Cover Babyface returns to Kuala Lumpur this October (Photo: Acerophotos)
Babyface returns to Kuala Lumpur this October (Photo: Acerophotos)
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From Whitney Houston to SZA, Babyface’s songs span generations. Ahead of his Kuala Lumpur stop, he reflects on the turning points that defined his career and the joy of creating music that connects
Few artists have shaped the sound of modern R&B quite like Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds. With a career spanning over four decades, the 12-time Grammy Award–winning singer, songwriter and producer has penned and produced some of the most enduring hits in music history, from Whitney Houston’s anthems to Boyz II Men’s chart-topping ballads.
See also: Alyph’s musical metamorphosis is an intimate storm
What sets Babyface apart isn’t just his silky vocals or signature slow jams, but the way his craft defined an entire era. He became the sound of the ‘90s, a golden age of R&B where his music played in bedrooms, on car radios and at weddings worldwide. Even today, Babyface's influence reverberates through contemporary artists who borrow from his melodies and emotional depth. His songs aren’t merely tracks on a playlist—they’re time capsules, instantly transporting you back to moments that mattered.
Ahead of his long-awaited return to Malaysia, Tatler sat down with Babyface to talk about how the craft continues to inspire him.
You've been making music for over four decades, shaping R&B in ways very few artists have. When you look back, what moments do you think stand out as turning points in your career?
Turning points… I think that comes from the artists I've worked with. From Beyonce to Madonna, Stevie Wonder or Bruno Mars, all the way to SZA.
These are all artists that touch the world and I’ve worked with them—they’re all turning points of their own. They’ve all made an impact on my career as a writer and a producer, so it's hard to put it to one moment because they're a bunch of moments.
With all these amazing artists you’ve worked with, where do you usually draw inspiration from when you're writing your music?
It's usually from them. It's in having a conversation and asking where they’re at, especially with women artists. We talk to see what’s going on in their lives; are they in love, or did they have a heartbreak or do they hate somebody? Anything that is going to give out some kind of emotion.
Then we can sit and figure out what we want to write about. So that’s where the inspiration usually comes from. Having those conversations usually helps me get a sense of who they are, and that's usually the beginning of it.
Above Babyface's music defined the 90's era
Babyface's music defined the 90's era
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Once you progress from the conversation, does it progress with a lyric or a beat that plays first?
It could be picking up a guitar, strumming some chords and kind of going with that. Sometimes when you’re working with artists who are good writers, you have that bit of music and they just start writing.
Like SZA and Muni Long, you give them a piece of something then suddenly they’ve written the whole song in three seconds. Some artists are just very talented, they're like rappers almost, it just comes out like that. There are some artists that take a long time. They think about it, go through it and try to figure out exactly what they want to say and how they want to say it. So it's never quite the same, no one is exactly the same.
You're returning to Kuala Lumpur this October. Do you have any fond memories from your last visit here?
I want to eat something I had the last time. I forget what kind of fish it was, but it was a sweet and a spicy fish. It was really good. I don't remember it, but I want to go back to it.
Aside from that coveted dish, is there anything else you’re looking forward to experiencing?
Well, that was the food part. I remember walking around the malls and just seeing people. It just felt chill. And of course, performing. Back then, the audience was great and the energy was good. I'm looking forward to it, because I feel like I'm coming back with a really good band. So, the music is stronger and the performance is going to be much better than it was in 2010.
You have really influenced a whole generation of artists and listeners. How do you hope, moving forward, that your music will be remembered by everyone?
I think that as long as it inspires people and other artists to write music as well. I like to think that my music takes people down memory lane. It's like time travel. Because when you hear the songs, you're able to go back to that moment when you heard it for the first time—where you were at that moment, who you were in love with, or who you were listening with. There's just so many things that connect you to a memory.
I hope there’s that nostalgic effect that comes with the music. That it’s a safe place for everybody—you know, it's like getting a warm hug from your mom.
See also: Rhythm of a nation: The trailblazers who revolutionised Malaysian music
If you could give any advice to anybody that's starting out in the industry, what would it be?
I'd say listen to everything. Don't be critical of everything. The things that you don't quite understand, listen to and try to learn from it. If everybody else is loving it but you aren’t, try to figure out why you're not loving it and try to understand why they do. It’s really so that you don’t judge it and miss out on something that works for other people, because there's something that connects.
You also want to be a writer that doesn’t only write for yourself, but for everyone. To get there, you also need to know how to talk to people. In many ways, talking to them is listening to them and understanding how they reach people.
After everything that you've achieved, what excites you still about making music today?
The collaborative spirit. The making of music doesn’t necessarily change for me, in terms of the melody or something that feels good. But working with new artists or somebody that inspires me, that part never gets old—there’s always something to be excited about.
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As Senior Lifestyle Writer, Aina writes across the lifestyle vertical, covering wellness, travel, arts and entertainment. Based in Kuala Lumpur, she previously worked at CLEO Malaysia, where she headed the lifestyle, culture and entertainment sections.
