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Keeping Soul Musiq Alive, and tribute to Maze & Frankie Beverley
By Diana Bridgett, Managing Editor
July 6, 2010
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Musiq Soulchild, known for his smooth sounds and relational lyrics, recently spoke with Hope Today Magazine too discuss his tribute to Maze and Frankie Beverly, his passion for Soul Music, and what we can expect from him in the near future.
Hope Today Magazine: Why did you decide to participate in a project that is devoted to Maze and Frankie Beverly?
Musiq Soulchild: When I was asked to do it, I was totally honored. Simply, because Frankie Beverly and Maze has influenced my development in music. I have learned a lot about making songs that will stand the test of time and how to be incorporated in people's lives; simply because they enjoyed the music. They liked the way that the music made them feel as well as the musical message; how the words within the music applied to real life situations. I always wanted to pattern myself after formulas and ideas like that. They just embodied that as well as maintained their longevity in the business. I can only hope to have that type of career. I am very proud to be apart of this project. I am happy with the reception of the song and the video.
Hope Today Magazine: How did the project to do the tribute come about?
Musiq Soulchild: I am not entirely sure. As far as my contribution, it was a matter of getting in the studio, talking with the people that were involved, and doing my part. I did my song in a day. They took it and mixed it. I received a call that the remake was up for a single and that they wanted to do a video for it. They asked if I was interested. I said yes. I was more than happy to do it. I saw this as an opportunity to showcase a different side of my image, although it is not too far from what I had been doing. I had the opportunity to get grown and sexy on them. That was fun.
Hope Today Magazine: I understand that you have what is called a "Trinity" which consists of Stevie Wonder, Frankie Beverly, and Marvin Gaye. Can you explain?
Musiq Soulchild: Well it is actually, Stevie Wonder, Donnie Hathaway, and Marvin Gaye. Those are the three artists that I immediately patterned myself after. To be a little specific, I learned a lot of my vocal acrobatics and spontaneous ideas and creativity from Stevie Wonder. I get my calm, reserved, laid back approach as well as how arrange the notes the way that I do from Donnie Hathaway. I learned that I don't have to do a bunch of runs in the song, but if I sing the simple melody with feeling, I will accomplish the same affect. I learned how to finesse the groove by Marvin Gaye. He had a lot of charisma, style, and class. He could sing one note and you would automatically know that it was him. These are the reasons why I say that I have the "trinity" of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and Donnie Hathaway.
Hope Today Magazine: You have a mission and a passion to preserve Soul Music. Can you talk about that?
Musiq Soulchild: I simple think that it is vital because that is what I was brought up listening to. I am not talking about what people recall as the tradition of Soul Music, but the ability to express who you are, your soul, through music. The simplicity of that definition. Once you think of it that way, you basically can call anything "soul" music. Through the years, there have been labels and categories that things have been put into. People have a way of putting music into compartments such as R&B, jazz, classical, reggae, all of these other genres. This is fine, however at the nucleus of every genre, it always goes back to how someone wanted to express themselves. This is what I base my motivation off of. I think that this is important because without it, we really don't have anything.
Hope Today Magazine: What are your thoughts on the representation of today's music?
Musiq Soulchild: I think there is a lot of sensationalism, marketing, gimmicks, smoke and mirrors. Now when I say this, I am not condemning those elements because they are very necessary as it pertains to the world of entertainment. As a matter of fact, I use some of those same elements and formulas because at the end of the day you are entertaining an audience. What you like and what you don't like does not mean that something is good or bad. This is sad because it is the opinions that controls the music. Creativity is a subjective thing. It is open to interpretation. We could use a little more substance in the forefront as it pertains to popularity. There is substance out here but it is just not getting the attention. I would like to see a little more substance in the music that I contribute to. This way it will create balance. Too much of anything is not healthy.
Hope Today Magazine: How would you like to see music expand in general.
Musiq Soulchild: I would like to see people become more innovative and not for the sake of being different. Just because you are different, does not mean that you are dope. You are just different. I think that all around, not just artists, but consumers, and executives, we could all stand to be a little more innovative for the progression of music. This helps to push things forward. I would personally like to see other things that don't get attention, get the attention. There are a lot of people doing a lot of funky things that is not getting to the proper audience, the quantity of people that it should.
Hope Today Magazine: How has the life of your music evolved?
Musiq Soulchild: I have evolved tremendously since the beginning of my career. I spent most of my career interpreting what another person's idea of me was. I always put myself into their interpretation. Now, I am spending more time investing in helping people to understand who I am rather than having people interpret what they think I am. I have been finding a lot of things about my ability that I always knew but it was something that I just had to do. Take for instance me singing falsetto and people being engaged and entertained, like what I did for "So Beautiful."
Hope Today Magazine: When can we expect your new album to be released? What can we expect to see on this album that we have not seen before?
Musiq Soulchild: You expect an expansion. I am always trying to push things forward. I am attempting to fuse the digital and analog world together. I am coming up with some pretty great things. I can't wait for you guys to hear it.
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