Award-winning producer and performer Raphael Saadiq is paying tribute to an era in music that first molded him as an artist with his critically acclaimed fourth solo album, The Way I See It. Now as he hits the road with an album that can best be described as Modern Motown as he redefines and reminisces on rhythm and blues, Mr. Saadiq talks politics, music and what’s it like being homies with Stevie Wonder.
Felicia: THE WAY I SEE IT is a time capsule of authentic soul. Very few artists are able to preserve and recreate such an honest era in music, but your album actually sounds like it was in a time capsule, what was your mentality like going into the studio?
Raphael Saadiq: I lived it. I lived that life through the music. I was just in the moment all the time, dressing up to par. Watching it, listening to it, indulging myself in it as much as I could.
Felicia: The Way I See It is the way you see it so how do you see the White House in less than a week?
Raphael Saadiq: Beautiful chaos!
Raphael Saadiq – Love That Girl
Felicia: How is the way you see the past in regards to your time spent in two highly successful groups with Tony! Toni! Toné and Lucy Pearl? Could we ever expect a reunion with either band?
Raphael Saadiq: The way I see it is that one was beautiful, the other one was tragic. I doubt that there would ever be a reunion.
Felicia: What song off your latest album holds the most significance to you?
Raphael Saadiq: The song ‘Sometimes.’ It just speaks about times in life, everyone lives in their own times in life and things happen at some point in your life and I think it speaks to a vast majority of people.
Felicia: After providing successful soundtracks for films such as “High Learning” and “Boyz in the Hood,” a film actually inspired one of your tracks off the album as well. What can you tell us about standout track, ‘The Big Easy’ in ode to the tragedies in New Orleans?
Raphael Saadiq: I was watching Spike Lee’s “When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts” and as I was watching it, I was also in tuned to what happened down there since my family is from Lousiana. As I watched it while making the record and it dawned to me, then I started working on music for it. I wasn’t really making music while I watched it but after watching it I just had to write music for what was going on, for the big easy.
Felicia: What do you want listeners to walk away with after listening to The Way I See It?
Raphael Saadiq: For them to know that whatever you do, whatever music you make or statement you make that you have to mean it.
Felicia: As a producer and singer do you have to turn one off when you are doing the other? Are the two separate during the creative process?
Raphael Saadiq: You know, it’s two different feelings but it’s one of the same.
Felicia: You have collaborated with everyone from Jay Z to TLC, The Roots and Joss Stone just to name a few, but who do you have your eyes and ears set on working with now?
Raphael Saadiq: Wow, Hmm. That’s a hard question! I think I have to think about that one. {laughs}
Felicia: If there was only one instrument left in the world what would you want it to be?
Raphael Saadiq: A guitar!
Felicia: After winning multiple awards and receiving praise from critics and listeners alike, what is your greatest achievement?
Raphael Saadiq: Longevity.
Listen to Raphael Saadiq ft. Jay-Z – Oh Girl-RMX
Felicia: What is the next thing on your to-do list that you want to chase after?
Raphael Saadiq: Scoring a film, or making my own films and putting my music in it.
Felicia: You have worked with a lot of different artists but what’s it like working alongside Stevie Wonder and actually being friends with such a legend?
Raphael Saadiq: It’s not what he says, it’s his spirituality around you it’s like when he’s around you it’s a blessing to have him around. Things rub off onto you, he says a lot of positive things but even just watching him warm up and sing is a very inspirational time. When he sits down and plays his songs and see how much he loves his songs. To see how important to him it was to compose and make these songs. Even when he scores a film he doesn’t watch the movie, he lets me know that it isn’t about watching anything but knowing what something is about and diving in there and making the music feel right.
Felicia: What are you listening to right now?
Raphael Saadiq: Steely Dan but Lil’ Wayne is on my iPod and I listen to him almost every day.
Felicia: Is Weezy someone you would want to work with?
Raphael Saadiq: Oh yes definitely! I think he comes from a real soulful place, just listening to him more or less than what’s going on him in regards to being super hot right now. Every now and then you get a soulful emcee from Nas, Q Tip, to Jay Z and LL Cool J and Rakim back in the day. There’s Kanye (West) too and to me he is an inspirational person. Some of the things he say seem kind of cocky but he says great things to give kids confidence in what they want to do.
Felicia: At the end of the day when it’s all said and done, what way do you want to be seen as a musician?
Raphael Saadiq: I want for no matter what happened with music that I would be doing what I loved most.
Felicia: Where do you see yourself in the future in regards to your career?
Raphael Saadiq: I want to expand on what I have done other the past 20 years, that’s actually how this project came about. It’s about making statements and focusing on other areas for me as well.
Felicia: When you aren’t in the studio or on the road what is Mr. Saadiq up to?
Raphael Saadiq: Running, working out, calling my parents, seeing how everyone’s doing, play basketball or hitting some golf balls. I just like to hang out with my nephew and nieces. Most of my time is spent in the studio but I love to go eat, it’s probably one of my biggest hobbies.
Felicia: Friday, November 28th, 2008, you are hitting the stage at the Roy Thompson Hall in Toronto alongside John Legend, what is this tour like?
Raphael Saadiq: Expect a lot of energy, new songs, and old songs and to have a good time and leave very pleased. I love Toronto, I love Canada period and always have a good time when I’m there. I’m looking forward to being there!
The Way I See It is in stores now, check local listings for tour dates or go to www.raphaelsaadiq.com for more.
Billboard Q&A session with Raphael Saadiq
Exchange their ideas under the release of everyone’s ideas to creative freedom to fly!…