An Interview With MINDLESS BEHAVIOR About Their Soon-To-Be Released Album!

On June 24th, Mindless Behavior released their latest album, #officialmbmusic. The group consists of Princeton, EJ and new member Mike River. They are definitely ready for a big year!

Learn more about Mindless Behavior in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time today! How’s 2016 been treating you all so far? What were some of the highlights of 2015 for you and your music?

Mike River: Ah! 2016 has for sure been a blessing so far!

 Princeton- I think the highlight of my 2015 year in regards of music would be making the album with Mike and EJ! I was exited to get back in the studio & make great music with talented people.

EJ – 2016 has been amazing so far! The highlight of 2015 for me was recording our album/learning choreography to our new songs. It was a special time for us as a group, we spent every single day with each other during that time and it really created a bond between us. We’re not just band members, we’re brothers.

Growing up, is this what you guys always wanted to do? Can you recall your earliest musical memory?

Mike River: Most definitely, I’ve known since I was two years old that being a star was one of my destinies for sure! I remember being 4 years old and performing Michael Jackson, I had the glove and everything! I just wanted to be like him! And entertain/inspire the world!

Princeton-I always wanted to be an entertainer, music is my life so I’m very blessed to be living my dream. I remember when I was in 1st grade I did my first talent show & I performed a Justin Timberlake song & my aunt made me an identical Micheal Jackson outfit. I ended up winning & I knew that young that music was my life.

EJ – I fell into music kinda late. (Laughter) I became obsessed with MJ when I was 7 and from then on I knew that I loved singing and dancing. It was the thing I was destined to do.

How did this band first form? Why do you think you all work so well together? How did you come up with your band name? What other names were you considering?

Princeton-I was 11 years old when I got a call from Keisha Gamble to audition for the group & the name already existed when  I joined the group! I also think we work so well together because we all love to sing & dance and entertain. We all love what we do & we all wanna win so we all relate in that way.

Mike River: There’s a lot of things that drew us together at first, but the crazy part is.. There’s no insane story or anything (Laughter) it really just feels like we were drawn together to do something great.  The reason we all work so well together is because 1. We all have a very high level of respect for each other! 2. We all have the same goals, even if we don’t see eye to eye all the time, we know what we’re hear to do and we never forget that! And the 3 which is the main reason, we are brothers  and other names I considered?!? Really just Chocolate Drop honestly I feel it represents my true sexy. (Laughter) (joking)

This year, you’ll be releasing your 3rd full-length album, “#OfficialMBMusic.” How do you think that you’ve grown on this collection? How have you changed since your first release?

Mike River: I think we’ve grown completely! And changed in so many ways! Everything that we’re talking about is from something we really went through or are still going through in life! It’s real.

Princeton-Yes! Can’t wait for everyone to hear this album! We’ve grown so much as a group musically because we can talk about more situations in our life & we study everyday so we make sure that shows in our work. Especially for me, I’ve seen how much I’ve grown as an artist, as a vocalist, as a dancer, & as a man.

EJ – We’re men now (Laughter), so the subject matter reflects that. Thats the major difference, we can talk about things that we go through as being young adults and I think our fans will really relate to what we go through.

What was the inspiration for your just released single, “#IWantDat”? Can you talk about the process of putting together a song like that?

Mike River: #IWantDat was truly an introduction. The inspiration behind that was just us being us and talking about these women out here haha! And basically the title explains itself! You see someone you like just let him/her know #IWantDat!!!

What do you think it was that got you all back into the studio to record new music?

Mike River: I think is was just time! We’ve been working on music for a while now but we didn’t wanna just drop anything! It has to be the best for our fans! #TM

EJ – Knowing that this still had the potential to be something great. We all love and really believe in MB, and I think thats what inspired us to get back into the studio.

Over the years, what have been a few of your favorite memories being on tour, in the studio or elsewhere?

Princeton- Some of my favorite moments being an artist for the past couple years would definitely be performing at the White House for President Obama and his family & having the opportunity to meet them and actually talk to them is a moment I’ll cherish forever. Meeting all the fans around the world on tour is always fun #Team MB shows up for us every time!!!! Going overseas is always a dope experience too for me because I love it! Especially London!!!

Do you have plans for an upcoming tour? Where can people see you perform next?

Mike River: Yes! Tour is gonna be late Fall But we’ll be in every city! We’re also planning a small radio tour this summer. You can see us next at the BET experience in L.A. June 25th!!! It’s gonna be Lit!!!

Who are some of your favorite artists? Who continues to inspire you as musicians? Who would you love to collaborate with in the future?

Mike River:  Favorite artist right now, Big Sean, Bryson Tiller, Chris Brown and Rihanna. My favorite old school artist, Michael Jackson, Earth Wind and Fire, Stevie Wonder (Laughter) this list goes all day! And in the future I for sure wanna work with anyone I just named.

Princeton-My biggest inspirations in music are MJ, Prince, John Lennon, David Bowie, & my dream collaboration would be… either Coldplay or Pharrel, but doing a record with Calvin Harris would also be dope because I love his music!

EJ- I’m always listening  to different artists that inspire  me to keep working. Like MJ, and the late Prince (RIP). I also like Chris Brown, Childish Gambino, Big Sean, James Fauntleroy, and Kanye West. This list could go on forever but those are just a few off the top of my head.

At the end of the day, what do you hope is the message of your music? What do you hope listeners take away from your songs?

Mike River: Well first off, we wanna inspire fans beyond the music! In life! To just be  good people and live your life freely through fashion, art, dance, song, playing an instrument literally whatever it is in life that makes you happy! DO IT! and that’s what you can get from this album! We’re being us! Not to worried about what people have to say! I want the fans to know that they can do the same!

Princeton- What I’d like people to take away from the album is just have fun it’s ok to express yourself and have the confidence to say what you want. Working with Walter Millsap was great!! This record is dope it shows growth, and we’ve put our hearts into it. I hope fans new and old can appreciate where we’re going and vibe to it! There’s something for everybody to relate to whether you wanna chill with ya’ girl or kick it with the homies, #officialMBmusic is Lit!!! Everybody go get it June 24th!!!!

EJ – That we’re back and better than ever. And this is only the beginning.