André 3000: Stop Calling It a Flute Album

André 3000 has a request: Please cease calling his newest undertaking a “flute album.”

On New Blue Solar, the rap genius does certainly play quite a lot of woodwind devices, however the eight-track ambient jazz set additionally options bells, chimes, keyboards, cymbals, piano, drums, sintir, a gong and a wind controller.

“The media has touted it as this flute album and I feel it’s a misrepresentation of the album. It’s far more than a flute album. They belittle it by calling it a flute album as a result of there are precise flutists which have made flute albums, like Jethro Tull and Paul Horn,” 3000 tells THR. “I feel it may very well be a turnoff to some individuals in the event that they assume, ‘Yo, he’s simply in a room enjoying this flute.’”

Whereas the media could have tried to place the undertaking in a field, the Grammys are singing its praises. New Blue Solar was nominated for album of the yr, greatest various jazz album and greatest instrumental composition; 3000 gained the highest prize in 2004 with Large Boi for OutKast’s Speakerboxxx/The Love Beneath.

Right here, the 49-year-old talks about getting Beyoncé’s approval after utilizing her title in a observe, how his love for the flute has bled into his performing profession, and getting the decision from Sade to contribute an album celebrating the trans group.

What’s it wish to see this album get Grammy recognition?

It says so much that someone’s paying consideration. I truly didn’t know that many individuals have been listening to what we have been doing. It’s humorous and attention-grabbing that it’s pitted in opposition to these extremely popular music varieties. We’re in the identical class as Beyoncé and Billie Eilish.

OutKast’s debut album got here out 30 years in the past; did you ever assume this sound could be your solo debut?

By no means. In my mind, I assumed it could be one thing fully totally different. I truly don’t even contemplate it a solo album. It’s a very new factor. At one level, I used to be contemplating if I’d even use the title André 3000. However then, I assumed it was attention-grabbing to indicate individuals in my style that you just don’t have to remain in a spot. For this album, I’m utilizing the identical system that I take advantage of after I produce OutKast songs. I’m messing round to seek out issues which can be attention-grabbing to me.

You play flute on the The whole lot In all places All at As soon as soundtrack — did which have an affect on this album, or have been you already on this flute house?

I used to be already into it. The fellows that have been engaged on The whole lot In all places All at As soon as, they’re like, “Hey, we’re scoring this film. Why don’t you simply come within the studio and play?” They usually took it and manipulated it and put it within the movie. It was enjoyable to experiment; I didn’t know what the turnout could be as a result of it wasn’t my undertaking.

Even with Displaying Up [a 2022 comedy-drama feature], which has flute sounds in it as properly, I used to be truly an actor within the movie, and after we had downtime, I might be enjoying on set. The director [Kelly Reichardt] was like, “I loved the music a lot, I needed to place it within the movie,” and so it got here naturally. They really made a personality within the movie that was a neighbor to one of many characters, this flute participant.

[When it comes to the album,] I used to be at all times recording or pondering on this means as a result of by that point, individuals had began filming me in public, sneaking Instagram movies and stuff like that. At that time, I already knew that I needed to discover a higher option to share it than these small little clips. It was at all times within the making, however I didn’t essentially know which means it could go.

“I Swear, I Actually Wished to Make a ‘Rap’ Album however This Is Actually the Method the Wind Blew Me This Time” opens the album, and that’s a real assertion, proper?

It was mainly true to life. As an individual who has contributed to rap for thus lengthy, after all I’d like to make a rap album. The additional I’m away from it, the lesser the truth it’s for me. I’ve gotten beats from different producers, I attempted to do what I’ve at all times achieved, produce my very own music, however I didn’t prefer it sufficient to current it. I’m pleased that it went this fashion. I want to do a extra vocal rap state of affairs and, hopefully, that’ll come. I really like rap music, it’s not a factor that I’ve turned my again on. I do really feel like, at this age, I respect it differently. I actually respect listening to what the youngsters are arising with in rap, as a result of it’s such a visceral type of music. I take pleasure in it when it’s coming from a really contemporary place.

How did you give you the track title “Ninety Three ‘Til Infinity and Beyoncé”?

The title was actually a play on phrases, simply referencing issues that I used to be into. Souls of Mischief, one in every of their most well-known songs was referred to as “93 ‘Til Infinity,” and that’s after I was popping out of highschool. That was one in every of my favourite rap tracks. Then I assumed it was humorous to place that along with a Toy Story proclamation (he begins singing), “Till infinity and past.” That was a factor that the character would say within the film, and I might say, “Why not Beyoncé?” It was humorous; it was a play on popular culture stuff. I reached out to Jay-Z and Beyoncé and requested if it was cool. She’s like, “Yeah.” So I used to be pleased.

You two collaborated on the 2011 hit “Social gathering” in addition to the soundtrack to 2013’s The Nice Gatsby. What do you bear in mind of creating these data together with her?

Actually simply being enthusiastic about working collectively as a result of we carried out collectively throughout the “Hey Ya!” occasions in England [in 2003]. That was among the first occasions I’ve met her, so with the ability to report, I feel we’ve at all times had respect for one another and been followers. To be reached out by Beyoncé, “Hey, are you able to get on this track?” I’m like, “Hell, yeah, you understand I’m with it.” Yeah, it was a cool musical household factor. I feel individuals from a sure period, we have now a kinship.

It’s attention-grabbing as a result of each of you’re up for album of the yr with initiatives exterior of your typical genres — her in nation and also you in various jazz.

I feel it’s an attention-grabbing time basically, musically. The way in which individuals course of music, the best way they get to it, the classes are a factor, however we’re all influenced by a lot throughout the board that it begins to blur traces. Even way back to Speakerboxxx/The Love Beneath, it was simply music I’m into. I come from rap, however yeah, why not do the sort of factor? Even Lil Yachty’s final album [Let’s Start Here] was an exploration of attempting various things. We’re at a degree the place there’s this cross-pollination. There are Black rappers stepping into nation music, so it’s so much happening. Persons are stressed and exploring. It’s at all times good to push and see what you may get.

Solely two rap-based albums have gained album of the yr on the Grammys: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill in 1999 and Speakerboxxx/The Love Beneath in 2004. What involves thoughts while you consider that?

It’s an honor to be acknowledged at any of these items. Coming from a rap type, I feel it does say so much concerning the Academy as properly, although these two albums, they’re not purely simply rapping, so that claims so much concerning the committee. It’s going to be attention-grabbing to see which fully rap album wins that award. When you consider Speakerboxxx/The Love Beneath, there was a complete facet of that undertaking that was not rap. Even Lauryn Hill, she’s singing; she comes from rap, but it surely’s melodic. It’s one thing else. It’s going to be attention-grabbing to see if that ever occurs.

In 2019 Infantile Gambino’s “This Is America” turned the primary rap observe to win track and report of the yr. Do you’re feeling just like the Academy is lacking the mark on the subject of rap dropping within the high classes?

I wouldn’t say lacking the mark, but it surely says what you’re into. Some individuals, they’re right into a sure style, and so many of the Grammy committee, it simply says they is probably not into quite a lot of rap. It’s what the committee relies on, however as time goes on and the committee will get youthful or there’s extra influences in it, I’m certain we are going to begin to see extra.

When was the final time you and Large Boi have been within the studio collectively?

Man, I don’t know. Who is aware of? Perhaps Stankonia, Speakerboxxx. Someplace round there. Even Speakerboxxx/The Love Beneath, they have been truly two separate albums that we put collectively on the final minute to turn into Speakerboxxx/The Love Beneath, so I can’t actually bear in mind the final time, but it surely was too many, a few years.

You have got a 26-minute observe on Transa, an album celebration of the trans group. Might you inform me about that track and contributing to that undertaking?

We have been reached out to by [the nonprofit] Pink Scorching and so they have been like, “Hey, would you contribute?” Truly, Sade reached out and requested would we be part of it? If Sade asks you something, you’re like, “Hell yeah.” We’ve been in touch together with her on another issues [André’s selling “Listen to Sade” T-shirts on his website], so we already have been speaking to her and her supervisor. This undertaking got here up and he or she stated, “Hey, I’m doing this undertaking and was pondering that it’d be nice in case you have been part of it,” and I used to be like, “Yeah. OK, cool,” and so we contributed in the best way that we felt what’s greatest. That’s the way it took place.

You produced for Aretha Franklin a couple of years earlier than she handed. What was that have like?

Humbling, lovely to witness. To be within the recording sales space, to listen to Aretha Franklin simply sing, I can’t clarify it. As a result of as quickly as she opens her mouth and begins singing, like, “Whoa,” that’s her. It was actually enjoyable to be requested to be part of that undertaking and to really be capable to go within the studio together with her, and to also have a good dialog together with her about music. I used to be pleased about that.

You have been on the current CFDA Awards with Erykah Badu, who earned the Vogue Icon Award. What’s it wish to see her get her flowers? 

We sort of joke, “Man, they took a very long time. They need to have been obtained to this conclusion. We’re simply pleased that it’s occurring.

This story appeared within the Dec. 13 subject of The Hollywood Reporter journal. Click on right here to subscribe.