Belinda Thomas, one of the reps from TVMusic Network recently attended the I Create Music ASCAP Expo in Hollywood, California. The ASCAP EXPO is the place to connect you face-to-face with the world’s leading songwriters, composers, and industry experts, who are all part of ASCAP’s network of committed music creators, and here to help you guide you to greater success. The festival is for three days each year in Hollywood, California.
The legendary Chaka Khan spoke on a panel titled Generations. She was interviewed by LeToya Luckett. Luckett is an R&B singer-songwriter, actress, and entrepreneur who is best known as a founding member of the group Destiny’s Child.
Here is a recap from the panel.
Chaka Khan was introduced and recognized for winning ten Grammys, with the last two being for her 2006 CD “Funk This”.
LL: How do you balance your family and your music?
CK: Her family is just like every other family. They have happy times and drama. Her priorities were her children and now her grandchildren are the prize. She also stated that her own parents have always been really supportive of her, so she is very supportive of her children.
LL: What inspires you to write songs?
CK: Chaka stated that life aspires to her. She has to be inspired to write. She doesn’t write songs in minutes like a lot of songwriters. She usually writes one song every three months.
She also stated that she did not write “Sweet Thing” for anyone, in particular, she just said she did at the time it came out.
She also stated that she has an iPhone to use for text messaging stuff that inspires her when she does to write. She says that lyrics are the most important because it is the communication.
LL: What artist inspires you past or present?
CK: Marvin Gaye who she almost did a duet with.
Miles Davis said that she was the first person to ever sing with him.
Led Zepplin, Kid Rock, Billie Holiday, Miriam Macaba, Letoya Luckett (etc).
LL: Is there anyone you would like to work with?
CK: Stevie Wonder, even though he did write “Tell Me Something Good for Rufus, that they had never sung together. She also mentioned an Indian artist who she called Michael Jackson of India. Chaka then ask the audience to suggest anyone that they would like to see her work with. She told the audience to send her suggestions through her website.
LL: What do you think of music today?
CK: Chaka stated that she doesn’t listen to the radio at all. The lyrics for a lot of the songs need not be for kids and they should be censored. Censorship needs to be in music, especially where kids are involved. She also said that she is sober and that she no longer shows drunk or fighting or anything of negative drama as she has done in the past. However, she did say that she felt that finally music today is coming back.
LL: How does she prepare on a show day?
CK: Chaka stated that she relaxes in the morning and the afternoon. Her assistant Tony handles things. She does her warm-ups, screams, and prays. She said that she has a fear of being accepted. She said on stage there is a fear of being accepted during the first three songs before she can relax once getting the reaction of the audience. Chaka then asked Letoya what she does on show days.
Letoya stated that she also warms up her vocals, listens to vowels, prays and also zoning out.
LL: What advice do you have for new artists?
CK: Being in the music business means:
not fun and games
it is a lot of hard work
you forfeit your life
you satisfy your life with a microphone
you do not know if someone loves you or if they love Chaka Khan
you give up a lot
you need to think a lot
take courses in law basically to know how to read your contracts
read the fine print
She also said that she liked how new artists today now have their music belonging to them and not the record company so there is no more record company prostitution in her own words.
She also feels that big labels are on their way out and that artists are taking their music straight to the people now. However, she does think that artists should get paid for their music whether it be $4.99 to $12.99. A lot of it is being lost because of downloading.
LL: How do you feel about record companies no longer having artist development departments:
CK: She likes it because it is different. Nowadays you have to already be a “package deal for the labels. This is a better way to do it to her because it is your own. Before they would plan your image, songs, and even how you sing. She would be in the studio and they would tell her..”can you sing it more like so and so”? Her attitude would be “then why don’t you get so it so to sing it then” with a laugh.
She also mentioned how Kwane West asked her to sample his song and how much it meant to him. She said OK but when the final version came out she did not like it at all. If she did it again, she would like to hear the song first before it is out there. The song is “Through the Fire ” which Kwane West sampled on his song, “Through The Wire”.
LL: How does she handle writer’s block?
CK: Chaka said that she just stops because you can’t force it and that the best songs are written in two minutes.
LL: How do you feel about women in the industry and how it has changed?
CK: Chaka states that gender should not have anything to do with it. Looks play into a package, but you have to stand on your rock. All artists are asked to change into a package to sell but you have been strong.
LL: How do you stay focused?
CK: Chaka stated that she does not read the gossip columns, and she doesn’t read reviews since most reviews are frustrated artists. She is here to be a singer not to be judged.
LL: What do you think about being called a “diva”?
CK: Chaka said that it used to bother her, but now she doesn’t care. She rather spend the energy on something more important.
LL: What is your next release and when is it coming out?
CK: Chaka says that she does not have a current CD out at the moment. However, she does have a foundation for artistic children. She is planning a gala and have artistic children run everything. She wants to record a record with them and have them play on the record, engineer it, and orchestrated it.
She also mentioned that singles are different and are harder to get in the store now a day one you release them.
LL: How do you do your hair?
CK: Chaka says that she does her own styling which is good and at times has been bad for her. She likes to be comfortable. She hates to dress up.
LL: How do you relax?
CK: Chaka says that she likes to get a massage, do pilates (three times a week), cook, play with her grandkids, washing clothes.
At this time the forum was open to taking questions from members of the audience: Here are the questions and answers from Chaka Khan…
Audience question # 1 How did you like working with Arif Martin?
CK: Chaka stated that Arif was the 80s-90s # 1 producer. There is no one like him and the closest thing to him is Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. She discussed the song” Afraid of you” by Rufus. The audience member mentioned that he was working with David Gamson of Scritti Politti. Chaka asked where David was and if anyone has the first Scritti Politti record because she needs a copy and can not find one anywhere.
Question # 2 What is the difference in radio now?
CK: Chaka likes that musicians are being used now for songs instead of samples. She also likes that hip-hop artists are now having live bands.
Question # 3 What is your advice to an Indian singer?
CK: Chaka says with Slumdog Millionaire so hot she should have and be able to find some leads. She told her to wait for her afterward and she will give her some leads.
Question # 4 What kind of music do you like to listen to?
CK: Chaka said that lately, she has been listening to a lot of country music because their songs tells a story. She also likes to listen to jazz as well. She also stated that some of the early Rufus songs were country-style.
Question # 4 Do you like or sing gospel music?
CK: Chaka stated that she is not a gospel singer at all and can not sing it. She was not familiar with it growing up like a lot of people. She does like Fred Hammond.
As the Q&A was running low on time, Chaka had many requests from people who wanted to sing for her, work with her and more so she told anyone who wanted, to go off to the side after the panel and she would meet with people individually.
Overall this was such a good panel. You really got to learn a lot about Chaka. It was good to see someone of her status, not just professional but very down-to-earth and personal as well.
