This morning we helped wipe the sleep from your eyes by sharing D’Angelo’sinterview with GQ – his first in years. Well if that got you excited, this will surely demand a change of undies. Not only did D sit down for an in-depth interview with the magazine and took part in a new photoshoot – he also performed a lil’ sumthin’ sumthin’ for them – but because he’s the messiah when he performs a lil’ sumthin’ sumthin’, generally it’s about 10 million light years better than most other human musicians.
Watch D’Angelo and his guitar perform a cover version of Funkadelic’s ‘Soul Mate’… Then scream and faint.
Update: Read D’s full interview with GQ – here. A truly fascinating read.
We’ll never forget falling in love with Jessie Ware when we heard her distinctively cool vocals on ‘Valentine’ with Sampha last year. Since then, we’ve all gotten to know a little more about her through a selection of impeccably good singles (‘Strangest Feeling’, ‘Running’, ’110%’, ‘Devotion’) all leading up to the release of her debut album Devotion. Now, in what seems like a spontaneous response to the blue skies above London, Ware has let loose a brand new song produced by Sampha.
‘What You Won’t Do For Love’ is an elegant, 90′s inspired cover of Bobby Caldwell’s 1978 classic (famously sampled by 2Pac & Aaliyah). This is everything.
Download for free via Jessie’s facebook page – here.
After a series of releases last week, Cocaine 80s yet again offer up more new music. This time No I.D. and lead singer James Fauntleroy collaborate with Nas, who provides a passionate guest verse. This may replace ‘Queen to Be’ as my favourite release of theirs this past week. Listen/download below.
After a string of successful tour dates in Europe earlier this year, D’Angelo sits down with GQ Magazine for his first interview in years. The Grammy award winning singer discusses a whole range of topics including the effects his infamous ‘Untitled’ video had on his life/career, a weird encounter with Madonna at a party and the powerful (sometimes evil) effects music can have on people. The interview also includes a shocking story from D’Angelo’s ex-wife Angie Stone…
The feature also includes new photos of D’Angelo (above) – check them out after the jump.
D’Angelo on the “forces” in music
“There’s forces that are going on that I don’t think a lot of motherf-ckers that make music today are aware of,” he says. “It’s deep. I’ve felt it. I’ve felt other forces puling at me.” He stubs out his cigarette and leans toward me, taking my hand. “This is a very powerful medium that we are involved in,” he says gravely.” “I learned at an early age that what we were doing in the choir was just as important as the preacher. It was a ministry in itself. We could stir the pot, you know? The stage is our pulpit, and you can use all of the energy and that music and the lights and the colors and the sound. But you know, you’ve got to be careful.”
Paul Hunter (Director of Untitled) on the video being misunderstood
“Most people think the ‘Untitled’ video was about sex, but my direction was completely opposite of that. It was about his grandmother’s cooking. Think of your grandmother’s greens, how it smelled in the kitchen. What did the yams and the fried chicken taste like? That’s what I want you to express.” The video may have looked like foreplay, but it was actually about family, Hunter insists-about intimacy.
Later when I tell D’Angelo this, he says, “It’s so true: We talked about the Holy Ghost and the church before that take. The veil is the nudity and the sexuality. But what they’re really getting is the spirit.”
‘Around My Way (Freedom Ain’t Free)’ is the brand new single from Lupe Fiasco, taken off his recently announcedFood & Liquor double album. And as promised, he’s returned to the way we first found him – spitting fire over soulful, knocking beats. Throw in that ’92 sample/horn section and you got a fresh new joint with a warm nostalgic undercurrent. I’m not mad at it. Plus no emosh-Popsters on the hook – smashing.
Finally the Michael Jackson estate is doing something right. After a string of terrible posthumous albums, the legal team looking after Michael Jackson’s legacy (and thus their bank balances) is finally releasing something that will have fans genuinely excited and something that respectfully honours MJ’s name.
In celebration of the 25th anniversary of Jackson’s classic Bad album, which spawned five consecutive #1 singles, the estate is releasing his legendary concert at Wembley Stadium in full on DVD. Not only that but they’ll also be including some unreleased private studio sessions and a re-mastered edition of the LP.
Dope.
Course, for every step forward, they take 10 back. MJ’s image was recently licensed to Pepsi – the company who Jackson teamed up with in the 80′s for a series of historic deals/commercials. MJ’s “dancing image” will be used on “a billion cans”. Sigh.
Animalistic fantasy creatures, a young hero boy, a white city above the clouds, giants and a flying pirate ship make up the visuals of Yoann Lemoine aka Woodkid’s new video. Using a very similar style of direction to his ‘Iron’ video, the new vid is another look into this talented producer/director’s vision. ‘Run Boy Run’ is taken off his new EP of the same name – out now.
