Ever since his debut album, My Thoughts, Avant has had one thing on his mind and that's sweet, sweet love.  With hit songs such as "Separated," "My First Love," and "4Minutes," Avant is known as R&B's smooth romancer.  His most well known songs remind us of the basics of love: romance, passionate love making, and dedication.  He returns to school us on love with his fifth album, the self-titled, Avant, which finds him changing up his sound just enough to keep interest and to still satisfy his fanbase.

Sixshot.com took a lesson on love with Avant as he talked slowing down for romance in today's fast paced world, loneliness, being brokenhearted at 17 years old, why he believes men should pay for everything in a relationship, his personal growth, and more.

Sixshot.com:  For your fifth album you named it after yourself.  Usually when artists that have been in the industry for a while self title a release it's to reaffirm who they are.  Is that the case with this release?

Avant:  Well there are a lot of different reasons I titled it Avant.  For one I never did it and also I'm with a new machine: Capitol Records.  So I have a different sound but I'm also giving you what you know and love from me as well.

Sixshot.com:  So you're rein troducing yourself to the fans?

Avant:  Exactly, they heard me but they weren't part of my life.  So I'm bringing them in so everybody can ride with me.

Sixshot.com:  I read that this is your most personal album to date.

Avant:  What I tried to do is a new sound.  I didn't want it to be personal or none of that. I'm on my fifth album and I don't have to worry about no sophomore jinx.  I got a built in fan base and they want certain vibes from me.  So this is the appreciation album for my fans.

Sixshot.com:  The single "When it Hurts," talks about staying in a relationship even in tough times.  Some people say that is a lost value in today's fast-paced world.

Avant:  I would say everybody is looking for a grandmother and grandfather type of relationship and many grandmothers and grandfathers passed on.  So that's something they can't find.  You got to go through a lot but don't break up if you want that type of relationship and if you want that respect from your mate.  You're gonna make mistakes and what makes you better is you deal with it and learn from it.  If you're gonna jump in and out of relationships you ain't never gonna learn nothing.

Sixshot.com:  What's one of the biggest mistakes you made in a past relationship?

Avant:  One of the biggest mistakes is being in the musical game 'cause I be away so much.  It's hard for me to give my whole self to someone and they give themselves to me because I might be working and I'm working.  So it's really rough but I'm still looking for that special person for real.

Sixshot.com:  Have you learned to balance out your schedule so that you can make time for love?

Avant:  There's no balancing you can do.  I been on the road for 3 months now so this is what I have to do.  When I get some free time hopefully that person will have free time and we can link up.  It's a work in progress.  I think that being young in the game you shouldn't have to worry about waking up with someone right now.  I think you should worry about putting your life together so when you do go look for somebody you have something to offer.

Sixshot.com:  Do you get lonely?

Avant:  Of course you get lonely.  Even though I speak to women all the time and might get personal with one of them, but you want somebody you can share those personal moments with.  It's not there for me right now.

Sixshot.com:  Who is Avant when he's in love?

Avant:  Avant in love is an animal.  He's a horse and carriage type that will take you to the mountains where cell phones don't work—it's just you and your mate and we go like wild animals.

Sixshot.com:  I read that your signature hit "Separated," was inspired by a woman who cheated on you at 17.  So being that young what did that experience do to you?

Avant:  It was rough because I was walking into something with my eyes closed and I was only 17.  I thought that you love somebody, they're in love with you, and it's like that forever.  But it opened my eyes to know that it's hard to know someone wholeheartedly.  I could feel like I know you but never really know much.  So you need to put God in your life and ask him to bring a person to you 'cause you can't do it yourself

Sixshot.com:  Due to that experience do you have trust issues now?

Avant:  Not necessarily cause I don't try to say every woman is the same.  I can honestly say that not all women are the same.  Right now I can say that will all due respect that I don't think these young women are really trying to be married or in a relationship.  They are still trying to find a way to have something to bring to the table in a relationship.

Sixshot.com:  So what's your take on relationships dynamics such as money?  You said women are trying to find a way to bring something to a relationship.  So do you think men and women should split all financial responsibilities?  This is a topic that a lot of people debate.

Avant:  No, I'm gonna cater to my woman but if something falls hard on me I need you to have my back like I got yours.  I will never ask you to spend a dime on me cause that's a man's position I believe.

Sixshot.com:  Don't you think that puts too much pressure and unrealistic expectations on a man to provide for everything single handedly?

Avant:  Hey it's a man's world at the end of the day and of course it's gonna cost us.  We got Father's Day and don't know nobody know when it is Fathers Day.  You're lucky if you get nothing but a card, but bring a card for Mother's Day and it don't work.  So there will always be pressure on the man in a relationship.  So that's just what it is.

Sixshot.com:  Don't you think that whole situation is unfair?

Avant:  I wouldn't say it's unfair cause one thing about us we don't think with the main head, we think with the other one, and we get to women by doing that.  I'm not saying that's fair either but that's what most men do.  Most women are emotional.  They won't run out and cheat.  They got to know a cat for a couple months before they give themselves up.  So men think totally different.

Sixshot.com:  So since the man cheats he should pay for everything.  [Laughs]

Avant:  I'm not saying he should but it's an observation, player.

Sixshot.com:  There's a 2006 interview where you said fatherhood changed you.  Who were you before fatherhood?

Avant:  I was a young cat out there partying, spending money left and right, and sharing a couple of dollars with my sisters and brothers and all my siblings.  Now I am a totally different person.  I want my son to have the best schooling.  I don't want to pressure him to be a basketball player.  He can do whatever he wants to do.  I want to be an understanding person and that helps me in fatherhood and as a person period.

Sixshot.com:  You turned 30 this year which is a milestone age.  So how have you grown and matured and your perspective changed?

Avant:  Nothing really changes.  Your focus becomes heavier on what your goal is but I'm like Aaliyah age ain't nothing but a number.  You got to keep on pushing on and open up different avenues for yourself.  That's why I'm trying to get into the movie thing.  I think it's time to be a smart businessman right now.

For more information please visit:

www.myspace.com/avant