Avant’s “Private Room” has been on the Billboard album charts for the past four weeks, but many music enthusiasts have only recently heard of the Cleveland-born singer.

Even though his two previous albums went platinum, he feels his former label, Magic Johnson Records, didn’t push his music hard enough.

“I thought that things would work out better,” he tells andPOP, on the line from Chicago. “Everything is a learning process.”

Avant still keeps in touch with Johnson, and owes the basketball legend gratitude for his help in starting his career. When the major labels weren’t calling, it was Johnson who gave Avant a chance.

“He helped me get into the game. He gave me everything I needed to get in the game. Me and him are still real cool.”

When MCA, the company that distributed Johnson’s label, folded, Avant happily signed with Geffen and released “Private Room,” which debuted at number 18 in December.

Avant wrote the majority of the album, which he feels brings him closer to his fans, creating an intimate feeling that was absent from his first two. He didn’t try to create that sound. He just goes with what flows naturally.

“What I try do is what I’m feeling at the time. I wanted to make my fans feel me and know who I am as an artist.”

He also wants to appeal to new fans. How’s he going to get them? By developing a rock star persona. While urban artists often perform at their concert and jet, rock artists are known to stick around and hang out with fans. That is the attitude Avant takes. He signs autographs and poses for pictures with fans after his concerts.

He’s going to need all the fans he can get if he wants to fulfill his master plan.

“I want to be in this game for 50 years like Ron Isley,” he says. “I’m here to stay”

And Avant is also doing some acting. In addition to having a track on the “Barbershop 2″ soundtrack, he makes a brief appearance in the movie.

He feels he has enough patience to keep exploring his acting options.

“[Movies are] nothing but a long music video. But out of all due respect, there is more emotion in that acting. It’s wonderful, I love it. I went to the Cleveland School of Art. I practiced drama. A lot of it was stage acting but it’s basically the same.

“I’m looking forward to making some things happen. It’s going slowly but surely.”

Catch Avant on tour with Jagged Edge, Joe, 112, and Ginuwine, starting next month.






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