Audio Chaka Khan
Funk This

MP3: Hey, Chaka. How are you doing? Chaka Khan: I'm fine. How are you? Good. So I want to talk about the new album, Funk This. What can you tell us about it? What would you like to know specifically? The process of making it, putting it together… It was brilliant. It was anointed, coming together with [producers] Jam & Lewis. One of the best things that ever happened to me. They get me. They trust their instincts. And they get me. And that's rare. Was it the first time you had worked with them? [My producer] Arif Mardin passed away earlier this year. He was the other person that got me. When he died there was nobody else till I met Jam & Lewis. The new album, it's about half covers and half new songs, right? Exactly. I know you do a Jimi Hendrix song. You do "Castles Made of Sand." What inspired you to give your take on that song? Because I love Hendrix, and that was sort of an educational attempt to educate some of the younger people to the greatest guitar player of all time. Absolutely. No doubt. And I know that, on the single I think it is, you work with Mary J. Blige. How was that, working with her? It's great working with her. She's marvelous. She's like a niece. Do you guys go back a ways? Had you done stuff before? Yes. This is the second release we've done. We've done some stuff, tried it out before. We did a few bills together, you know. Excellent. And are you going to be—I know you're doing a big show in L.A. later this month. Are you going to be doing a tour for the whole album? Sunday, actually. Sunday. Okay. And then touring? Yeah, I will start a world tour. I'll start doing some of it near the end of this year, and then I'll pick it up again probably in the spring. Nice. That sounds good. Because I'm going to be doing "The Color Purple" [play] this year. Oh, wow. For three or four months. Cool. That sounds good. Now, I know that—are you still living in Europe or are you living in the States now? Yeah. I live in London and L.A. What's the—I mean, I know that a lot of artists relocate overseas. I'm sure there are lots of differences, but what was it for you that made you move over there? What made me? I love the quality of life in Europe. I'm a Europhile. I just love the world. I love the planet, and the planet is my home, you know. I'm not, you know, like, stuck or grounded to any one place. I lived in Germany for ten years. I speak German. I plan to learn Italian. I plan to learn French. And, you know, I want to live on the planet. [laughs] Right on. And make it my home. That sounds good. Now, obviously, you know, you've been singing and making records for a long time now. You know, your career has gone on, you know, several decades. You've had hits across the board. You know, the music industry is kind of notorious for, you know, building people up and then, you know, cutting them down and spitting them out. What do you credit to your longevity in your career? I guess to integrity and to the love of my craft. Obviously you're working this album right now. Do you have any plans to get started on any other projects? No, I think I'm going to finish this one first. [laughs] Get it out there and let it do its thing. And work it. I've got to tour it, you know, along with the play. And I have a life, too, that has nothing to do with music. So I only, you know, do as much as I can. And when it's reached its zenith and it's time to do another, I'll go back in the studio. Then it's time. Nice. I want to talk to you a little bit about hip-hop. I know that, you know, your stuff has been sampled a bunch. You know, you've also, one of your biggest hits was working with Melle Mel. I know you did stuff on the "Krush Groove" back in the day. He worked with me. He was on my CD. Right, right. He worked with you. [laughs] For the record. What are your feelings towards hip-hop? Is it something that you listen to at all? Well, you know, some hip-hop I like. Some, I don't. It depends on the artist and what he's saying. I like Nas. I like people, you know, who are not into disrespecting people, and who are educators, you know. Who empower. Excellent. Well, I've got one more question for you and then I'll let you roll. You know, nowadays more than ever it seems like, you know, the kids today really they want to be artists. They want to be in the entertainment business. They want to be singers. They want to be rappers. They want to be stars. Everybody and their mama. [laughs] Exactly. What advice would you give, being that you've been in it for so long and been so successful? What advice would you give to the next generation? To the new artists? Please, first know that they have talent, that they can hold a note, or keep their job. You know, the post office is really hiring with good benefits. I would like them to get a little bit of education in signing contracts and stuff like that. You know, just to maintain as much of their artistic integrity as they possibly can, and to own as much as they possibly can. And so they can know the jargon that the people that are signing it are talking about, have a full understanding. Have someone to help them and represent them on their behalf who knows what they're doing, you know. And get a good lawyer. No doubt. That's important. Yeah, and do it for the love of it, not for the money. Right on. Well, listen, Chaka, thanks a lot for taking the time to talk to me. I appreciate it. And the album sounds great as always, and good luck with the tour. Thank you. All right. Take care. Have a good one. God bless.