ANGÉLIQUE KIDJO Peace I Learned As a Child
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ISSUE #36 MMUSICMAG.COM ISSUE #36 MMUSICMAG.COM Q&A to deal with in a proper way for women to for him. He had to research what he could classical music was a sin. I remember when have space to be themselves. The rules that bring to a place where there is no electricity. my father brought it home I said, “What apply to men don’t apply to women. I am He was very excited by the project. is that? It’s boring.” But I fully embraced talking about the issues that women have classical when I came to France—and I such influence on, but are not given credit How did Vampire Weekend’s Rostam trained in classical techniques, and I came to for. In the refugee camp, they fetch wood Batmanglij get involved? listen to it more and more. My father was born and cook for the children and the men of the The first time I met Vampire Weekend was too early. The way he set up the house for us camp. In conflict zones, women are the ones four or five years ago at an event for Peter was free speech, music and sports. Sports who keep a sense of normality. Gabriel’s foundation, Witness, in New York. were big for us. I ran and swam. My mother They were part of the musicians who were said you have to work out to strengthen How do these complex issues affect playing. They told me they were huge fans your lungs. It really helps a lot. It helps me your songwriting process? of my work, and I said, “I’m sorry, I will sound build up the strength I need to be onstage. Every time I make an album, I am telling a very ignorant right now, but I don’t know who story. When I write a song I am telling a you are.” Then they went onstage and started Had you worked with this band? story, and it’s something I experienced or playing and I thought, “I know this song!” I I did my live album with Christian McBride. A something someone has told me about. knew the music, but I didn’t know them. They couple of years ago I did the soundtrack for These songs came from my trips to Africa, grew up listening to African music. They the film Battu and worked with Steve Jordan. but also from what happens around the are experts—they gave me goose bumps. Then we did the concert at the [2010 FIFA] world. Violence against women: What is I did my live album [2012’s Spirit Rising] World Cup in South Africa, because Steve this issue that we can’t talk about and make with Ezra [Koenig, singer]. I covered their was the musical director of the band. it something women don’t have to bear? song “I Think UR a Contra.” I did that song Forced marriage, where young girls are with him and put some African lyrics on it, Who would you love to work with? married to someone who is older than their and it worked perfectly. This time I wanted Aretha Franklin. For me, she was the first father, isn’t acceptable. Two songs on the something more instrumental for the track black woman I saw on the cover of an album. album deal with that. On one the girl says, “Bomba,” and that’s how Rostam came in. Before that, I saw only white ladies, or white “What about my dream, what should I do, who’s listening to me?” We need to listen Nabil Elderkin and speak about this. You sing in different languages. The thing is, the song often comes from a language. Sometimes inspiration starts from a smidge of a traditional song I remember. The song is linked to that memory. Like the song “Kulumbu,” which is a song about ANGÉLIQUE KIDJO peace I learned as a child. The only part I knew was “Kulumbu, yeah oh yeah.” So I African music’s premier diva celebrates the power of women wanted to write a song that comes from that. I wanted to write a song about the peace AFROPOP STAR ANGÉLIQUE KIDJO her autobiography, the aptly titled Guests on the record include women want. has been a force in African music for more Spirit Rising: My Life, My Music. The 53-year- Dr. John, who plays boogie-woogie piano Andy Sheppard/Redferns/Getty Images than two decades. With her new album, Eve, old singer and songwriter took to music as on “Kulumbu,” Vampire Weekend’s Rostam Dr. John connects the dots between she narrows her focus to capture the sounds a child, when her parents exposed her to Batmanglij, the Kronos Quartet, Nigerian American popular music and its African and spirit of African women. Produced by both Western pop and traditional African singer Asa, and the Luxembourg Philharmonic roots on “Kulumbu.” Patrick Dillett (David Byrne, Fatboy Slim), songs. She continued her music studies Orchestra. Kidjo spoke with us about her Absolutely, yes. And that’s the person he is. He is a man of peace. He loves women. Eve is a sunny, pulsing celebration of in Paris in the 1980s before settling in latest projects—and her dream collaborator. Onstage in London, 2012 the resilience of the feminine spirit, sung New York City in 1997. I’ve known Dr. John for years. When I told in various West African languages by Eve is named for both Kidjo’s mother, A new album and an autobiography: him about the album, he said, “I’m right women’s choirs from villages in Kenya and Yvonne Eve Kidjo, who sings the song Are they connected? there, because you women are the ones You recorded with ‘Every time I make an her native Benin. Kidjo doesn’t exclude the “Bana,” and also for the first woman: the Yes, because both are telling the story of who calm us and are always teaching us your mother. boys, though, and her stellar backing band biblical Eve. The album is about all women women. They’re linked, because I wouldn’t wisdom. Sometimes we are foolish enough I wanted to take that numbers guitarist Lionel Loueke, drummer but captures a human story, one greatly be the person I am today without my father, not to listen, and then it is too late. Then we opportunity while I can. album, I am telling a story.’ Steve Jordan, bassist Christian McBride, influenced by the Grammy Award winner’s who never stopped supporting what I say ‘Damn!’ and beat ourselves up.” My mother used to sing and Senegalese percussionist Magatte Sow. travels through African refugee camps as a wanted to do. Women’s places in the world that song for me when I was little. It was a men and black men. I saw her and I’m like, Last January, Kidjo also published UNICEF goodwill ambassador. are still something we have not been able How did you work with Patrick Dillett? song from her childhood in the Congo. My “What? This is possible?” My mother said, This was our first collaboration, and it was a father had the most wonderful voice ever. My “Of course it is possible.” I said, “Because great one. He would tell me this is better than father played the banjo—he and my mother she’s American it’s possible.” My mother that, and he prefers this done this way. He sang all the time. I grew up with traditional said, “No, every woman can do it.” Then ‘Sometimes inspiration starts from a smidge of a would play takes back to back, and I could music, and Western pop music from the Miriam Makeba came after and I thought, hear the difference. When we got to Benin 1960s and ’70s—Beatles, Rolling Stones, “That’s it. That’s what I’m going to do.” traditional song I remember.’ to record the women, that was mind-opening Motown, whatever was out there. I thought –Linda Laban 36 37 M mag 36.indd 36 9/12/14 5:16 PM M mag 36.indd 37 9/12/14 5:16 PM.