All right, so I just got a little uh preview of the new album and like, holy hotness. Oh, wow. It is like on fire.

Thank you.

Every song. I really like it.

Appreciate that.

I feel like the vibe is like what? R&B? What are you trying to go for?

Yeah, you know, it's a lot of different influences. Um, growing up my influences were Stevie Wonder, Prince, um, the BG's. So there's a bit of that. You know, sort of the more classic side of things and then the more modern influences like The Weeknd and uh, Jhené Aiko and and some of those that I really love and um, you know, it's been a fun process sort of mixing the two sounds and and sort of creating one that is just my own.

Mhm. And now I heard that you co-directed the video Chains, which is your single. Yes. And what was like the the influence behind that?

The influence behind the the visual for Chains was basically we wanted to create a larger than life uh setting, you know, and um sort of play on the fact that it's not the literal version of chains, which you know, is sort of where the mind goes immediately when thinking about what the video treatment should be. But we tried to take it outside of that and think about um what the emotional aspect was and and sort of the the the fight to just feel bound by something. And um so I worked with Ryan Plloto, who's a really talented director. Um we put this video together and um I think it matches the the feeling of the song and gives it a really nice aesthetic and it's just been a great process. I'm in chains all day You got me in chains for your love. But I wouldn't change. I wouldn't change. No, I wouldn't change this love.

So, you went from obviously doing the band thing to now solo. I mean, it seemed like you owned it on stage. Are you still getting used to doing this solo career, or are you pretty pretty comfortable now?

Yeah, it takes a second. You know, I think it it's interesting to sort of be the only person on stage and and you know, with this show, I'm singing so much too because it's just it's all on me, whereas before we split up vocal responsibilities. Um, but it feels good, you know, just to to have that freedom and to really sort of uh be the artist and performer I want to be.

You are doing a new show on DirecTV called Kingdom, and you're playing an MMA fighter.

I am. Yeah, I just

Is that why you got so so jacked?

Uh, one of the reasons. I got really into fitness last year. Okay. And sort of made made an effort to be in the gym a bit more and eat healthy and um this show came about earlier this year. I had to fight really hard for the role. Um, you know, and and prove that I could do it. And and they believed in me and it was an amazing show to shoot. The trailer just came out. It's got some amazing reaction. The show comes out October 8th. Okay. And uh yeah, I play a fighter. I gained about 15 pounds of muscle for the role. Um I've lost about 10 of that. So, I'm a bit leaner. But it was a lot at for, you know, it's just it was a lot.

Did you do a lot of intense training, I can imagine?

I did. I did two a days, so two gym sessions a day also the fight training. So it was a lot and and then I was on this meal plan that was about 4,500 calories a day.

Now, what's the storyline for your character?

Basically, I'm a prizefighter. I'm I'm poised to be the next big fighter in um the UFC and I get I win this big fight and then something happens. And it's a spoiler so I can't give it away, but something happens and I can't really fight. Okay. So, um the rest of my season is about self-discovery. And um, you know, once the carpet gets ripped out from under you, you've been training all your life. It's all you know. Who are you? What's important to you? And Uh, it asks a lot of really big questions that I feel like um are really important this day and age and touch on a lot of really relevant things. And so I was really honored to tell those stories and and do it in what I feel is a really tasteful way.

Yeah, that's like an intense acting role for you.

It is. It's very intense.

So you became an uncle this year.

I did. Uncle Nick.

How is that beautiful baby?

She is beautiful. I I have get picture updates all the time and videos and stuff and she's very sweet. She's Chabby. She's beautiful. Um I haven't seen her in a little while cuz I've been here shooting the show and I I haven't been able to leave. Uh but I'm going back to New York in this next week and I'm going to see her then. I'm very excited. I'm going to give her a big hug. A big hug.

Do you do any kind of diaper duties or feed her?

I haven't yet, but I probably will on this on this trip. Um

Okay, all right. Most guys were like, "I'm good. I'm really good."

We'll see. Well, you know, it's it's my niece. I got to I got to do it. It's important.

Definitely. Now, when you visit her, of course, it's like, oh, rainbows and butterflies. But then when you leave, are you like, all right, I need I need a good amount of time for it.

Yeah, it's it's really special to hold the baby for a little bit and then give it back.

And then give it right back. Yeah, it's really nice. Kevin and Danielle. All right.

Exactly. It's all yours.

So you were just in Vegas recently for your brother Joe's birthday.

I was, yeah.

Do you guys do like a little partying, gambling? What's your thing in Vegas?

We did all the above. Yeah. We made sure he had a good time. Um and yeah, it was, you know, we were at Beacher's Madhouse, which was insane. And then um Excess one of the nights and then some gambling. I broke even, so it's fine.

Okay. Now, what's your game of choice?

Well, I like playing Blackjack, but I always win at Roulette and I lose at Blackjack. So it's kind of it's a toss up.

Roulette's tricky. It's a tough one. What are your numbers?

It is. I've got some numbers that always hit. 11, 13, 28 and 32.

Those are good numbers. Okay, I was do 11 and 15. And I never win. So I don't know why you get so lucky with 11, but I don't know. All right. Thank you so much for having us. We're really looking forward to the album and um Good luck.

Thank you.