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R&B-pop star Usher would be what everyone would now refer to as a "seasoned veteran" even though he's only 32 years old.

He released his first album in 1994 and has sold 45 million albums and won five Grammys since then.

And despite some recent personal ups and downs -- marriage to his former stylist Tameka Foster (seven years his senior) in 2007, the birth of his two children, followed by divorce in 2009 -- he's had a very good 2010.

There's been the No.1 album in the form of Raymond v Raymond, that album's extended EP Versus, hits such as OMG and DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love, two more American Music Awards, and now his so-called OMG tour has two Canadian stops (at Toronto's Air Canada Centre on Monday and at Montreal's Bell Centre on Tuesday).

"I'm seasoned, baby," said Usher, during a recent teleconference interview.

"For me this has just been an incredible journey. I mean I'm sitting in front of the stage last night (during tour rehearsals), and I look at it and I say, 'Man, this is all ... just a dream.'

"I was just a kid new to the scene, who had high hopes that I'd be able to entertain someone and emulate what I'd seen on television. The reality of this is just soaking in, man, and I stand on the shoulders of the giants before me, great entertainers who really pave the way. You know, we lost Michael Jackson. A lot of pressure is on me, and I don't mind taking it."

Usher counted Jackson as his mentor, saying that Jackson taught him to be mindful of his own history while he was creating his music.

"You know, don't get so caught up in the moment," he said. "Be mindful that each and everything that you do speaks for the history of who you are as an artist. That's hard work.

"When you look at a Michael Jackson performance, it looks the way that it does because he spent the time perfecting it. And when you look at a Michael Jackson video it's because he spent the time rehearsing and preparing.

"The other person who you might not know is a very relevant part of me ... is James Brown. One thing that James Brown always told me is, 'If you stay ready you ain't got to get ready.' "

Usher said he's ready to hit the road again with his most technical and futuristic live show yet that will incorporate his trademark dancing, and a storyline like you're watching a movie.

"Live performance has always been my thing," he said.

"For me, you know, I wanted to make sure that it was state of the art. I wanted to make sure that, in comparison to the other shows that are going on around the world, you get the type of experience that leaves you saying, 'OMG.'

"The overarching impression that I'd like to leave is that this guy is really stepping it up to a level where people can hopefully compare (me) to people like Michael Jackson and to great entertainers of the past.

"Not only because I've put the time into creating an incredible show, but also I give it all. I leave it on the stage. I give you the energy. I basically tear myself apart emotionally, energetically, connecting with you and making sure that you enjoy this moment."

After 2008's Here I Stand, which dealt with a married Usher, Raymond v Raymond and Versus see the artist as a single man again.

He says it's not hard gearing up to sing highly personal songs every night.

"I think that every album that I make is intended to give you a different facet of my personality and also speak to what I feel, where I am, and what my interpretation of art is at that time," Usher said.

"For every album, there is a different experience ... When I stop (making music), I hope to be able to look back at all of my albums put together and feel as though I'm looking at an autobiographical musical experience.

"And also someday, when I decide to put a simple collection together, my fans will be able to be a part of it and understand how I got where I am. I can remember buying boxed sets of Stevie Wonder and Sammy Davis Jr. and just feeling like, 'Wow, he just took me on a musical experience.' "

Usher looking out for Bieber

Canadian teen pop sensation Justin Bieber of Stratford, Ont., has a musical "mentor, best friend and big brother," in the form of Usher as he described the R&B-pop star while accepting a leading four American Music Awards last weekend.

Usher, who signed the young upstart (with manager Scooter Braun) before Biebs became one of the biggest musical stories of the last year and a half, said he saw an integrity and a non-compromising attitude in the 16-year-old singer when he first performed for him.

"I saw a very promising future and someone who is very dedicated, first and foremost," Usher said. "Obviously, a fan of current pop culture because the songs that he was singing were very relevant. He sang Ne-Yo, he sang Chris Brown, and he sang my songs nice and strong. And just the fact that he had a nice range. That began to tell me, OK this kid is really on it. Not to mention he plays guitar, he plays piano, he plays the drums. He's just uber-talented. He has so much to pull from no matter which direction we decided to go with, introducing him as an artist. I just felt like for pop culture, he definitely has a relevant enough face and energy.

"And given the fact that he was from Canada, you know, he was special," he added.

When asked if Bieber's success had exceeded his wildest dreams, Usher wasn't willing to go that far.

"I never sell myself short, I'll tell you that much. For me what I saw in him he was the type of artist that I wanted to be associated with. Someone that I felt like would really be able to absorb everything that I would have to offer. And I always told him, I said, 'You know, you can be as big as you want to be all depending on your dedication. How bad do you want this?' And he said, 'I really want it.' I said, 'OK, you'll make it. You'll have it all.' "