican Republic. My time in DR influenced my musical style, the culture, the food and obviously the music. All have a big role in my sound and rhythm. In addition to my time in DR, New York is a melting pot, even my upcoming album is in English, but has a bit of Spanish on the tracks. So all of this really influenced my music, and my overall sound.

LT: What song of yours is the most meaningful to you?

PR: "Corazón Sin Cara" is a special song to me because it talks about inner beauty and self esteem. I dedicated it to the women who are constantly applying makeup and looking at their reflections in the mirror, I wanted to write a song that would help a lot of women, even my mother and my sister. I’m proud of that song, I’m proud of its message and the meaning behind it.