Ne-Yo coming to Birmingham this week
Staying true despite huge mainstream success is no easy task.
Yet American singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, and actor Ne-Yo has walked that line.
The performer, who became a household name when he penned his 2004 hit Let Me Love You for singer Mario, is back on the road.
He headlines Birmingham's O2 Academy on Thursday.
He says: "I know the music industry is based on a lot of smoke and mirrors in a lot of cases, such as making things look like one thing versus what it actually is. I feel like I've been here long enough that I've surpassed the need for any of that.
"Towards the beginning of my first album, for example, there was a big debate on whether or not I should tell people how old I was or not. I was like, 'Why would you not? Why does that matter?'
"My hope just in regards of staying true to myself has never really been an issue for me. I never really created a difference between Shaffer Smith, my actual name, and Ne-Yo. They are kind of one in the same. It's been a bit of a gift and a curse. As far as Shaffer Smith is concerned, I've never viewed myself as a celebrity. I've never viewed myself as above anybody else or anything like that. I'm a regular guy at the end of the day. I like Cinnamon Toast Crunch and The Powerpuff Girls.
"I've just kind of always been me and been unapologetic about it and I think that that resonates with my fans. You can hear it in my music and you can hear me, my voice, my tone, my passion. I've always been who I am.
"I'm happy about what I've accomplished, but all of the people that I look up to musically all have Grammys in double digits, so as far as I'm concerned, I still have some work to do."
