Interview: Aloe Blacc
Meet You At The Show: You’ve been on the scene for quite a long time now. How would you say your music and your intentions as an artist have changed over the years? What sorts of things have impacted your growth as an artist?
Aloe Blacc: I entered the industry as an emcee because, as a teenager, most of my activities involved hip hop with my crew. As I got older and started exploring different music as well as developing as a musician, I decided to sing [instead]. I stopped rapping because I felt like it was just a bunch of useless words that don’t ultimately make a coherent point or statement, and I wasn’t so into bragging or trying to boost my ego. My goal now is to tell good stories that help inform and help celebrate life.
MYATS: You seem to be most well-known for your r&b and hip-hop music, but you’re also a multi-instrumentalist and have dabbled in various different genres. How would you say this wide range of experience has affected the progression of your career?
AB: I think the genre exploration on Shine Through was a great introduction to my career. It was almost like the table of contents to my future. It showcased soul, salsa, dancehall, hip hop, experimental, dance, and other styles. The breadth of experience in many styles has been a nice education in creating the perfect musical puzzle.
MYATS: Do you think you’ll continue to focus your talents on hip-hop/R&B music, or are you interested in continuing to explore different genres?
AB: I have a few other projects in different genres like Bossa Nova, Alternative Rock, and Hip Hop Soul, but I am not sure when they will be released. Exile and I have started on the next Emanon album, Birds Eye View, and will hopefully release it soon.
MYATS: How has your career been impacted since your song “I Need A Dollar” became such a hit?
AB: It feels like poetic justice to be receiving attention for my music after so many years. The success of [the song] clearly indicates how people are hungry for good music if they can have a chance to hear it. There are a lot more fans and bigger audiences at my shows.
MYATS: What are your feelings on the current hip-hop and r&b scene and about the more mainstream artists representing these genres at the moment?
AB: I don’t really listen to contemporary R&B and Hip Hop. It doesn’t speak to me.
MYATS: You’ve done some exploration of Latin music, even singing songs in Spanish. What kind of response have you gotten as result? In particular, have you gotten a greater response from the Latin-American community since you started singing some songs in Spanish?
AB: The Latin vibes come from my parents who are Panamanian and used to play a lot of salsa, merengue, soca, and calypso when I was growing up. The elements of Caribbean music is in a lot of my music and especially in the songs on Shine Through. Songs like “Patria Mia” and my salsa cover “Ordinary People” are just a few examples of the direct expression of Latin vibe. The response has been positive, especially from young Latinos who appreciate that I represent the complexities of the Latin-American community.
MYATS: Give us a preview of your live show. What are some of the highlights of your live performance that keep your audience interested?
AB: I will be traveling with my band The Grand Scheme. The band is made up of musicians from LA who share similar views and want to be part of the master plan to increase the happiness quotient around the world. My show will include songs from both Shine Through and Good Things as well as several covers that I enjoy playing.
-Interview conducted by Natasha Young
Aloe Blacc plays Le Belmont this Tuesday, November 16th. Click here to buy tickets.
