Naughty Boy wants to bring Motown to millennials with new album: ‘They will understand it more than ever’

Naughty Boy has said that he wants to make Motown accessible to Millennials with his forthcoming album of modernised cover tracks.

The British producer has collaborated with the likes of Laura Mvula, Ella Eyre, Dua Lipa and Justin Timberlake on new album, Naughty Town, which features remixed versions of Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross songs.

“For me I went in blind, because I didn’t understand what it took for Motown to actually happen and the struggle of black artists being able to play their music on the radio,” he told the Standard.

“I want to approach it in a way that makes it appeal to young people so they go out and do their own research and maybe want to hear a Stevie Wonder album. That’s important, that was the initial thought behind it,” he said.

While Motown might not be currently in the charts, the producer – real name Shahid Khan - said he thinks that Millenials will embrace the new album as they’re “old school”.

“This new generation, the Millennial generation, I feel like they’re more old school than you think,” he said.

“There’s a kind of spirituality and an acceptance of every kind of person. This generation will probably understand it more than ever.”

Khan admitted that he’s ready for a potential backlash from die-hard Motown fans as he’s giving classic tracks a complete overhaul.

“I’m not trying to recreate the original songs, I’m not making a live Motown album – it’s very much forward-thinking and digital – it’s got live elements but it’s very much of now, it’s very London,” he said.

“I am prepared for die-hard Motown fans to say ‘What the f*** has he done, who does she think he is’. You only progress by changing things, by moving forward,” he said.

Despite rising to fame with dance tracks such as Sam Smith collaboration La La La and Lifted with Emeli Sande, Khan is keen to keep evolving his musical style.

“I don’t feel like, spiritually, this is a music mistake, it feels right. I feel like it anyone is going to do it in England, it should be me.”

Khan is also helping to redress the gender imbalance in the music industry, which he thinks is still worryingly prevalent.

“I’m about to sign my first female producer, which is a good step for me. There are a lot of female artists but no female producers,” he said.

“Why haven’t we changed fundamental things? When does this boys’ club stop? I’ve met some very powerful, amazing women in this business but they always seem to be just underneath the man.

“I’ve been in the industry a good few years and it’s not something I’ve noticed is changing.”