-- MTV News staff report
What would happen if Jamiroquai's Jay Kay grew up under the watchful eye of "Growing Pains" dad Alan Thicke?
The result would probably be a lot like Robin Thicke — son of Alan and aspiring singer/songwriter — whose debut album is expected on store shelves this summer.
Unlike the wholesome inhabitants of TV's Seaver household, Thicke spent his younger days partying and writing music. He started writing songs at the age of 13 and eventually tuned out partying (slightly), focused on music and landed a deal with Interscope Records when he was 16. He also managed to catch the attention of former Bad Boy Records president and P. Diddy mentor Andre Harrell, who became a major influence on his development.
"As soon as we met, we hit it off," Thicke recalled. "He liked the voice ... and from there we met with people, and it's on from there."
"On from there," in this case, included writing songs for Christina Aguilera, Brandy, Marc Anthony, Mya and Jordan Knight. After watching others work with his music, Thicke decided to take center stage himself.
"I was very frustrated," Thicke said of his days behind the scenes. "Once you work with these people and then you see them and they're on TV and they're successful and people are accepting their music and accepting some of the music that you created for them, you're saying, 'Hey, what am I doing here?'"
Thicke kept his talents to himself and applied them to his debut album, Cherry Blue Skies, which is sure to inspire at least a flashback or two.
"I'm kind of a throwback musically," Thicke explained. "I like Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder, and obviously I love the Beatles, the Stones and Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix." Thicke's thrown those influences into a blender with Michael Jackson, Radiohead, Beck, Jay-Z and DMX and emerged with a soulful mix on his debut.
"I like to think about things. I like to party though, too, and sometimes you just want some good party music, so I tried to make my album have all of that.
"I guess it's soulful rock music," Thicke explained. "In the end, I love rock and roll music, and I love true soul singing and true emotion and true storytelling and the things that come from the heart and aren't just created for a good time. I like a good time, but with heart and with soul and with feeling."
But will it pass muster with one of TV's favorite dads, who also happens to be a songwriter in his own right?
"He's been very supportive," Thicke said. "He doesn't have a lot to do with the choices I make with my music, but with my life, he's there for me all the time. He's a good man. He's always been more of a guidance — made sure you were writing your own songs, made sure you were picking up an instrument, made sure you took some advice from other people, opened your mind. You know, learn, learn, learn. And he's been great that way. That's what he does."
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