At one point in time, the music industry was a very pleasing and a rather lucrative profession. But despite its recent decline, Atlantic artist Musiq Soulchild has consistently proven he has what it takes to remain relevant.

He is widely known for his tantalizing flavor on hits like "Just Friends (Sunny)," off of his first album Aijuswannasing, "Halfcrazy" from Juslisten, "Teachme" off his third album entitled Luvanmusiq, and of course "Forthenight" on Soulstar. On his latest effort, Onmyradio, Musiq is determined to convince listeners that his creative realm goes beyond just neo soul, but infuses various magnetic funk elements, a touch of rhythm and blues, some jazz, gospel and a pinch of hip-hop too. Onmyradio gives fans and listeners a closer look at a much more seasoned artist. The album features the Queen of Hip-Hop and Soul Mary J Blige, and the talented Damien Marley, and is in stores now.

BallerStatus.com: What's behind the title of your new album Onmyradio?

Musiq Soulchild: Um, Onmyradio is basically about me wanting people to I don't have any idea of what I might be listening to on my radio at any given moment. I've done my best to incorporate this into different formulas and different elements into this project than I would usually on any other project. Like if you notice the first song off this album was "Radio," and I was incorporating the whole crunk, snap music sound, you know? On other songs I am incorporating other elements like uh pop elements, rock elements, jazz elements, funk elements and a lot of different things just to you know, get people to understand that there is more than just neo soul and ballads and things like that. I mean, I'm good at them and I recognize that. I recognize that people know that of me, but along with that, I have other things that I would like to do as well.

BallerStatus.com: Name a couple of your favorite tracks on the album.

Musiq Soulchild: Okay, it's a song called "Moneyright." I like a lot and it's about this dude telling this girl I ain't got my money right to take care of you the way I want to take care of you, but you ain't really tripping about that. You been with me and had my back in spite of that, but soon as I get my money right, you should be straight and I'm gonna make sure that you straight. I got another song called "Sobeautiful," it's pretty fresh. It's just basically a dude talking to his girl and just telling her how he feels and he's just got that feeling that she's the one, you know? But vibe wise, it's just a lot of newer things, at least for people who know my music. There are things that they may not have gotten from the other albums that they're going to get from this one. I think people are going to really like it.

BallerStatus.com: Who are some of the artists and producers you work with on your album, Onmyradio?

Musiq Soulchild: I work with Warren Campbell from L.A., my boy J.R. Hudson from L.A., a guy named Dru Castro did the track for Radio, and I've also worked with some of the cats I worked with on my past projects as well. I did a collaboration with Mary J. Blige on the song called "Ifuleave," and I did a collaboration on a song with Damien Marley called "Iwannabe."

BallerStatus.com: And what was it like to work with Mary J Blige?

Musiq Soulchild: It was cool. I didn't actually work with her in the studio. Our schedules conflicted too much, but I did do the video with her and that was pretty cool too. I got a chance to actually talk to her and I just appreciate her for being a part of that song.

BallerStatus.com: In the past, you worked with the impeccable duo AAries, any chance of them appearing on any of your future projects? Do you have any ideas on when listeners can expect an album from them?

Musiq Soulchild: I don't know. I haven't been in contact with them for a couple of years now. You know, I pray that they are doing okay and that someday people will hear what they have to offer.

BallerStatus.com: Being that the music industry is so unpredictable, who or what inspires you to continue to make music?

Musiq Soulchild: People. People that support my music and people that come to my shows. I'm always inspired by them, knowing that I still make music that people care about and that people choose to invest in. It's like you just said, this industry is very unpredictable and you never know what the current climate is going to be at any given moment, so to still be current and credible and to still make music that matters to people, that's inspiring to me.

BallerStatus.com: Soon, you will be releasing a Christmas CD. What made you decide to create a Christmas cd and what songs will you be singing?

Musiq Soulchild: It's already out actually, and it was a project that was presented to me by Target. That's whose sponsoring and representing the project. I'm saying that because you can only find that CD at Target. The album only has seven songs on it, and it's your basic -- or standard -- Christmas songs like "Jingle Bells," "O Come O Ye Faithful," and "Deck the Halls." I put my own twist on it. It's called a Philly Soul Christmas.

BallerStatus.com: Currently you are on the Onmyradio tour, what has the tour been like so far, any favorite spots?

Musiq Soulchild: I've only been on the Radio promotion tour this month, but I don't really have a favorite place, per say. I enjoy pretty much everywhere that I go. But one of my favorite places to go, if I had to say, would have to be Japan. I really enjoy Japan a lot, maybe because it's so far away. I really dig the culture.

BallerStatus.com: What's the future looking like for Musiq, and what should your fans be checking for?

Musiq Soulchild: Well hopefully immediately I am working on getting myself my own label. Once I get that together you can look forward to me supporting other artists, then after that get into film or whatever else open up a restaurant, start a clothing line who knows. That what we artist always do eventually in one way or another; but just trying to put my creative talents to work in as many ways as I can.

BallerStatus.com: Now you know I have to do this for the ladies, I have to get into your business for just a second. A while back, you released a track called "B.U.D.D.Y.," so do you have a "budddy," or a special someone these days?

Musiq Soulchild: See this is the thing, I don't like to get into my personal life because I just don't like the way it can be responded to by certain people. So I try to keep my personal life, my personal life. But to answer your question and be a good sport, I'm not married or anything like that.