A Conversation With MAJOR.: Celebrating the 10-Year Anniversary of ‘Why I Love You,’ Commitment, and the Weight of Independent Artistry

“I encourage people to get that ring, get that proposal statement that says, ‘I am committed to the commitment.’ Not just to you, but the commitment to you.” – MAJOR.   

When fans around the globe come into contact with the singer and songwriter behind one of music’s most prolific love anthems, they go crazy. Imagine hearing a platinum selling song that was deemed 2016’s Wedding Song of The Year by music legend Stevie Wonder, the song that people use as the soundtrack to some of the biggest moments in their lives. Once they find out that MAJOR. is the person behind it, those in person meet and greets become a frenzy.

Just yesterday MAJOR. was in Walmart and a woman wearing a frown so strong that a smile seemed as far away from her as the east is from the west found herself in his presence. He insisted on asking, “Why are you frowning”? Her reply was, “Man, it just seems like everything is always going wrong. There is always something.” He responded with a live personal performance of his biggest hit to date, the platinum selling classic love anthem “Why I Love You.” She had no idea that she was talking to MAJOR., the Grammy, Soul Train and 9x NAACP Image Award nominated artist behind one of her favorites. 

“Oh, that’s my favorite song, that’s my favorite song, she replied after he belted out the melody in perfect pitch. “I’m the guy who sings it and wrote it and is dedicating it to you right now,” he said. Her smile filled up her face as if it was permanent. “I literally was just playing that on my page,” she explained as she rushed into her purse to get her phone. “I gotta call my auntie. Let me call her. Stay right there!” 

“Mama I have to get goingI” he explained as he prepared to head to the checkout lane. He eventually gave her a video for her to share with her auntie. “That’s much of the common reaction to ‘Why I love you’ and how people respond when they find out that I am the artist behind it. It’s an honor. I do not take it for granted. I do not find myself used to it. I am deeply humbled every time,” MAJOR told Sheen. 

On the hills of the 10 Year Anniversary of his biggest single to date, MAJOR. sat down with Sheen for an exclusive interview, a conversation about the success of ‘Why I Love You,’ his thoughts on commitment and making one of life’s biggest decisions, and his journey as an independent artist. 

Q: With the percentage of married adults in North America alone experiencing a steady decline, what are your thoughts on marriage and commitment? What is your message to millennials and Gen Z? 

A: “I will say the difference between a committed relationship and marriage again is that marriage is the commitment to the commitment. You are in a simply committed relationship without the vow to God, without the “I promise to my maker” right? You can hop in and out of that thing. When it gets frustrating, you can peace out. You can go your separate ways and there is nothing binding you to the return. 

And so I encourage people to get that ring, get that proposal statement that says ‘I am committed to the commitment.’ Not just to you, but the commitment to you. Otherwise, you just have friendship with benefits. Forever companionship is a reward of marriage. Forever partnership, forever collaboration is the reward of marriage. And I know that there are a lot of people trying to learn from each other and say ‘I don’t want to jump into marriage so quickly.’ I encourage that, but after a while you should either know your person or know that ain’t your person.” 

Q: How was your classic-hit song ‘This Is Why I Love You’ inspired by a chicken salad sandwich?

A: “I was on set of a web series writing and they only had sandwiches.  They only had turkey, ham, and veggie. I wanted a chicken salad sandwich and you know what I did? I sang about it. ‘Chicken salad sandwich, I want a chicken salad sandwich because I’m hungry.’ The video goes viral of myself and my good brother Joel Quinn playing that melody on the piano over and over. 

My producer, Harmony, said, ‘Hey, where’d you get that? Come to the studio, there’s a love song in that one!’ We get to the studio and he says, ‘Lets write about love,’ and I said, ‘Well, I ain’t in love.’ The most consistent love I know is my mama and God. He said, ‘That’s who you should write about.’

So, ‘Why I Love You,’ the impetus may have started from my desire for a chicken salad sandwich, but it evolved into a love letter I wrote to God, and love wrote me back. To help people understand how to really do this love thing on earth as it is in heaven.” 

Q: Currently, you have half a billion streams as an independent artist. That’s crazy. How hard is it being an independent artist in this climate? 

A: “It’s so hard,” he laughed. “Oh my goodness, it’s so hard. It is so much work. But now it seems that there are so many independent artists than there are signed artists, and I’m grateful for my journey, but it’s a lot of hard work. If I want it, I have to work hard for it, so I’m gonna put in the work to see the fullness of the dream that I have for all of this. 

I’m seeing a lot of it unfold. Some of it has been the God dream of the dream. I couldn’t have even put the script together. But God is showing out and showing up every single time.” 

MAJOR. was presented with a proclamation declaring today is: MAJOR. “Why I love You, Houston! Day” in the city of Houston, Texas by Major John Whitmire and Mayor Pro Tem Martha Tatum. “That’s not always common so I’m grateful,” he said.

Currently on the “This Is Why I Love You” 10 Year Anniversary Tour, MAJOR. has graced the stages of City Winery in Atlanta and The Peppermint Club in Los Angeles and will continue with additional dates in Houston, Memphis, Chicago, and Nashville. For more information, visit MAJOR. on social media @nowthatsmajor. 

Article Summary: 

In this exclusive interview, Grammy nominated soul singer MAJOR. reflects on the 10 Year Anniversary of his platinum selling hit ‘This Is Why I Love You.’ The artist opens up about love, marriage, commitment, independent artistry, and the unexpected inspiration behind the beloved song. MAJOR. also discusses the challenges of being an independent artist while celebrating the continued global impact of one of music’s most enduring love anthems.