USA: U.S. singer Raphael Saadiq reminiscences about being on tour with Prince as a teen

Record ID: 766551

  • Title: USA: U.S. singer Raphael Saadiq reminiscences about being on tour with Prince as a teen
  • Date: 11th May 2011
  • Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (MAY 9, 2011) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) RAPHAEL SAADIQ, SINGER, SAYING: "You know, I guess, you know, music is just my life, you know, there's a lot of things in my head, you know, I'm like a chameleon. I kind of find myself within everybody else and I think what I've done with "Stone Rollin" was exactly that, I've found myself in a lot of music that I've heard over the years. And at this point you know, I can't say that I'm paying homage to something cause everybody said I've been doing that with every record but it's just me at this point it's just me sparking some magic from, you know, the soundtracks of my life."
  • Embargoed: 26th May 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa, Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVAECJL4MKW37JHFV579AWNPS8Z3
  • Story Text: After striking cords with audiences all over the world former Tony! Toni! Tone! front man Raphael Saadiq has incorporated that experience into his fourth studio album, "Stone Rollin."
    Some say the new CD Saadiq plays homage to his known musical heroes Chuck Berry, Stevie Wonder and Sly Stone, but Saadiq instantly disagrees.
    "I kind of find myself within everybody else and I think what I've done with "Stone Rollin" was exactly that, I've found myself in a lot of music that I've heard over the years. And at this point you know, I can't say that I'm paying homage to something cause everybody said I've been doing that with ever record but it's just me at this point it's just me sparking some magic from, you know, the soundtracks of my life," said Saadiq.
    The Oakland, California native became a household name in the 90's as a part of the soul trio Tony! Toni! Tone!. After leaving the group in 1997 he has remained one of the most sought after musicians and producers, working with Joss Stone, Whitney Houston, the Bee Gees and Snoop Dogg.
    But even before all those greats came calling Prince selected him as a teen to tour with him on his Parade Tour in 1984. Saadiq the greatest lesson on the tour was Prince's work ethic, but he was also left with some fun memories.
    "I was like 'mirror, mirror on the wall who's the funkiest of them all?' And I thought everybody was out the room and then I heard this voice say, 'so is that right' and it was Prince and I just ran, I just took off. It freaked me out because I don't know where he came from, there was no body in the room, and he - I just ran, like he was some type of ghost or something," Saadiq said while laughing.
    Being in the business for over twenty years Saadiq has had a front row seat to the shift in the record industry, from label budget cuts to illegal music downloads. Saadiq says in order to be in the music industry now you must have a strong love music in order to survive even though he's not a fan of the recording process.
    "To complete a record is a little bit of an irritating thing sometime, but playing music has always been easy for me. So whether you make music to sell is a different thing, but when you're making music to go play in front of people I think it's a little easier for me and I really make music to go out and perform for other people," he explained.
    "Stone Rollin'" is Saadiq's first album since his Grammy nominated CD "The Way I See It." The music is laced with a classic sound that he loosely calls throwback with a futuristic twist, however there are three labels Saadiq will not allow himself to be categorized within.
    "The number one bag is Neo-Soul. And not because of the style of music, but because of the soundbite of it, like Neo-Soul means like new soul and my whole thing was like I never want to be a new soul. You want to be an old soul or you want to be soul like the people before you," said Saadiq.
    "And I won't be thrown in a R&B bag. I just think of it was world music. I didn't grow up just listening to R&B or Rock or Jazz or Blues I listen to everything," he added.
    The last bag Saadiq says is Retro, describing it as the way 'a lazy journalist' would depict his music.
    "Stone Rollin'" was first released in Europe. Saadiq said there are clear differences between U.S. and European audiences and finds his music easily accessible overseas.
    "It's a little difference, but you know sometimes, Europe, they really get into it they really know the records, they're really record collectors, they really pay attention to everything that you do. And I think also in the States it's getting like that, you know we have record day over here when people really collect vinyl - people have to seek out more here in the States to find music like mine."
    "Stone Rollin" hits shelves on May 10.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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