If Outrun the Sky, your first independent release, was about coming into your own, what significance does Self Portrait have for you?
Self Portrait is about who I am as an artist. It is the first record I made front to back myself. I was involved in every aspect, from the production to the artwork to the musicians we chose. I had my hand on everything on every level, so the process allowed me to figure out who I am and where I am going as an artist.
Of all the songs featured, is there a particular one that you hope listeners will gravitate toward?
For me, from beginning to end, it is one body of work and it's hard for me to choose a favorite. I do think Self Portrait is my best record. It is the most concise body of work I have created.
You closed off the album with "Tragic Inevitability." There's a part of that song that says, "If we are truly fashioned by fate and modeled by destiny, then surely we must concede this tragic inevitability; what will be, will be." What life events sparked those lyrics?
The lyrics come from somewhere, but really the story is more about what it stirs inside of the listener. When you listen to it, what does it resonate within you? When I hear people talking about what they wrote about in a song, it kind of takes the smoke and the mirrors away from the listener's experience. It is more for me to find out what your experience is with it because somehow you relate to these lyrics.
Many traditional jazz and R&B artists have come and gone over the years, so what do you attribute to your longevity?
I don't know. This is what I want to do. This is what I aspired to do. It is what I love to do. I have always been a musician. When people say longevity, that really means, "How have you been able to keep making records?" I will always be a musician and the part about making records is just dumb luck.
Marcus Miller has praised your versatility in both jazz and R&B. What link do you see between the two genres?
Article comments
1 - Nicole Houston
Wonderful interview Clayton! Well done!