On his new album “Nu King” Jason Derulo addresses the hardest time in his life. In an interview with the star the musician also talks about his former penchant for wild parties and his little son.
By Alexander Nebe
The “Nu King“- Tour takes you through Europe and the USA. How important are daily routines to you when you are in a different city every few days?
When I’m not touring, my life can be quite unstructured at times. That’s why I’m really enjoying the fact that I’m currently spending a few months with a lot of routines. It’s wonderful that I know exactly what my day will look like every morning.
And what exactly does your day currently look like?
Let’s start with the evening: Wild after-show parties are definitely taboo for me! I’m not that young anymore to be able to easily cope with such a strenuous touring life. (laughs) I used to be so crazy about parties that I would always overdo it and sometimes my performances would suffer because of it. Those days are definitely over!
What’s coming up instead?
Actually, almost everything the whole day revolves around the tour: sound checks, team meetings, analyses. It’s very important to me that the show gets better with every performance; that production continues to develop and we fix errors. Plus my social media work, sometimes giving interviews like today, my daily workout – then the show in the evening; Another day is already over and I go to bed relatively early.
Speaking of workouts: at the end of February it was reported in the German press that you had been training in a fitness center in Aachen – very casually in the presence of various other gym members…
Yes, and why not? I don’t like having star-like airs and making special requests. Should the gym now be closed to everyone else? However, I found it funny that almost no one apart from me was training anymore because most of them were so busy watching. (laughs) But I also have to say that the other gym guests were very respectful and let me do my training in peace. This is very important to me!
And after the workout?
I took a little time for fans who really wanted to take selfies with me.
On the tour you will also play a few songs from the new album “Nu King”. The cover caused a stir and controversy because they are wearing a gold crown of thorns…
The past few years have been very challenging for me. I had a variety of problems – with my family, with my old label and I had to deal with the separation from the mother of my child. At times I had the feeling that there was a heavy burden on my shoulders and that a lot was being asked of me psychologically. Of course I don’t want to compare my problems with the sufferings of Jesus. Nevertheless, I can recognize myself and my story in Jesus in a certain way.
And why the title “Nu King”?
It definitely has to do with the struggles I’ve been going through recently. In 2024, I finally became the Jason Derulo I always wanted and dreamed of being. My new album celebrates this new me. The birth of my son Jason King also changed my life a lot.
Her son Jason King will soon be three years old. How often do you see him while you’re on tour?
Unfortunately too rare! After all, he was with me for a week ago and we had a great time. That was quite a challenge for me because I’m in tour mode. But I’m happy to accept it for my little one.
How well do you get along with your ex-girlfriend Jena, Jason King’s mom, today?
Luckily good! We have found a relaxed way in which we can both be good parents to our child despite our separation. Jena is really very supportive and was also kind enough to bring Jason King to Europe so I could spend time with him. Now she is in the Bahamas with our son.
On “Nu King” there is also a duet with Michael Bublé with the song “Spicy Margarita”. Do you also get along well with him in your private life?
Michael has now become a good friend of mine. He is the best, most laid back and coolest guy you can imagine! The fact that we work together and also hang out together in our private lives is amazing to me because I was already a fan of Michael’s when I was still in college. I listened to his music almost every day back then.
Not only are you a pop and TikTok superstar, but you also wrote the book “Sing Your Name Out Loud”, a success guide, in 2023. One of her tips is: “Always talk to yourself like you would talk to your best friends.” Have there been times when you haven’t been kind to yourself?
In any case! When I was young, I spoke very condescendingly to myself. Far too often as a teenager I lay in bed at night, staring at the ceiling and thinking; You’re fat, you have acne, you have asthma. You’re ugly, nobody wants me and you’re a loser!
How did you manage to get out of there?
At some point a good friend gave me the tip to first look very hard into my eyes in the bathroom mirror every morning and then speak out loud to myself: Affirmations like “You are good! You are strong! Today is going to be a really good and successful day”. This may sound silly to many people at first, but if you actually do it, it does something to your subconscious.
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Was there a particularly defining aha moment on the path to self-love?
It was a long and sometimes painful process. A process with deep conversations, reading good advice books and collecting your own experiences. In my opinion, the relationship with yourself is like a marriage. And it is the most important marriage of your life because you can never get a divorce, but you have to get along well with yourself for your entire life. So we have to make sure that the relationship with ourselves is the best relationship we will ever have in life.
How often do you look for a new path in your life and leave your comfort zone?
This happens all the time. And there are times when I bite off such large pieces of life that I can barely chew and swallow them. But it’s typical of me that I always want and do way too much of everything – and I think that’s really great. As far as I’m concerned, a day could have 48 hours. And if I could wish for one superhero power, it would be the power to do everything at once.
What is the key to a contented and happy life for you?
Always do what you like to do! I was just recently talking to a fan, a woman in her early 20s, and asked her what she particularly loves in her life – and therefore wants to do particularly often, and what kind of person she wants to be. She couldn’t give me any answers to these questions… I found that incredibly sad! But the bitter truth is that many people feel this way. That’s why I can only say to my fans; Be sure to find out what you love! Because only if you find an answer to this can you really be happy.
What good advice would you give your 18-year-old self?
That I have to trust the process of learning, growing and letting go. I would tell myself: Don’t be too impatient with yourself! Everything in life takes time. Always be yourself, always listen to your heart rather than to others. Trust your gut and trust your instincts. Above all, your instincts are there for a very specific and good reason.
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
