From his first hit, "Whatcha Say" in 2009 to his current 58 million followers and 1.3 billion likes on TikTok, Jason Derulo has followed a set of rules to achieve his success. And now he's sharing them with the world through his new book, Sing Your Name Out Loud: 15 Rules for Living Your Dream.
"I took a look at my biggest leaps and steps forward in my career and what I had utilized for success in business and social media. And then I thought, 'Well, damn this works everywhere,'" he declares to EBONY. "I wanted to share my discovery."
There's no slowing down the busy singer/songwriter who's dropping new music and heading out on a mini-tour this summer. "It’s fulfilling for me as an artist and songwriter to let people actually hear the music that I do," he shares.
Below, Jason Derulo reveals how his tips came to be and his favorite place to get away from it all.
EBONY: Why was now the right time for a book?
Jason Derulo: This particular book happened because I was able to achieve my first dream: to be a musician and make music my full-time job. That was always the goal, and I achieved that at the highest level. I wanted to write a book to inspire other people to build toward living their dreams every single day. I think it's a beautiful thing to be able to live your passion. If I can help the young Jason Derulos out there who have a dream to make their passion real, this is what has worked for me time and time again.
Did you start with the 15 tips?
I had more! I cut them down to the most poignant and combined some. I've had many ups and downs on my path toward success, and I've butted my head a million times. I wanted to share the anecdotes that shaped me the most. I think each and every rule has its place, and one doesn't go without the other. We know it's not just about getting there, but it's about being able to stay there and continuing to push the boundaries.
Price: $25
shop at AmazonOne of your rules deals with how to open doors, which can be a challenge, especially in the music industry.
I think it's different for everyone. For me, I always knew that I was going to get there, I just didn't know how. But I believed in my heart of hearts that it was going to happen no matter what, and kept trying different ways to get in. Sometimes we're going after things that our parents want us to go after or things our teachers say are the right path. But I think it's important that you're putting your energy into the passion that you love, even if other people don't seem supportive of it.
Speaking of music, you have about a million songs coming out this summer.
For so long, I've been in a box, so to speak. I was on a label that I wasn't comfortable putting out music on at all. I found it hard to put out material because I didn't see eye to eye with that label. But being on Atlantic has been such a breath of fresh air; I'm making music every single day of my life. So this new era is a chance for me to let people hear what I've always done, an opportunity for me to spread my creative wings.
Are you still following the rules to achieve your music success?
Absolutely! It’s the rules that got me to where I am today and keep me here. I still have goals, ambitions and things that I want to accomplish. These 15 rules really are ingrained in my mind and I don't even have to think about it because I've been doing them for so long. In writing the book, I had to take a look at the things I’ve implemented in my life so that I could have people do this same exact thing. Whether your goal is to be rich one day or find your passion, I believe this book can help you get there.
You are of Haitian heritage. How did your parents play a role in pursuing a music career?
My parents never led me to believe that my dream was impossible. My mom did bring up having a backup plan, and she did make me go to college. But they never told me that my dream was impossible. And I think that was important, as it's hard enough to get to where you want to go. If the negative words come from a friend, your parents or the people that are closest to you, you have to protect your peace. Words are powerful. I was lucky in that I didn't have to deal with that, they always left enough room for me to find my own way. And I'm really thankful for that. I always tell my mom, thanks. Even though my dream was crazy and outlandish, she allowed me to dream without the negativity that would have made it a little more difficult.
It's the season to get away. Where's your favorite place to vacation in the summer?
I'm a traveler at heart. I like changing it up and seeing the world. Over the years I've been able to travel a lot to a lot of different countries. But if I had to choose one, I would probably say Bali is a place that I really love. It's a really relaxing and tranquil place. The weather is incredible. Your skin starts to glow differently. You eat all this food and still lose weight. I go there, and I feel healthier and at peace.
Sing Your Name Out Loud: 15 Rules for Living Your Dream is officially available starting June 27.
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