Taio Cruz set the international charts on fire with his dance floor-ready hits “Break Your Heart” and “Dynamite.” Now he’s returned to claim his top spot with his third album TY.O, due early next year. During a recent visit to Los Angeles, the Englishman shared how the “mass mispronunciation” of his name inspired the title of his latest album, the daunting experience of working with Jennifer Lopez, and why he’s jealous of Lady Gaga.
The 28-year-old singer has enlisted today’s top hitmakers for TY.O including Pitbull (“There She Goes”), Ludacris and David Guetta (“Little Bad Girl”), and Flo Rida on the Dr. Luke-produced lead single “Hangover.” “I’d say this album is very much electro-dance music-inspired,” he told Rap-Up TV. “It’s very much a continuation of the Rokstarr album.”
Taio, who co-wrote David Guetta and Usher’s smash “Without You,” is back in the lab writing for Usher’s next album. “There’s definitely some dance records on there, but it’s more diverse,” he revealed. “We have midtempos and ballads going on too.”
The minimalist, who is set to launch his own line of watches, explained the inspiration behind his classic style. “I don’t know when it happened, but I just became a massive fan of monochrome. Chanel is one of my favorite brands and I guess Karl Lagerfeld is one of my favorite designers. I guess I’m the Karl Lagerfeld of pop music ’cause I really only ever wear black all the time.”