Lalah Hathaway
01. Soul Discoveries - Firstly, how are you?
. Lalah Hathaway – I’m good. How are you?
02. Soul Discoveries – I’m fine thank-you, slightly shaking but fine.
. Lalah Hathaway – Aw…
03. Soul Discoveries – Well done on such a great album Self-Portrait is my relaxation CD because I’m under a lot of stress at the moment. How was the recording procedure for Self-Portrait?
. Lalah Hathaway – Thank-you. It was wonderful. It was really the first record that I’ve made from front to back, kind of in a concise way. Cuz you know sometimes you get signed and then there’s a couple of problems. The A&R guy gets fired, & the label needs funding & there’s a lot of things that happen but this record actually from the front to the back, it was a pretty pleasurable, pretty distinct experience and I think that that carry’s over.
04. Soul Discoveries – There are many timeless soul songs on Self-Portrait. Let’s discuss there songs & what they mean to you?
. Lalah Hathaway – OK. You want me to just pick em’?
. Soul Discoveries - Yeah. Which songs meant the most to you?
. Lalah Hathaway – You know, I’ve never felt that any mean the most. Its kind of like one of those questions like of all your fingers…which…
. Soul Discoveries – Laughs, you need five of them!
. Lalah Hathaway – Yeah…
. Soul Discoveries – Hmmmm…
. Lalah Hathaway – The record is really, it’s really a body of work, it’s really a group of idea’s and dream’s that I had at some point that really came true. But it would be almost impossible to choose a favorite. I’d probably rewind Tragic Inevitability a lot right now.
05. Soul Discoveries – You mean that’s your favorite?
. Lalah Hathaway – I don’t think its my favorite.
. Soul Discoveries – Well, that’s my favorite song!
. Lalah Hathaway – Laughs…thank-you very much.
06. Soul Discoveries - Your songs are very straight from the heart. Do you have to live your songs before writing them? Or do you just enjoy co-writing with say Rahsaan Patterson?
. Lalah Hathaway – I like doing all of that stuff but I definitely think this record is a collection of idea’s, and thoughts I had that came from my life from particular things that are close to me. And I think that’s what makes it the best music. Things that people can really relate to.
07. Soul Discoveries - Do you feel this is by far your most personal record?
. Lalah Hathaway – I do. I think it’s probably my most vulnerable record, my most personal record, I think it’s my most best piece of body of work, the best sounding record I’ve ever made, the best looking record I’ve ever made. It really in a way is almost like my first record.
08. Soul Discoveries – I get that feeling. Do you feel a more comfortable artist in a sense that you can spread your wings more now that you’ve been signed to Stax Records?
. Lalah Hathaway - In a way, not neccassarily not having anything to do with the label, or any affiliation, which actually gives me precious time, enduring, meeting people, going all over the world and I mean everything affects the music. Eating foods, learning how to say hello in another language, all of that stuff affects the music.
09. Soul Discoveries – Why do you think it took you so many years to understand the power of your fathers music?
. Lalah Hathaway – Its not that I didn’t understand the power of it, I think that I had a different interpretation of it. So what happens is a lot of times people would talk to me about Donny Hathaway, the way that they talked about him, I could have that discussion but you have to remember I’m also his child. There are things that that I could never possibly express to you. So in the way that I’ve seen my Dad. It’s skewed because he is a legend and he’s also my father.
10. Soul Discoveries – Maybe people forget & sometimes also it might not be intentional…
. Lalah Hathaway – Yeah…And I understand.
11. Soul Discoveries – What music where you listening to at the time of recording Self-Portrait?
. Lalah Hathaway – I was not listening to much outside of the music I was creating because I was really trying to create a space that was special and unique. I find that I don’t really listen to the radio a lot when I’m working. I’ve not tried to chase what’s happening on the radio, to create something that feel’s fresh to me because that’s as far as I can take it, something thats fresh to me. I don’t really listen to a lot of music while I’m recording. While I’m not recording, I listen to loads and loads of music. Just trying to find some new music now. I do listen to like a lot of European artists, a lot of Ambient, sort of like Incognito, a lot of electronic music.
12. Soul Discoveries – I’m very surprised. I thought you’d be into the similar artists, I don’t know, that’s very open minded.
. Lalah Hathaway – Laughs. You know, as a musician I have to listen to a lot of different things, thats one thing I’ve learned a a musician but as a listener and a fan of many artists I’ve also learned you can never really guess that you know a lot about a persons record collection. You can kind of know what there feelings are but you know, it would be impossible for you to know what kind of music I listen to.
13. Soul Discoveries - Your voice sounds amazing on Self-Portrait. Vocally, what do you do in terms of work before you go into the booth and record the actual song?
. Lalah Hathaway – It’s very simple. I usually drink something like water or coffee. Very lucky that my instrument doesn’t require too much prep time. I don’t have an elaborate start up plan.
14. Soul Discoveries – Do you have any pet animals?
. Lalah Hathaway – I do. I have two dogs. I have a Sixteen year old Cocker Spaniel, and I have a two year old Gsharn.
15. Soul Discoveries – Sounds cute! And how is your summer going?
. Lalah Hathaway – Its been great. I’ve been able to get out and play music, which is you know I love to do, I’ve also been working as an ambassedor for the Suzaane JeGaagne foundation for breast cancer in the United States. I’ve been happy to talk to women about that. I’ve also re-build my website. It’s got a TV on it now, that takes up a lot of my time.
16. Soul Discoveries – Laughs. Are You an internet person?
. Lalah Hathaway – I am. I’m a huge kind of techie, really really into computers and camera’s, I was doing a lot of shooting this summer, doing video’s for Lalah TV, play with my IPODs, my computer, my camera’s all that kind of stuff I’m really into that.
17. Soul Discoveries – What do you have on your IPOD?
. Lalah Hathaway – I have everything on my IPod. I have 160 gig IPod, and I have literally everything…
. Soul Discoveries – I have an IPod Nano and that is not enough for somebody who loves music!
. Lalah Hathaway – Laughs. I keep my whole library at all times. I like to be able to listen to it.
18. Soul Discoveries – What would you like to talk about? Am I going over time?
. Lalah Hathaway – No. Your OK. I’d just like to let your readers know that they can come and visit Lalah Hathaway anytime on, www.lalahhathaway.com. I’m on there everyday, talkin’ to the people, emailing, we have a chat room for chatting.
19. Soul Discoveries – Thank-you so much for the interview. It’s been amazing talking to you.
. Lalah Hathaway – Follow your dreams. do what you want to do. Thank-you so much! Bye, bye.
20. Soul Discoveries – Bye
www.myspace.com/lalahspace
