Interview: Raphael Saadiq – Singer, Songwriter and Producer - Page 3

Having spent two decades in the music business, what do you consider to be your greatest contribution to the musical landscape?

Well, my body of work has contributed to the development of a lot of different artists. Sometimes, when people hear a song, they don't really know that it's one of my creations. It's nice to be able to have that quiet piece of artistry that keeps giving.

Yeah, your name pops up all over the place! [laughing] Mary J. Blige is one of my favorite singers and you produced a track on The Breakthrough entitled "I Found My Everything." When you hear this song, is there a particular memory that comes to mind?

When I did that song, I think that's when I really found the sound of my album. I was researching the sound for my record. I did a record for Leela James that never came out, that I still have. And I did that song for Mary. Both of those songs came out sounding like that. I think the relationship between me and "I Found My Everything" is like I found what I'm going to do in my next album. 

Interesting. While listening to The Way I See It, I noticed that the executive producer slot was listed as "you, the listener." In what ways do fans influence your music? 

They've supported me for so long. I always felt like the executive producer was just a token - little bells and whistles thrown on records. You know what? The album is really executive-produced by the people who are listening and buying it. It's not really executive-produced by the person who furnished the money because they're not spending their own money anyway. I just felt like I wanted to give it to my listeners who listen to the record. Executive-produced by you because you're the one listening, you're the one making it happen, you're the one who comes to see me when I perform – kind of like that one thing I need to keep me doing what I'm doing. That's how it's always been from the get-go. It's kind of like when you start playing an instrument. In the beginning, you're not that good, but people look at you and they say: "Keep going. You sound good." My fans always gave me something and I always wanted to give them something back in return. 

It is rare for an artist to work behind the boards and inside the booth, so which part of the process – recording or performing – do you enjoy the most?

Article Author: Clayton Perry

Clayton Perry's mission parallels that of John Hope Franklin, Marcus Garvey and Carter G. Woodson. As the founder of the NUBIANO Project, Perry facilitates the design of projects that give voice to the Black diaspora, empower the Black community, …

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