Well, they are part of the same blanket of music for me - which is soul music, which comes from African rhythms, and blues. It is easy to disseminate the music as a musician. As a person that listens to music, you can take any song and put any series of drum patterns under it and change it to anything. So you can make it a country song, or make it a blues song, or a Gospel song, or a jazz song. It is really about the rhythm and how you interpret it. I just have a real natural sense for soul music and so maybe that is what Marcus Miller hears. I am able to interpret things in different ways based on my feel for soul music.
If someone wanted to follow in your footsteps, what advice would you have?
I would tell them, "Don't do that." There are no footsteps. That is the whole reason the music industry and art in general - particularly in this country - is homogenized right now, because you have a whole lot of people trying to step into existing footsteps. Make your own footsteps.
In 1991, Natalie Cole released Unforgettable… with Love, which featured a digital duet with her father, Nat King Cole. If you could record a song with your father, which song would you choose?
I love all of my father's songs, but I don't know if that is something for me to do. It would be really hard - like of all your fingers, which is your favorite one? I think Natalie Cole did a great job at it, though.
I see. I only ask because you have been on a couple of collaborative works, in recent years, where you have interpreted other artists. I wasn't sure if there was a particular song you wanted to leave your mark on.
Maybe as time goes on. I do a lot of tribute stuff, so I recognize that. I have recorded a few of my father's songs, but I don't know if I would do the duet thing, though.
I'm sure there are challenges that come with traveling, having a career, and balancing that with your personal life.
Article comments
1 - Nicole Houston
Wonderful interview Clayton! Well done!