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Ever since I first heard the opening tide of strings on ‘Where Will You Be’ announcing the classic strains of a nurtured and timbred vocal on Benji B’s Deviation show, I knew we had to hear more about the artist known as Yaw. It turns out that our man from Illinois is no stranger to bills with kindred spirits like Eric Roberson or gracing theatrical stages performing in adaptations of works such as ‘A Raisin In The Sun’ or creating “Chi-Soul” with Ron Trent.
1. PLEASE CAN YOU GIVE A LITTLE BACKGROUND INTO YOUR UPBRINGING AND HOW THAT LED TO YOUR CHOSEN MUSICAL PATH?
I come from a West African household. Both of my parents were born in Ghana. They were very strict about education and discipline so music came out of me as a product of the gift that was given me by God. My parents also fostered in me a respect for the arts as I was a member of the Chicago Children's Choir and I painted and sketched in an art program when I was a young fellow but the sounds that come from my voice, the inflections, vibrations and movements have all been shaped by God. For some time I disobeyed my natural tendency towards singing: my inherent desire to create because of the insecurity and instability involved in being an artist (stereotypically) but on my path far too many times have I received confirmation from the random passerby that I am "doing what I am supposed to be doing" or "don't ever stop singing" or "you touched me this evening" to ignore the beatings beneath my chest. Even David Banner one evening came close to me and said, “As long as your heart is pumping, you should be singing..."
2. WHO WERE SOME OF YOUR GREATEST INFLUENCES IN REACHING THIS POINT TODAY?
The best class I've ever taken was this class entitled Improvisational Jazz. My professor, Fred Haas (who by the way is an accomplished jazz saxophonist) began every morning with each student improvising eight bars over a jazz song. I was one of the two vocalists in the class. Every other student had an instrument. This ritual cultivated a great deal of respect for the art of jazz, my instrument, music and my ability to be a viable participant in the culture. Mr Haas, I definitely salute! Nina Simone's fearlessness and unique approach to music I wish to embody in my stylings.
Also, Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder and Bob Marley have all greatly influenced me artistically.
3. HOW DO YOU SEE YOURSELF AS A VOCALIST AND ARTIST? WHAT DO YOU BRING TO THE GAME THAT'S DIFFERENT TO, SAY, THE BILALS, D'ANGELOS AND ERIC ROBERSONS OF THE GAME, FROM A LISTENERS' POINT OF VIEW?
Very interesting question to answer. I previously mentioned Nina Simone and commented on her fearlessness. I hope that I can project this in my music. I believe in taking leaps and trusting the intention of the sound (its desire to be heard). As an artist I believe in moving without second-guessing each brush stroke or discounting my use of this color or that one.
The basic distinction between myself and the D’Angelos and Bilals and Robersons of the world is that I rhyme. As a background singer for Eric Roberson we would freestyle on our way to the hotel or the venue but unlike him, I've added it to my repertoire on record… in the studio. I grew up in the hotbed of hip hop. She has nurtured me. And it is hard to ignore her. It is a must that I remember her contributions to my art.
In a recent project with the internationally known dj and producer, Ron Trent, and a phenomenal Chicagoan MC, Phenom, we've formed the group JMB, where we have spawned the genre Chi-Soul. The project at its core is a hip hop-based effort laced with soulful and melodic vibes. On this project one can find me crooning as well as spitting rhymes. It is where I am at my most free space artistically.
Moreover, I have a different voice and a different story. I go from R n’B to rock to hip hop to jazz all in one sitting. It is normal for me. No doubt, those artists have heavily influenced me but my story and how I tell it stand alone as its own tenement amid all the various artistic edifices around. I plug into a different box.
4. WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO BE AN ARTIST?
I am motivated by the need to change the scope of the airwaves. Far too many times have I been in the car driving my four-year-old daughter to school and I didn't have a CD so we rode in a silent vehicle to our destination because of the anti-art on the radio. There is a huge disdain for the cultivation of the listener. Huge disdain or no care. I am motivated by the need for the babies, my child to hear something different than "… outside peanut butter, inside jelly..." or "...she lick it like a lollypop..." There is a lack of responsibility on the part of the artist and the carriers of the sound (clear channel, etc) to pump positivity and reinforce progressive thought. The times that we live in require a move towards music that sonically persuades the listener to want to cultivate themselves and their community. Like Erykah says, we need to " ... Reboot, refresh, restart..." I hope I got that in the right order, haha.
5. WHAT INSTRUMENTS DO YOU PLAY? ARE YOU CLASSICALLY TRAINED OR SELF-TAUGHT? ARE YOU MORE A PERSON WHO GOES ON INSTINCT IN A TRUE JAZZ TRADITION? CAN THE AVERAGE
ITUNES ALBUM DOWNLOADER GET WITH THAT?
I do not play an instrument. I work with the first instrument – voice. I move very improvisationally. I guess I am a self-taught vocalist. I've shared my belief that I've been gifted but over the years I've picked up some things along the way that have shaped me.
6. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, AND SOUL ARTISTS IN PARTICULAR, IN 2008? IS THE QUALITY THERE? IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD AVAILABLE?
With the rise of piracy and the fall of album sales the industry is still hurting. I don't see how the tide will turn but I still think there are people that believe in good music.
At the forefront of the soul scene are big names like Erykah and Jill and Musiq, but the artists' I gravitate to like Bilal and Georgia Anne Muldrow and Bilal Salaam and Alice Smith I believe can share the same stage with the aforementioned artists.
What will create the turn? I believe the underground system is an important and viable culture that will bring our music back to the forefront. "Our music" is that music that is concerned with us. "Us" is Africans and Africa's descendants and her supporters. This music is concerned with the integrity of the rhythm, the marriage with the melody and the delicate nature of the lyric. Some of us are aware of this and others have no choice but to emit these ideals when we sing, when we play. Everything else is anti-art.
7. HOW AMBITIOUS ARE YOU? DO YOU SEE YOURSELF AS WORKING THE UNDERGOUND FOREVER AND RETAINING ABSOLUTE CONTROL OR ARE YOU WILLING TO COMPROMISE YOUR IDEALS IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE WIDESPREAD ACCLAIM?
I am the faithful mustard seed. I believe as I stay true to my craft, I will reap the benefits of it. There will be much opposition as there is a system set up to mute my voice or not give it the level that it needs. (For as much good music as Eric Roberson has created how many have we heard on the radio? How many singles have we heard of Bilal's?) Undeniable is undeniable. Unconquerable is unconquerable. The music will live on. And the truth will never hide from the masses.
8. IMAGINE I'M RICK RUBIN OR SOME OTHER INFLUENTIAL RECORD BOSS. WHAT THREE NEW ARTISTS SHOULD I BE SIGNING RIGHT NOW?
Yaw
Khari Lemuel (www.myspace.com/lemuelism – baadman)
Jocelyn
9. WHAT'S THE LAST ALBUM AND CONCERT TICKET YOU PAID FOR?
Erykah Badu and the Roots.
10. DO YOU HAVE A PLAN FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS? HOW TO PLAN TO EVOLVE AS AN ARTIST AND WHAT THINGS DO YOU HOPE TO AVOID?
Well I hope to be able to play an instrument other than my voice in a year or so. I have some releases with Jazzy Sport in June and a song on a Gilles Peterson compilation soon coming out. I would really like to do some dates overseas to expose a totally different market to my sounds and sensibilities. I am very interested in expanding my visibility and reach.
Keep checking www.myspace.com/yawsmusic for future updates, look out for Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood Bubblers 3, featuring YAW, and pick up the JMB releases forthcoming on Jazzy Sport.
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Words: AMAR PATEL
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