Q&A with sexy neo-soul singer Maxwell

In this Internet age, artists pump out music all the time, album or no album, signed to a label or not.

But in the case of singer Maxwell, a neo-soul star during the 1990s, he truly has been laying off. It's been almost eight years since the singer, who comes to the Paramount Theatre Tuesday night, has had any new output.

Now he has created a full body of work for a trilogy of new albums, coming out over three years, with the first, "BLACKsummers'night," out on July 7.

Maxwell, now 36, was in his 20s when he became popular for his smooth and sultry ballads, like "Whenever, Wherever, Whatever" (1996) and "This Woman's Work" (1997).

We caught up with him over the phone as he traveled to Chicago from his tour-opening show in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Q: Why the wait?

A: I really needed time to be a person. People think, "Why would you not release music and not be famous? ... " I just had a good time not having the pressure of celebrity and expectation. ...

Songs are not on a conveyor belt. I'm not chopping them up and putting them out. It takes real life to go through it. ... I knew I just could come out with some raggedy whatever record, but for me it had to be noteworthy, from the heart, blood and soul.

Q: How did you grow in these years away from the spotlight?

A: I got to have relationships. I met girls who didn't even know who I was. ... What a great ego levelizer. It was a lot realer. ... I had real relationships and did not have the celebrity to distort my perception of myself.

A lot of people thought my career was over. If you're not releasing records, then something must be wrong. Either the record company doesn't like your music, or you've been dropped. It has to something negative. It's not like you wanted to take a break, or want some balance, or smell the roses. You live only once, and I still have my 40s, 50 and 60s to look forward to.

Q: How does this album reflect that growth?

A: I'm really maturing into soul music. It's not my attempt or karaoke try. I feel like I really embody the music now that I am 36. Most of my people that I love the most, this is when they were making their greatest record... .

I've been making grown-man music, but I was this kid making music that sounded so mature. Now, I'm a real man doing it. ... I hope to make music that touches [real people's] spirit. It's hard to do that when you're living a "fabulous" life with limos.

Q: Why a trilogy of albums?

A: After going through my life experience, I have material for the next 10 years. ... These records are split up. They have certain attitudes and personality. The first one is moodier, broodier. The second has a gospel, uplifting vibe. The third is all ballads. I just wanted to make up for lost time. At the same time, I wanted to do something that has never been done before. I think the world needs an epic, ambitious grouping for its single-driven market.

Q: The big question for female fans — are you taken?

A: I'm dating right now. I met someone. I'm just seeing where it goes with her. Right now, I'm on the road. I'm always in a different city, so I'm taking it one day at a time.

Q: When it comes to romance, what are you like and what do you look for?

A: I'm pretty sensitive. My feelings get hurt a lot easier than people think, but I try take it all with grain of salt. For a relationship, I want someone who is really secure, confident and fulfilled, not tripping with what I do.

It changed when I met people. These girls felt more sorry [for me], because it wasn't intimidating. It wasn't like I was in the heat of fame, or could say, "You can catch me on radio." It was more like, "I used to be famous in the '90s." They would say — awww. ... It's just funny — being away from everything, you just want to be accepted and seen and regarded as a human.

Q: You seem pretty grounded.

A: Eight years does that to you. ... If in a year, you and I get the chance to talk, and my head is way more inflated than this conversation, you have my full permission to take a pen out and pop that sucker.

Marian Liu: 206-464-3825 or mliu@seattletimes.com