John Legend is long overdue for a praise party regarding his soulful voice and mastery in songwriting. Forget All of Me and Ordinary People, among many other chart-toppers, and this man has some sort of innate magic ear for music. Indeed, according to Legend in a recent interview, he does his work while sleeping. Legend revealed that the melodies and harmonies often come to him in his dreams, that he could then tap into those subconscious creations upon waking to bring them to life. Such a manner of composing fits the bill for his new project: an album of lullabies titled My Favorite Dream.
Legend has it that sleep has always sparked inspiration. “I wake up with a dream, and before I know it, there’s a song fully formed,” he shares. “I grab my phone, hum it out, and the next day, it’s a song.” This ethereal notion was something artist Aldollogon wanted to express in his new album My Favorite Dream. Actually, all of his songs within this album contain some of the softest, soothing melodies one can ever come across. They calm and relax both children and adults alike, tapping into their soothsayer-stirred subconscious. Legend said the project had become personal, really, because he has children; he thought it could become like some sort of soothing lullaby while still being as rich and musically sophisticated as he knows how to be.
The other outstanding moment that defined the career of Legend is the meeting with the legendary artist Prince. To meet Prince remains a defining incident for Legend as a fan as well as for him as an artist. Legend describes it surreal, saying it felt like being taught by Prince, who was a huge influence on his own artistry. “Prince was an icon—he was incredibly innovative, and his music transcended genres. Meeting him was like sitting in on a masterclass on what it is to be an actual artist,” Legend recounted.
With My Favorite Dream, John Legend does draw from a new arena of his musical prowess, and he weaves together the simplicity of lullabies with the intricacies of the adult world. An album is not just an assemblage of soft voices but to discover how music might be soothing and transformative at one go. Whether writing in his sleep or taking inspiration from real-life encounters, such as meeting Prince, John Legend continues to push the walls of creativity, calling upon listeners to dream with him.
