I'm very inspired by Australian club life and the radio out here and The X Factor. It's taken a little bit of a turn because I've realised something about what my album needs to be. I always do this every month, I'm like, "Oh no, it needs to be more like this", so I just keep making good songs. I've got a nice body of work, I've just got a few more songs to complete and we'll be ready for release.
It's quite different from the music you would have grown up with, with your father Berry Gordy the founder of Motown. What was it like growing up in that world?
It was great, 'cause I got to experience it from a different angle. I got to see some of the biggest stars in the world and I got to see them at a barbecues or at a Christmas party and they were the nicest people. They were just like family, didn't have egos, didn't have attitudes, they were funny and fun. Seeing how nice Michael Jackson is and how funny and warm Smokey Robertson is and Stevie Wonder, some of the greatest of all time, I said, "Wow this is what I wanna do. I wanna be gracious and humble."
What has been your experience of working on X Factor Australia?
It's been great. Up until now, because now is my first time this far in the competition and it is getting heated among the judges. The competition is bringing out the best and worst in everybody. We're there fighting like mad dogs.
Who do you fight with the most?
I've been arguing with Dannii [Minogue]. Dannii is the one I'm most concerned about. Ronan in this season is playing a different game, but Dannii really wants to win. They've been doing this for years, this is my first time ever in this situation so I'm going to be way more offensive and defensive.
It sounds like you're really fighting for your contestants.
I go above and beyond because I can relate to them because they're all artists and I'm an artist, but as a mentor I'm really there for them. Their experience, their soul, I really connected with all of them, and I just feel like I've learned so much and confirmed so many things about music and attitude and they're so hard working and so focused. They want this the most. They have lived life, they understand the magnitude of what this means, whereas some of the younger kids they might not know and think, if it doesn't happen for me this year, I'm so young, I've got a whole life ahead of me. Whereas the overs, they've lived their life and now it's a reality, they're getting to that point where they're not young anymore and they have to now execute.
What advice would you give to X Factor New Zealand contestants that are coming through?
Be the best you can be. Go with the flow. The X Factor is there to make you look good and to get the best out of you. Go with it. Learn as much as you can. Take every challenge on with 100 per cent positive attitude and gratitude. Go out there and try some things you've never tried. Experiment, find that magic that's inside you and once you find that then you stick with that.
Who: Redfoo
Where and when: The X Factor Australia, Sunday 7pm, Monday 7.30pm, on TV3.
Also: The X Factor NZ pre-audition tour starts this Saturday and Sunday Oct 11 and 12 at AUT City Campus in Auckland, 10-5pm (both days). For more info click here.
- TimeOut
