Lalah Hathaway is the daughter of the late R&B icon Donny Hathaway—but she has certainly forged her own path.
Over the years, the native Chicagoan (who, at one point, lived on Lake Shore Drive and Irving Park Road) has released hit after hit, and seems to have found a gold mine with her latest CD, Where It All Begins (Stax), in which her rich, supple voice is on full display.
Windy City Times recently caught up with Hathaway, who talked about the music business, her father and her LGBT fans.
Windy City Times: Very rarely do I come across a CD in which I like every song on it. I've been humming "Small of My Back" for the past week.
Lalah Hathaway: That's wonderful! Thank you so much.
WCT: I'm curious about something, however: How do you choose what songs go on a CD? I'm sure you start off with more than 12.
LH: You know, I don't start off with many more than 12. Imagine you're at a mall. You see the clothes in the window. You know how you know what stores to go in and what stores won't work for you? It's like that for me. I'm very moved by music and what I hear; if I'm not moved the first couple of times, I'm not really interested. I should like it right away.
WCT: You know when it works for you.
LH: I do. I have a sense of how it's going to work out for me or even if it can work out for me. I sense these things almost immediately.
WCT: How is this album different from your previous one, Self Portrait?
LH: Most of that answer lies in time. Time and love make a difference. This one is a brighter record than I usually make so it's closer to who I am as an artist. It's a more well-rounded piece that comes with evolution and growth.
WCT: In the title track, there is the line "We all want a love bizarre." Was that a shout-out to Prince and Sheila E.?
LH: Absolutely. I love that lyric and I sing it in the same melody they do. There are a few shout-outs on the whole record; [for example,] there's also a Fleetwood Mac shout-out. There are all kinds of hidden things where, if you listen long enough, you'll go, "Oh!" I like to include Easter eggs and codes for people.
WCT: [Singer] Rachelle Farrell is on this CD as well [on the song "I'm Coming Back"]. How did that collaboration come about?
LH: She happened to come by one day when I was working and I literally put her to work, like she was in a shoe factory. We're good friends, and the sound of her instrument is just impeccable. I was really honored to have her on this record, and it's just a little piece but it goes a long way, doesn't it?
WCT: I have to agree; you two work really well together.
LH: She's one of the best of all time.
WCT: Who are some of your other favorites?
LH: Oh, my dad, Chaka, Stevie and Gladys I love. I also like Joni Mitchell, Kenny Loggins—there are so many singers from the last 30 or 40 years who influence my work and my art. I grew up with so much music on the radio.
WCT: You cover one of your father's songs, "You Were Meant for Me," on this CD. Was that cathartic for you, or was it easy?
LH: I wouldn't call it easy, but I'd say it was definitely comfortable. I think the way we recorded it was so classic, and we had my live band and we were at Capitol Records. It just felt so comfortable.
WCT: What is your favorite song by your father?
LH: Well, I don't have a favorite. It's like, "Of all your toes..." I think ["You Were Meant for Me"] happened to fit the body of work I was trying to create.
WCT: Going back to you, where does it all begin?
LH: It's really about the start—as a musician, recording artist and a person. After doing this for almost 22 years, to feel energized and invigorated about it is really a blessing. The music is easy, but the business is not always easy. I feel on top of it right now. I feel like I'm at the beginning of the potential of what I can do. I feel like I'm just at the start of the next 20 years, you know?
WCT: You mentioned how difficult the music industry can be. If you could change one thing about it, what would it be?
LH: Hmmm ... good question. You know how they say life is not fair? I think it's pretty fair; I just sometimes wish it was more obvious. It would be nice to have the opportunity to get in front of 3 million people and ask, "What do you think of this record?"
I think some people have that opportunity, to have that huge audience. I wish the playing field, in terms of exposure, was a little more level. But everything rises to the top in time. I don't begrudge anyone's success; I just wish the playing field was more level.
WCT: I know you're touring. Will you be in Chicago soon?
LH: I'm really trying to get to Chicago. It's not on the docket right now, but we should be there in the next couple of months. I just got to Nashville, and I'm going to Warsaw, Poland and Japan. I just came from Atlanta, where I taped the Soul Train Awards.
WCT: So what does Lalah Hathaway like to do when she's home?
LH: I'm a gamer; I'm into computers. I have a dog, and I love animals. I hang out with my friends. My life is basically preparation for my next gig.
WCT: Who would like to perform with?
LH: Sting, the Stones, Peter Gabriel. Some of them I have performed with; they're great. I'd really like to sing with Neil Young. I'd like to work with Timbaland and the Neptunes—to stretch myself as far as I can.
WCT: Who would you like to perform on a Lalah Hathaway tribute album? Some of the singers you just named, I assume.
LH: Absolutely, plus I know a lot of great singers. I don't want to name names because I'd leave someone out and that person would get pissed. [Interviewer laughs.] But, yes, I'd like to have the greatest of the greats on it.
WCT: You have a very large gay following.
LH: I know, I know. [Laughs] It's so crazy. I'm trying to figure out how to better service the community. I'm trying to do some club stuff and remixes. I want to embrace all my fans. I really appreciate that you said that.
See www.LalahHathaway.com for more information and for the CD. Where It All Begins is also on Amazon.com and iTunes.
