Interview: Allen Stone – Singer, Songwriter and Producer

Date of Interview: 03/01/2013

© 2013 Clayton Perry

The music of Allen Stone pulsates with new millennium blues and reverberates with Gospel-infused fervor. On his self-titled debut, the rough, jagged and smooth contours of adolescent and young adult life are reflected in a free-flowing, introspective sea of sonic tales. Although born-and-raised in Chewelah, Washington, Stone’s music is “univer-soul” – tackling the highs and lows everyone must face along Life’s journey.

In the midst of extensive international touring, Allen Stone managed to squeeze some time out of his busy schedule and settle down for an interview with Clayton Perry – reflecting upon 20’s angst, “Satisfaction,” and pre-recorded music.

Interview: KEM – Singer, Songwriter and Producer

Date of Interview: 01/20/2011

In a world inundated with Auto-Tune singing and GarageBand beats, KEM has managed to create a space in the contemporary marketplace for his jazz-inspired music to thrive and survive. And since 2003, to the surprise of industry prognosticators, his first two solo projects – Kemistry and Album II – attained gold status. KEM’s third project, Intimacy: Album III, would become his best-performing album on Billboard’s Top 200 Chart.

Intimacy: Album III features “What Would You Say,” a heart-wrenching ballad that garnered two nominations at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards: “Best Male R&B Vocal Performance” and “Best R&B Song.” In preparation for “music’s biggest night,” which takes place a few days before the start of his headlining Intimacy tour, KEM managed to squeeze some time out of his busy schedule and settle down for an interview with Clayton Perry – reflecting on the decline of live instrumentation, the importance of authenticity, and his “ironic” signing with Motown Records.

Interview: Christina Perri – Singer, Songwriter and Producer

Date of Interview: 10/28/2010

When you wish upon a star, sometimes dreams really do come true. Such was the case with Christina Perri, who received nation-wide exposure – through no act of her own – on So You Think You Can Dance, when her song “Jar of Hearts” was passed on to Stacey Tookey, a choreographer for the show. And as is the case with all fairy tales, one thing led to another, and Christina Perri landed a last-minute replacement gig on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, which cemented her status as an artist to watch in 2010 and beyond.

In support her debut EP, The Ocean Way Sessions, which was released on November 9, 2010, Christina Perri managed to squeeze some time out of her busy schedule and settle down for an interview with Clayton Perry – reflecting on the musical influence of her brother, the video treatment for “Jar of Hearts,” and the steep learning curve in the aftermath of her Jay Leno appearance.

Interview: Hope – Singer, Songwriter and Producer

Date of Interview: 10/19/2010

Considering the focus and direction of artists in the contemporary music landscape, what the world needs now is a little bit of “Hope.” And while it may be standard practice for music lovers to be inundated with sexual imagery and care-free lyrics, should one search hard enough, they will no doubt find a rare alternative: the proverbial “diamond in the rough.” Last year, in 2009, Atlantic Records found their precious gem in Los Angeles, California. (Perhaps the old saying is true: “Hope springs eternal.”)

With song placements in Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married? (“Who Am I To Say”), P.S. I Love You (“Fortress”) and MTV’s “The City,” Hope has steadily increased her exposure behind-the-scenes. In fact, her first single, “Love Love Love,” captivated Jason Mraz so much that he sought a collaboration with Hope, in order to be a guest feature on the track!

In preparation for her 2011 self-titled debut, Hope managed to squeeze some time out of her busy schedule and settle down for an interview with Clayton Perry – reflecting on her move from New York City to the “City of Angels,” the inclusion of “The Rain Don’t Last” in the American Red Cross’ PSA for Hurricane Katrina, and the lasting impact that she “hopes” her music will have on the world.

Interview: John Legend – Singer, Songwriter and Producer

Date of Interview: 09/17/2010

In less than a single decade, John Legend has made a mark upon the music industry that will never be erased. As a six-time GRAMMY Award winner, Legend has garnered respect not only for his chart-topping singles and smooth, velvety vocals, but he has also become one of the last mainstream vanguards of contemporary soul music. From Get Lifted, his 2004 debut, to Wake Up, (2010), his innovative collaboration with The Roots, John has blurred the lines of hip-hop, soul and inspirational music with seemingly little effort.

Outside of the world of music, John Legend has become well-known for his philanthropic efforts as well. In 2007, he started the “Show Me Campaign” and partnered with The Gap’s “Project Red” initiative. In the year that followed, he would also become heavily active in President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign, where his performances of “If You’re Out There” and “Yes We Can” at the Democratic National Convention stood out as classic moments in our nation’s socio-political history. More recently, Legend has lent his celebrity and support to Harlem Village Academies, which was created to change the lives of children – and to change the world.

As Columbia Records’ promotional machine revved up for Wake Up, John Legend managed to squeeze some time out of his busy schedule and settle down for an interview with Clayton Perry – reflecting on childhood inspirations, America’s “invisible” population, and members of the Roots collective.

Interview: Macy Gray – Singer, Songwriter and Producer

Date of Interview: 06/16/2010

Macy Gray may be many things, but she’s a far cry from being a “sell-out.” Since her 1999 debut, she has pushed the envelope on commercial expectations and limitations on artists within the music industry complex.  And unintentionally, whether Macy knew it or not, her brilliant distinctiveness challenged music lovers – at the very same time – to recognize that the “beauty in the world” around us comes in varying shapes, sizes, sounds, and colors.

The Sellout stands as the fifth studio album in Macy Gray’s decade-plus career.  In the midst of a promotional tour for the album, the singer managed to squeeze some time out of her busy schedule and settle down for an interview with Clayton Perry – reflecting on marketing struggles, her purpose as an artist, and age discrimination within the music industry.

Interview: Hal Linton – Singer, Songwriter and Producer

Date of Interview: 06/14/2010

Hal Linton is the latest musical export from the island of Barbados.  Following in the footsteps of Rihanna (Def Jam Recordings), Shontelle (Universal Motown), Livvi Franc (Jive Records), Jaicko (Capitol Records), Rupee (Atlantic) and Vita Chambers (Universal Motown), Linton is preparing his solo debut, Return to the Future, after garnering critical acclaim in his home country.

This summer, as part of Hal Linton’s introduction to American audiences, he will be accompanying Anthony Hamilton, Kem, Jaheim, Raheem DeVaughn and Abraham McDonald on Budweiser’s 2010 Superfest Tour. Before hitting the road, however, Hal Linton managed to squeeze some time out of his busy schedule and settle down for an interview with Clayton Perry – reflecting on the influence of Raphael Saadiq, the details of his initial contract with SRP, and the key reason he loves to experiment with music.

Interview: Kelly Price – Singer and Songwriter

Date of Interview: 05/25/2010

Long before Kelly Price became a fixture on R&B radio, she slowly developed a reputation behind-the-scenes as the “Queen of Hip-Hop Hooks.” Although her professional resume includes backing vocals for R&B staples, like Faith Evans (Keep the Faith), Whitney Houston (My Love is Your Love) and Mariah Carey (Dreamlover, Music Box, Merry Christmas, Daydream, Butterfly and Charmbracelet), she could also be found on tracks from Puff Daddy (No Way Out and Forever), Jay-Z (In My Lifetime) and the Notorious B.I.G. (Life After Death). In the wake of Christopher Wallace’s phenomenal posthumous success, with the blockbuster “Mo’ Money Mo’ Problems,” Kelly found herself poised to move from the background into the spotlight – once and for all.

Since the release of her 1998 debut, Soul of a Woman, Kelly Price has maintained a sizable – and faithful – fan base within the secular and Gospel arenas. After a four-year break, Price is finally ready to unveil her sixth solo project, Kelly, which is set for release on My Block Records.

During a promotional campaign for “Tired,” her emotional truth-telling lead single, Kelly Price managed to squeeze some time out of her busy schedule and settle down for an interview with Clayton Perry – reflecting on shifts in the contemporary music landscape, her two bouts of homelessness, and important lessons she has learned on the publishing side of the music business.

Interview: Janelle Monáe – Singer, Songwriter and Producer

Date of Interview: 05/21/2010

The musical work of Janelle Monáe cannot be easily defined or categorized.  And while such tasks have grown in importance on the business side of the equation, the only issue that concerns Monáe is that she remains fearless in her music-making.

Bridging (and blurring) the categorical lines that separate music lovers, Janelle has created a debut album for the ages, which masterfully pushes the limits of “rock and soul” music.  And at the age of 24, as a byproduct of the hip-hop generation, the spirit of innovation flows through her blood, and her music, too.

On May 18, 2010, Janelle Monáe released the follow-up to her critically-acclaimed EP Metropolis: The Chase Suite (Special Edition), which featured the GRAMMY-nominated singles, “Many Moons.”  In the midst of a promotional campaign for The ArchAndroid, the singer managed to squeeze some time out of her busy schedule and settle down for an interview with Clayton Perry – reflecting on her early experiences at American Musical & Dramatic Academy, her emotional attachment to “Smile,” and the kindred spirit she shares with Erykah Badu.

Interview: Corinne Bailey Rae – Singer, Songwriter and Producer

Date of Interview: 03/05/2010

After the massive, slow-burning success of Corinne Bailey Rae in 2006, there is no denying the singer’s influence on the current crop of British chanteuses. As the recipient of GRAMMY nominations for “Best New Artist,” “Song of the Year,” “Record of the Year” and “Album of the Year,” she blazed a musical trail in America that has been well-traveled by several of her contemporaries: Amy Winehouse (2008), Adele (2009) and Estelle (2009), in particular.

Four years later, with international sales hovering above four million, Corinne Bailey Rae has returned to the music scene with her sophomore project, The Sea.  In support of the album, Corinne will begin her North American Tour in Los Angeles, California, on April 6, 2010.

Upon the release of The Sea, Corinne Bailey Rae managed to squeeze some time out of her busy schedule and settle down for an interview with Clayton Perry — reflecting on her recording experience at Limefield Studios, her classical music background and her love of “the blues.”