Rahsaan Patterson Interview with NewNowNext

 

The Bronx-born Rahsaan Patterson made a name in the music biz long before he released his solo debut in 1997: He starred in Kids Incorporated back in the day and even penned songs for the likes of Brandy and Tevin Campbell.

Now on his fourth album, Wine & Spirits, Rahsaan is bringing his style of neo-soul to a larger audience - including you LOGO-lovers: the sensual sounds of the record's lead single, "Feels Good" (watch it below), premiered on NNN this summer.

 

 

Check out the Q&A with Rahsaan after the jump : hear about his Chaka Khan inspiration and crazy times with Fergie and Mario Lopez from those Incorporated days...

 

So I watched the "Feels Good" video, but I understand it's a different edit just for LOGO?

Well, this one's much more open, sexually; there’s a brief glimpse of two girls in a car who are about to kiss. So you know - it really isn’t that deep - it was an attempt to broaden the scope of the video, the whole aesthetic.

But nothing’s ever been quite as racy as “Justify My Love,” so…

So you wanted to include some gayness in your video?

It was something that I found to be quite natural, just in terms of producing a video that was reflective of a song and the pleasures of love and - you know, that's one aspect of what makes people feel good - their sensuality, their sexuality, and their partners, their love for partners.

But those kinds of approaches don't always sit well with like ... BET or Vh1. You know what I'm saying? So it's just a great outlet to have a station like LOGO, who just supports the reality of life.

 

 

How is the music industry for gay artists these days? Like you said certain stations would still pass on things with gay content...

Well, there are more people in positions of power at these stations whose sexuality is quite open, and some of them being homosexual, or whatever you want to call them, they're making it a bit easier for artists who just make good art to be seen and heard.

And times are changing and evolving, and I think it's only necessary that it does. It's inevitable, you know? For me, it's not about being "the gay artist"; I'm an artist. And that's a point I'm always trying to make clear: There have been tons of artists over time who've had relationships with men, with women, straight, gay, whatever - and you just want to be known as the artist that you are. Of course the impact that you make and the people that you touch, and what you stand for are very important...

So I read Chaka Khan is a major source of inspiration for you and that she's also been your mentor.

Well, I'm actually going to Switzerland and performing at the Montreux Jazz Festival, which she's performing at. Her performance is Chaka Khan and Friends, so she invited me to perform that night, and the next night, she and I both will perform with Quincy Jones at a tribute for him.

Have you performed with her before? I know you know her...

I've actually toured with her and with her band, Rufus, when they had a reunion tour back in 2001. And I opened for them and for Earth, Wind and Fire, which was an amazing time. I've grown up with those artists and have been influenced by them, so to open for them and to tour with them, that was really special.

 

 

How did you first meet her?

I met her back in 1995 on my 21st birthday, which was unbelievable for me on that night. I had always kind of known that I would meet her then ... 'cause I guess I envisioned in my mind I wanted it to happen on my 21st birthday and it did. But I was introduced to her by one of her backup singers at the time named Penny Ford, who was in the group Snap! I've Got The Power, and she introduced me to Chaka one night at an Ella Fitzgerald tribute here in L.A.

And from that moment on, we've just been close, and I love her to death. She's one of the best people in the world.

Were you starstruck when you first met her, though?

No, not starstruck - only because she's not that kind of person. She's got a very strong presence, but she's very down-to-earth, extremely nurturing. And she's a people person; she likes people, and she likes to talk to people and to help people ... and she shares a lot of herself with the people she lets in.

Has she helped you with your career or even in your personal life?

Oh, definitely. Career-wise, one of the first things she told me was, When you go on the road and you have a band, you pay for what you want. It's quite costly to travel with a lot of people, but if that's how you want your music to be presented and you have to pay for it, it's always worth it. So that was something that I took and I followed, because when my first album came out in '97, I had, like, a 10-piece band. And a lot of it had to do with my level of discomfort being on stage by myself, so I wanted to fill up that space with people ... in addition to presenting my music live like it was on my record, because I had a lot of live instrumentation on the record.

But over the years, you learn to cut costs and grow more comfortable with what you know how to do. So, now my band's much smaller than when it started ... so that was wisdom she gave me, and it was very well worth it.

And personally, when my dad died she called me - and this was around the time when we would see each other off-and-on, and I hadn't seen her in a long time. But she had gotten word my father had passed away and, probably the day after, she called me. That really meant a lot to me, because she didn't have to do that ... but in her mind, she did. It was very comforting and nice to know that she cared that much.

 

 

So I know this was a long time ago, but can we talk about when you were on Kids Incorporated?

Sure. The Gayest TV Show of All Time. [laughs].

Wait ... it was? Why?

Just looking back, a lot of people we had working with us - the adults: the costumers, choreographers, you know! - a lot of lesbians and gay people were producing the show. It was a great environment to be in, because it was very free and creative. As a kid, that's just what you love to do: you love to be free and creative. I was fortunate enough to have that opportunity at 10-years-old: to be amongst other kids who were talented, who were crazy out of their minds [laughs] - and to be put into a situation where we were with adults who were creative and crazy out of their minds ... but a bit more controlled.

So they guided us and believed in us and directed us and helped to develop the adults and the artists we are now.

So you would say you're able to be more crazy and creative in the gay community?

Well, I would be crazy and creative regardless of whatever environment I'm in. It's kind of obvious that ... the more creative you are, the more open you are to sexuality. And great art kind of gravitates toward those people who are free-thinkers. So if that's what gay is, then that's fabulous.

 

 

So did you and Fergie ever do anything crazy together?

Oh, we were just wild! We did many crazy things - myself, her, Martika, Mario Lopez - we were just crazy kids who only had to do three hours of school a day. [laughs]. We were just being free and singing and dancing and bouncing off the walls ... pretty much.