Ginuwine

The United States singer Ginuwine, real name Elgin Lumpkin, has teamed up with British Asian producer Shayal, to create the new single Baby Dil Deewana, as part of an 'East meets West' style project.

The venture is the brainchild of United Kingdom producer Khiza and his label, Utopia Music and the video features Bollywood actress and former Miss India Universe, Neha Dhupia.

Ginuwine, known for hits including Pony and Differences, tells Davina Morris about his latest, and very different venture.

How did this project come about?

Me and Shayal, the producer, met when I was here in the UK doing some shows a while ago. He let me hear some of his music and I was interested in working with him, so we did the song. He has the connections with Utopia and they liked the song, so it took off from there.

Are you nervous about how the song will be received?

Definitely, because I'm keen to be well received in India. I love the culture. I'd love to break into Bollywood! You'll always have people who like something and those who don't. I don't like a lot of things! But if you fear rejection, you'll never take chances. And sometimes, in taking chances, you can make history.

The R'n'B meets Indian music' venture been done before, courtesy of songs like 'Addictive' by Truth Hurts. What's different about this venture?

This song takes it to a whole new level. A lot of people have had samples of Indian music, but this track gives equal importance to both Indian music and R'n'B music. You hear Indian sounds in Western music and you hear Western sounds in Indian music. But to have a balance like this is completely different.

Are you bitter that Timbaland, with whom you worked heavily in the '90s, seems to have moved more into pop territory than R'n'B?

Timbaland is a producer and an artist and he gets bored with a lot of things. He needs new things to excite him and so he's moving on. But he certainly hasn't neglected the hip-hop and R'n'B scene.

Would you like to work with him again?

I would like to, but then again, maybe that wouldn' work now. Sometimes you have to move on. But I do believe that if he and I stepped into the studio to create something for today's music scene, we could do it. I would love to, but right now, I'm not focused on that.

How's family life treating for you?

Family life is treating me well. It's all good. I'm happy.

What's the future for you?

If this song works, we might do a whole album. But we've gotta see how it goes down, how well it's received.

Baby Dil Deewana is out now on digital download on Utopia Music.