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John Legend has spent the past twenty-something years at the forefront of the music industry, with a near endless array of hit songs, movie credits and TV shows that have lead him to claim EGOT status — but in recent years, his life beyond music has started to stir chatter too. He's not shied away from other projects, and it's left him with a roster of businesses to rival his award-winning music career, from his own wine label, to a skincare brand for melanin-rich skin, and now an interiors collaboration with Etsy. Each one is a side to Legend we haven't seen before, and it's all a reflection of who he actually is when he steps away from the piano: a wine lover, a grooming enthusiast, and a man who loves relishing in the cosy comfort of his home.
When he's off-stage and off-tour, Legend spends his downtime at home: playing games with his kids, cooking for friends, watching reality TV on the sofa with his wife, or just enjoying listening to Marvin Gaye. It's the simple pleasures that are hard to come by in a life that was spent between tour buses, red carpets and hotel rooms for so many years.
In fact, comfort is so important to Legend, that it's the first thing he mentions to us when we catch up with him in the middle of a busy week. He's known for his calm, almost soothing nature, and spoken in his low tones, his excitement and passion for his home life and the business ventures he's built around it are obvious. None of these brands are just for show: for Legend, they're just extensions of everything he loves.
How would you describe the style of your home and what you put in it? What do you look for when you’re buying pieces?
We like comfort. We like it to be stylish but very liveable. We entertain people a lot, and so we want people to come over and feel comfortable just hanging out. So we like big sofas and earthy tones with pops of colour throughout the house. We like it to feel like it's connected to the earth and with an organic feel, while also having some moments of glamour and excitement.
What drew you to collaborate with Etsy on a homeware collection? Do you tend to look at more small businesses and sellers when sourcing pieces?
Well, we source pieces from all over. The Etsy collaboration was really fun because it's an opportunity to lift up some small businesses, lift up some really talented creators who make some great pieces, and incorporate them into what we already do in our home. It was really about communicating to them what we like, what our style is, sending them photos from our home and seeing how our aesthetic could meet theirs. We collaborated to create something new that was really special, containing so many elements of their personality and unique talents, but also connected to the aesthetic we love at home.
Let’s talk living room. When you’re at home and have free time, what do you get up to and get to spend time with your family?
We like to play games with the kids. After the kids go to bed, me and Chrissy [Teigen] like to sit back and watch our favourite shows, whether it's reality TV or the latest HBO drama or whatever it is. We like a really cosy couch and are big on pillows. In our Etsy collab we created some great throw pillows. We love blankets, pillows…all that kinda cosy, relaxed, curl up on the couch vibe.
What shows are you watching right now?
I’ve been watching Succession of course: just finished it. Love & Death, starring Elizabeth Olsen and written by David E. Kelley, that was really good and also on HBO. We’ve been watching some reality TV… Real Housewives of Atlanta and all the Real Housewives... My cousin is on Summerhouse: Martha’s Vineyard so we’ve been watching that too. We watch prestige TV and guilty pleasures reality TV.
What games do you play as a family?
We’ve been playing Heads Up with the kids. They like any kind of guessing games or memory games. They love Uno. When some older family is over we’ll play Taboo and things like that. Sometimes we just do the conversation cards to see what kind of conversation it’ll spark. We like to build Lego, too, with the kids, and then we have a nice backyard with enough room to swim and play a little basketball.
I’m guessing you must have music on when you’re at home: what are you listening to at the moment?
Oh, I play all kinds of stuff. A lot of the time I’ll make playlists for when we have people. Most of the playlists are soul and hip-hop, so Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Prince…a range of stuff. And then sometimes I’ll be sitting painting with my daughter or drawing — she likes to be really visually creative — and so we’ll sit and listen to something mellow.
Where do you make music at home?
I have a big Yamaha grand piano. We have a little piano bar basically: we have some great vases in there. That’s also where a lot of our liquor stash is: my LVE wine is all there, and that’s where I like to play when I’m working on music at the house. I work at the studio too, but when I do work on music at home that’s where I write and practice.
So, any new music coming soon then?
Not soon:it’ll be a while. But I have an idea for my next project that I’m going to start working on.
Do your kids come and listen when you play at home?
Yeah they do, and they’re starting to take piano lessons too, so that’s cool.
Let’s chat wardrobe. What are your favourite brands that you’re wearing right now?
Oh, I’ve been wearing a lot of Amiri lately and Gucci. I wear lots of different stuff:I don't focus as much on the brand as how it makes me feel and so it’s quite a range. I like to online shop, try on at home and send it back if it doesn't work. I just focus on how it makes me feel, and what kind of mood it puts me in.
How would you describe your style and what you look for?
I think I’m pretty classic in my tastes. I like classic styles with a hint of flair, especially when I’m on stage and things of that nature we turn up the flair a bit. But, at home, I like comfort and good fits, and classic cuts and styles.
What do you do to unwind in the evening? Are there any products that help you to get to sleep?
Well, it's all about good bedding, good pillows, good comforters. We like everything to feel nice and cosy, once again…not too hot, not too cold. Getting the temperature exactly right. I usually like to listen to some kind of low talking to help me sleep. So we’ll sometimes play books on tape or podcasts or any kind of TV show that has low talking helps us sleep.
What about when you’re traveling, like you were in London recently for the Royal Albert Hall. How do you deal with jet lag? Any hacks?
Oh, jet lag…it's tough. Sometimes I choose not to fight it. If I’m only overseas for a couple of days I’ll stay on L.A. time, sleep all day, do the show and then stay up quite a bit during the night. That happens a lot if I’m doing a quick trip, but that London trip was about ten days between England and Italy so I did try to adjust to local time. Part of it is just discipline, trying to stay awake during the day…a lot of coffee.
What about grooming and skincare? Do you have a go-to fragrance?
I do: I wear Tom Ford Black Orchid every day.
What are your favourite products? Can you chat us through your routine?
Well, I’m quite biased. I have my own skincare brand now called Loved01 and I’ve been using it quite a bit. I use it as a face and body wash, I use the moisturiser and face and body oil and the exfoliating cleanser. I’m a big fan of our products because I was really involved in helping to develop them and working with our dermatologist and product development people.
What drove you into the skincare world?
Well, I’ve always cared about taking care of myself and I’ve collaborated with a lot of skincare brands over the years, whether it was Kiehl's or SK2 or P&G or Unilever, so during all this time I had always thought it would be cool to create our own skincare brand. But I didn’t just want to be another celebrity creating one.
We did our research and wanted to address a market that was underserved and overlooked often, so we created Loved01 with our products formulated for melanin-rich skin and focused on hyperpigmentation and things of that nature. We launched it with every product selling at 15 dollars or less. It’s affordable, accessible, and formulated for an underserved market.
What products do you swear by in the kitchen? Do you have a coffee machine?
We do! We have one that’s in the area with the oven. I think it's Miele, if I’m not mistaken.
What else can we expect to see from you this year?
Well, I’ll be doing some more of my solo show. I was just in London doing that at the Royal Albert Hall, but I’ll be doing it in the States throughout the year. I have a few shows in the DC area this weekend, and a couple in Southern/Northern California areas in a couple of weeks. And I’ll also be back on The Voice, so I’ll be taping that for the fall season this summer. I’ll also try and find some time to write some new music…
All items here were recommended by John Legend, however, when a specific item was not available GQ has provided an alternative brand or similar suggestion.
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