Josh Groban Escapes from LA for 'Crazy, Stupid, Love'

What brings you here tonight? I wasn't expecting to meet you.
Maybe because I'm a West Coaster, you weren't expecting to meet me here tonight. I just moved to New York. I'm bi-coastal, but I'm going to be here primarily for the next year. I'm a huge fan of the New York Phil. This is my first time seeing them all perform live together. I've gotten to know the LA Music Center so well. It was exciting for me to go to an opening night in New York.

I love Wynton Marsalis. He and I met in Washington, D.C., when we were both testifying to Congress to try to get more money for arts education. He gave one of the most remarkable speeches. We got to hang a long time. I always respected his musicality, and I came to just respect the human being that he is. It's always fun for me to see a symphony like this one take on a new work. It's fun to see a symphony get a little nervous. And so to hear this composition, there really is no end to what [Marsalis] can do. The New York Phil is just classic, classic, classic all the way.

What brings you to New York for a year?
It's personal and professional. Personally, I've just always enjoyed the energy of the city. I've enjoyed the friends I meet in the city, and I enjoy the culture of the city. Professionally, I have a new album coming out this year, so the traveling I'm going to have to do is pretty extensive. And it's a great place to be if I have to hop back and forth between here and Europe. I'm single, I'm almost 30 and there's a ton of reasons why now is the time to escape from Los Angeles. Now is the time for me to do it. And if I don't do it, I'll always wonder what if.

Can you tell me about 'Illuminations'?
I've worked with Rick Rubin on the whole project. It's his first foray into more orchestral music. We just had an amazing time. He really allowed me to work very, very hard at showing my strengths, while shaving some things off sonically [that] he hasn't really been a fan of in the last ten years. I can't say I disagree with him. He really forced me to do a lot of writing. He liked my writing, so 11 out of the 13 songs are written or co-written by me. I really feel like I've had the most involvement that I've ever had on a project on this record. Seeing as ... most of [the songs] are one take, it's for me the most gratifying artistic experience that I've had making music.



What else is new about it?
I left the pop world behind for a moment, and I tapped mostly into the world of folk, world music and classical music on this record, just as far as what the arrangements are like. As an American who sings this kind of music, you really want to dive into the grandeur of American classical music and folk elements as well. So while the songs are new, what they're surrounded with is a very deeply-rooted, American feel.

I understand you're acting. Tell me more.
I was on 'Glee' a couple of times last year. I just finished a movie with Steve Carell that comes out next year called 'Crazy, Stupid, Love.' I went to school for acting. Singing was a side thing, and it wound up being the full thing. Acting is something that I enjoy doing very, very much and would like to do it again soon.

What's 'Crazy, Stupid, Love' about?
It's about a family. I play the fiance of a daughter played by Emma Stone. Steve plays a guy who's just in the process of getting a divorce. He's so deeply rooted in the love that he's had for this woman that he doesn't really know how to be a bachelor again. He doesn't really know how to be cool, how to be single ... Ryan Gosling, who's kind of a cool guy at the bar, trains him and grooms him to be a cool guy again. Of course, he and his wife reconnect at the end. It basically follows every relationship, whether it's his son, who is just now starting to like girls at school, or whether it's his daughter, who just can't seem to get a date. It's a little bit like 'Parenthood,' in a way.

Tell me about your character?
I play the douchebag lawyer who is Emma Stone's fiance. He's basically the guy that everybody says, "Why are you with this guy?" And I'm the guy who's telling the bad jokes at the party. It was kind of fun to play somebody who's so over the top, crude and douchey. Most of it was improvised. We just had so much fun on the set.

Are you going to be performing in New York?
Once the record comes out, I'll be doing some performances, and the tour will start after the first of the year.

Filed under:
• Music News
-
• Interviews
-
• Exclusives