Is AI killing music's soul?

[00:05] All right, joining me for new episode of Power Players is dance music legend. I It's um is it really good to see you? I'm a big I'm a huge fan. I can't dance, but I'm a huge fan.

[00:17] >> Yeah. >> [laughter] what brings you uh out and about? What are you up to? >> I'm up to a whole bunch of stuff. I'm out in the streets. I'm out here.

[00:29] I have new music. I have a new tour. Um out here telling everybody what's going on. is like the iconic >> Yeah.

[00:41] school listening to that. It feels like in my head it feels like that. Um how do you explain that connection with a song like that after all these years? figure it out. Um but I you know, I thank God every day that I wrote that

[00:55] song, but there's something about that song that resonates. Um and I I can't even say it's the lyrics cuz everybody remembers the la da di la da da part. But there is a message to the song and I think that whole topic I've had these

[01:08] homelessness and what it means to people. Sometimes, you know, there's don't have a home, some people don't have a family, some people don't just feel like they fit in anywhere. So, I think a lot of a lot of a lot of that

[01:22] resonates with people when they don't kind of feel fit in. So, if you get into stories about that from people. full circle. Like I said, I grew up listening um to your music. And I didn't

[01:35] attention to the lyrics. I couldn't even There's really no internet when I was, where did that song come from? >> That song came from um I was writing and Basement Boys. And all I had was la da di la da da la da di. So, I used to do

[01:52] the melody first and put the lyrics in and I couldn't find any words with syllables that short that would fit that melody. So I finally sit there and I said, "Somebody's singing this song." And I remember this woman that stood in

[02:05] downtown Washington DC. She was singing gospel songs with a hat in front of her. And she had a full face of makeup, fully dressed. She looked fine. And I had this attitude, "Oh, she needs to go get a job. Nothing wrong with her, you know."

[02:17] story and told about how she lost her job and almost everything in a matter of days. And it just really changed my whole attitude about it cuz she was just like you and me. And the one thing that stuck with me was that she said reason

[02:31] why she had the full face of makeup and look good because she felt if she was should be respectable. And that just first line of the song is she wakes up early every morning because she cares.

[02:44] >> So as soon as you get that inspiration, was it you're writing the stuff down and >> Oh, back then? >> [laughter] >> No, back then I think I had I had rented a four-track TASCAM something and I got

[02:59] the I was in Washington DC, the Basement Boys lived in Baltimore. So I had to up there. >> When was that? >> That was probably '87. >> I see. I came across it like later. You

[03:13] the variant What was it? The the Jock Jams CD. >> '91? >> Yeah, so I would have to drive back and liked it. >> Uh-huh.

[03:26] >> That You know, it was exciting. I was doing what I loved. I wanted to be there. And when I sang Gypsy Woman, I just remember they just fell that fell out of the chairs. They just couldn't believe it. Cuz you know, you know, back

[03:38] in the air and kind of stuff. So I actually had written a song with meaning it. >> Do you know did you know you had a hit? >> No, I did not know I had a hit. You

[03:51] still have to remember dance music who's this dance music back then? Wasn't big. It was underground. Wasn't played on the radio. So, and I actually had started out being more of a jazz singer. I was doing like a Sade thing. So, I'm writing

[04:04] you know. >> [laughter] song, you know, maybe just in DC, Baltimore, New York being the clubs or something. I had no idea that it was going to go worldwide. I don't think I

[04:18] realized it until it came out in '91 and then like in that summer I had to get a passport. And I was [clears throat] >> Was it Was it um

[04:30] >> Um >> Like in in more of like a like more >> New York picked it up right away. >> Z100? >> [laughter] >> I probably cuz I I think I know KTU did.

[04:44] what I listened to. That's where I was. >> Yeah, so I think they've Once New York everybody wanted to know about it. And then the record label did their job. That's all I can say. I mean it was in places I could have never

[04:58] I've never heard of. So, yeah. >> Where did you Did you grow up around music? >> I did. I grew up in South Jersey. My life. I used to tour with him every summer. I

[05:10] love I love those memories. My aunt My great aunt is Ethel Waters who was a very famous singers. I mean Cotton Club singer, actress. She had like the first number one female black almost everything.

[05:26] So, and my and my uncle was Zach Zachary who played in MFSB in South Philadelphia. Love is the message, Soul Train. All those lead saxophones from those days. So, I was always around all that. I remember watching them listening

[05:39] to music and talking about drummers and this and that. So, my brother was in the band. We had one of those garage bands where they stuff. So yeah, I did. >> How um

[05:51] I caught the tail end of my life of Soul Train. Like I would watch Like how in >> Saturday morning. show to your career? And do you see something else

[06:05] out there like that now today? >> See, you touching on something I've been talking about. Um that was very important. The whole idea of dancing to the music, which you don't see anymore. You just see people standing there with

[06:17] the phones pointing at the DJ. And I really think that is missing. I really think that I think a lot of people feel that way. I know a lot of the newer >> Good. >> Yeah.

[06:30] They're hoping people will, you know, focus on the music and let that music that's really important. >> Has has the lines been blurred in dance music? I hear I see what you do and

[06:44] industry, but also like DJs. You know, DJs, you know, I go on to Instagram, Tik Tok, and I'm catching so many short clips of them playing your songs, but >> it's just it's a weird weird time. >> It was a little fun when I when they

[06:58] the singers was like they're making money playing our songs. Just like remixing your stuff. >> Where did I go wrong? I should be a DJ. um I have to commend them because they kept

[07:12] the music alive all these years and get they're introducing new people to it. Um so I we appreciate the DJs, but it is I I do is was one of the reasons why I do my radio show because the DJs are so prominent that you forget who the

[07:27] you know, announce songs on the radio show, I kind of give a background who's kind of balance it out a little bit. >> How has dance music years? >> Over the past few years? Um

[07:42] I see it as expanding and growing, especially, you know, you got to when I from '91 where it was not considered real music to now to see how it it has exploded. It has gone through these phases of the EDM

[07:56] and all that. Now house music is back and it's like bigger than ever and it's I read somewhere it was a $23 billion business now. And all the DJs are calling themselves house DJs now, which kind of

[08:08] kind of blows my mind a little bit. Um, so it's changed in that way. I'm very happy to see it. Um, I'm very happy. I'm hoping, you know, more lyrics and melodies come back, you know,

[08:20] dancing again. So I'm I have very high hopes for it. >> How do you capitalize on all the music, great music you've created, you know, in this world of Spotify, Apple Music,

[08:33] that you rightfully deserve? >> How do I get the credit? Well, I get I get licensing fees. >> Okay, that's cool. Okay, that's cool. the show. I mean, it's one of the reasons why I think I still tour and

[08:47] have a lot of shows. Like recently in the last couple years, you know, TikTok kids come and ask me if I'm going to sing that song cuz they they know me. "What song?" I was like, "What song?" You know, "The TikTok song." I said,

[08:59] >> [laughter] >> Gypsy Woman. So it it kind of introduces, you know, everybody to my music, you know, all that kind of stuff. And you know, like you you would Instagram people use my music for the

[09:12] reels and things like that. So it really keeps you kind of a going, you know? >> How do you explain that popularity with the TikTok community today 1991? >> I can't I can't.

[09:25] >> I don't know. I'm very happy. I think it's just a whole new generation and um, you know, I don't know. I I know cuz I cuz I I if

[09:37] and go >> It's relaxed. Yes, I like my friends watching this they're going to be even surprised that I I listen to your music and that and um that I can't dance. So like so I can't

[09:49] >> [laughter] >> very surprised. So you So you're out >> Oh yeah, yeah. >> How Are you writing new music? Are you >> Oh yeah, I've been putting out singles for the last 15 years. I have like his

[10:01] >> Mhm. >> So but I I I just been doing singles cuz it's been a singles market. And then just recently because of the resurgence of house music, I thought maybe this would be a good time to do an album.

[10:14] >> How uh how is the process of putting music together change? I'm bringing this I had a I talked to Wyclef a couple about a month ago at a conference and he told me he's putting out seven new

[10:27] albums. Like he's been working on I think about two years, but still across this, man? Um he's like, well, I'm using AI to help >> That's still a lot of work and a lot of

[10:39] >> Yeah, a lot [laughter] of stuff. >> I haven't gotten as far as AI. I'm I'm still on the on the line. But um I'm still I'm still you know, working together. Now it's all emails, links, Dropbox links.

[10:53] yes. >> Stems, emailing stems and things like >> Is it good though for Is it good though for music or is music losing a little bit of its soul? >> I I think as a creator it's good to be

[11:06] in the studio with the person you're creating with. I think there's something um a magnetism or something. The back and forth is what I I kind of miss. I know even when I go to record my vocals I have to have a a real

[11:18] engineer there. The sitting in front of the laptop and doing it yourself just feels a little soulless. To have that other ear that you know, two people um I think that's important to me. This for creative purposes.

[11:30] the world. Where nowadays are you drawing inspiration from to create your >> I'm drawing it from the new producers. I like I said with my podcast, I get a lot of new music and I get to meet a lot of

[11:42] stuff and they're just expanding the music more and more. I'm like, oh wow, reached out to a couple people and we're working together and it just keeps me going. You know, even when I hear bad lyrics, I'm like, I can do better than

[11:56] that, you know, stuff like that. So, that kind of, you know, gets you on your >> Can you Can you Where did la-di-da come from? Like I I I even come from? >> I don't know. I just I was just trying

[12:12] >> Mhm. >> And that's just And I was following this know the way I can explain it. It was going up and down and I was doing the >> So. >> Did you have like a favorite musician

[12:28] your music? >> I was the Jackson 5, Michael Jackson, Prince. Um I loved singer-songwriters. Um I know Gil Scott-Heron was I was a big fan because he was more of a poet

[12:43] but put it to music and I used to write a lot of poetry and I just used to love the play of words and stuff like that. >> Mhm. Interesting. Is there someone that, today that you are particularly keen on that you really

[12:57] >> I I have different Different times of the day I have I have styles of music I like. Like in the morning if I start off slow with some Afrobeats and then in the afternoon I like it a little more poppy. I do like a Tate McRae or Khalid radio

[13:11] station or playlist together. And then I like Charli XCX. And then in the evening I go more R&B or more urban. >> How do you You mentioned like shows and festivals. I mean, the whole industry

[13:24] has blown up. I mean, the crowd crowd sizes, you name it. Every show is packed despite the ticket prices being really super high. Like, how do you a show? >> Um the festival I I love I mean, you can

[13:40] from doing shows 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning in nightclubs. So, I'm very >> for the the scene that's kind of moved to the festival, the day parties. Um fantastic with the uh electronic screens, with all that imagery and

[13:56] live on Long Island, so I'm kind of near Jones Beach. these shows to life. I mean, I know KTU >> Yes. >> Um but the screen work it's just a

[14:10] >> Yeah. Yeah, I'm like with the DJs you kind of need it it gives you something >> But I mean, it's it's really a difference. Um I think when I do the festivals it's almost not as intimate though. I kind of

[14:23] >> Mhm. >> And I think um for me for You asked me how I prepare for a show. I always I mean, I still do the vocal warm-ups. I do all that stuff. It's more of a mental thing. And you're

[14:37] there and sending love out to everybody and seeing yourself having a great show. >> Cuz you got to stay focused cuz there's a lot usually a lot going on. There's a focused. >> How would you like What's your

[14:52] legacy you think in this industry? >> I hope I hope I was an inspiration. I mean, if you know my story it started out where people didn't believe in anything I did, that the music wasn't going to last, it was a fad, to still

[15:05] being here 35 years later. Just to be true to yourself and stick to what you >> Is it hard to have that belief when everybody's telling you no? >> Oh, very hard. I've learned to be my own biggest coach. It's

[15:18] The industry. They will They will tell you to build you have to and you're putting yourself out there to be judged constantly every day. So, you know, it's very hard to to stay focused. You

[15:33] have to do it for yourself and not depend on anyone else around you to do it can fade, it can disappear at any like having staying power in the in the industry to to navigate those peaks and

[15:47] >> I think so. You really have to be strong and believe in yourself. You really have do. Cuz I know as you've seen there's only so many people who have stayed. As you see, everyone has about three albums and

[15:59] >> And you've seen the artist self-destruct because it's just was too much. So, the people who are still around have have a very strong mental stance, I think. you, Alana. It was uh Yeah, [laughter] no, I just like I just seriously, I

[16:14] >> Tell your friends I said hi. >> Crystal Waters, thank you so much for doing this. I appreciate it. All right, Power Players. Appreciate y'all tuning in.