SWEET SWEET SOUL
by Jeff Lorez (Dejanu Music)
New York, March, 2006: In a music industry obsessed with hip-hop and youth, R&B singers who happen to be over the age of 21 and refuse to have
the latest and greatest hip-hop producer and rapper featured on their single tend to have a hard job getting major labels to take notice of them. For
singers who fall in to this category, it often helps to be able to be able to juggle more than one job. Baltimore native, Maysa Leak has perfected the
task of musical multi- tasking in recent years. In the U.K. and around the world she is best known as the lead singer of veteran Brit jazz-funk
aggregate Incognito, for whom she has recorded six albums and toured the globe. In the U.S., she may be better known for her solo albums
“Maysa” (1994), “What About Our Love” (’97),“All My Life” (’99), "Out Of The Blue" (2002) and the 2004 release, "Smooth Sailin.'"
With another global trek planned with Incognito much of the new year, Maysa has refused to let her work ethic rescind, recording a new album for
Shanachie Records, a label thus far best known for smooth jazz. Simply title “Sweet Classic Soul”, the new album is, as the title suggests, a
collection of classic soul covers by the likes of Stevie Wonder, (“All I Do,” significant because Maysa began her professional career with Wonder
singing back-up), Chaka Khan (“Any Love”), The Stylistics, (“Betcha By Golly Wow”), Rose Royce (“Wishing On Star”) and more.
While still true to the originals, Maysa’s covers tend to follow a contemporary, laid back format that is consistent with smooth jazz and adult
contemporary radio programming. Taking a doctor-ordered break from singing for a few weeks, to rest her vocal cords, Maysa openly discussed
her career, personal life, dreams and disappointments.
Q: Given the fact that you’re a strong songwriter in your own right it seems odd to find you’re doing an album of covers. How did it come about?
MAYSA: Shanachie Records approached me because I had done a record with (saxophonist) Kim Waters on his album for the label, “Day
Dreaming” by Aretha Franklin and they really liked it so they asked me to do a whole album. Danny Weiss (Shanachie C.E.O.) gave me a list of songs
and I chose the ones I wanted to do from there.
Q: What are your favorites? Are there any that proved more difficult than others?
MAYSA: I had a ball recording the whole album. “Any Love” by Chaka Khan was the hardest because I really respect her and I wanted her to really
like it so I felt the most pressure with that song. I wanted to change it up and make it my own so she would like it.
Q: How do you juggle both a solo career and one as the lead singer with Incognito? How do the dynamics differ for each of them?
MAYSA: I normally do my solo stuff when Incognito is on down time. When I’m with Incognito and Bluey (the group’s founder and band leader), I get
to be Bluey’s little sister. I don’t have any other responsibilities other than to just sing my parts. I’m really just the vehicle for his creativity. When I’m
doing my own thing, I’m the boss, I’m in charge and I’m creating and there’s lot more pressure. I love both ways. I’m very spoiled that way.
Q: Even before that, though you got most singers' dream gig, singing with Stevie Wonder.
MAYSA: When I first had an audition with Stevie Wonder that was such a huge thing for me. I thought that was how my career would keep on going
but it didn’t. It was just the start. When I was out there with Stevie I auditioned over the phone for Incognito. They called me over to England
immediately. From there I was on stage at the North Sea Jazz festival and Carl Griffin from GRP at the time came up to me and asked me if I wanted
a solo career. It’s just been going on and on and on. I’m just waiting for the next dream like sequence.
Q: What would that next dream like sequence be?
MAYSA: To blow up here (in the US) and be really popular and be afforded the opportunities that other singers are getting, i.e. working with certain
people, have the popularity, making the money and those type of things. I’d be happy to have Jill Scott’s popularity. I don’t want to type of craziness
that I can’t walk in a supermarket but I want the type of respect in the industry where I could call someone and they’ll take my calls. Where it’s not
such a struggle.
Q: What is the most personal song you feel you’ve recorded?
MAYSA: “All My Life” (the title track from one of her solo albums) because I’ve had this on going search for my husband, where ever he is. I want to
find the one, the one that I fall in love with and that will fall in love with me. I’ve had a few relationships in my life but I’ve never found the one. I’ve
been searchin’, praying, hoping to find him but as yet I haven’t.
Q: They say sometimes they key is to not look too hard.
MAYSA: I stopped looking, he still ain’t showed up! I said, ‘I ain’t lookin’ like y’all said. Now what do I do!’
Q: How was your childhood in Baltimore?
MAYSA: I had a great childhood. My parents were awesome parents. I had two very hard working parents. We were raised with a lot of love and
taught how to love other people.
Q: What were your earliest musical influences?
MAYSA: The earliest influence I had was my mother taking me to see Melba Moore when I was 6 years old and after that I knew I wanted to be a
singer. When I turned twelve-thirteen and was doing talent shows my friends were really supportive and believed I had a really special voice. I sang
songs that were popular at the time – one by Atlantic Starr…the title escapes me now.
Q: What was your toughest experience in the music biz?
MAYSA: When I had my son in Japan, where my water broke on stage when I was on tour with Incognito. He was born three months premature and
he had to stay in the hospital over there and I had to go home because I couldn’t afford to stay in Japan. Then I had to wait two months to go back
and get him. That was hell on earth.
Q: What about in life generally? Would it be that also?
MAYSA: The relationship between my son’s father and me. That’s what the song “Deep Waters” was about. I fell in love with him and I think he
loved me too but he was on and off. It wasn’t a good situation.
Q: I take it there’s no chance of a reconciliation?
MAYSA: Oh no. Never, ever, ever.
Q: Is he involved in his son’s life?
MAYSA: Not really, not at this point.
Q: How do you think English R&B & U.S. R&B differ?
MAYSA: For a while there I was getting worried because it seemed the English R&B was trying to be like the U.S. and changing its style. It was all
about the getting the hook in the first minute of the song and not about creative writing anymore or being an artist. I still think England has a hold on
soul music where it’s still coming from a pure place and I think that’s probably why we’re popular in England and Europe because we hold on to
those musical principals.
Q: What’s in your CD player right now?
MAYSA: My album, Will Downing’s new one and Fantasia’s
Q: What else are you up to at the moment?
MAYSA: I’m also working on a tour I’m producing called ‘Revenge Of The Underground Divas’. It’s an educational-based tour of quite a few singers
from my genre who have fan bases around the world but we don’t get the same kind of distribution or media attention that we deserve. We’re
gonna go on tour and talk to up-and coming singers about the art of singing, how to conduct yourself in interviews, how to dress, how to audition. It
relates to the art of singing. So far the people I have confirmed are Lalah Hathaway, Ledisi, N’Dea Davenport, Caron Wheeler and myself. We can
add different people like Amel Larrieux, Julie Dexter and others.
With a brand new album already getting rave reviews, Maysa just may have to change the name of that tour from 'underground' to 'overground'!
(c) 2006, Dejanu Music
|
