Brother Ali & Fashawn Interview ~ Part 1
We recently caught up with Fashawn and Brother Ali as they were kicking off their current tour with BK-ONE. Fashawn was getting ready to meet up with everybody for rehearsals and by the time we caught Brother Ali they had just hit the road. All three of which are touring in support of new albums. Minneapolis-based mc Brother Ali’s latest album is called, US. Fashawn’s is Boy Meets world. And BK-ONE’s is Radio do Canibal. We didn’t get a chance to talk to BK-ONE even though we would of loved to. Make sure to check out both interviews related to this piece. If you see them coming through your city, come out and enjoy the show.
La Famiglia – What’s different from this current tour from past tours that you’ve done in support of this album or other projects?
Brother Ali – We’ve already done something in the area of 70 shows supporting this new album. So, we’re rolling out again. These are all markets that we just haven’t played. Most of them are smaller towns. Most of them we haven’t played in a long time. Some of them we’ve never played before. This tour is about checking in with places we don’t come to enough and trying to find some new regular tour stops that we can add to our normal fall and spring tour.
La Famiglia – What from these dates in support of this album that has maybe surprised you or touched you in new ways?
Brother Ali – There’s not much that really don’t expect. But I really enjoy the connection I have with the people that listen to our music. The music I write is really personal. It’s my life. To perform the songs and have the people that have been living with this music too, it’s really good. It’s a powerful thing.
La Famiglia – What do you want people to walk away from your live show?
Brother Ali – I think most people say that I really embrace and celebrate who I am. I think that people come awayfrom the show feeling the same thing. Feeling good about who they are.
La Famiglia – What were some of your early influences in live performances that have helped mold your stage presence?
Brother Ali – In terms of live performance, it was KRS-1. I really patterned myself off of him. Over the years I have developed my own style of performing. But initially I would just bite what he was doing up in till I started touring. Up to then I was just trying to be KRS-1 on stage. I think he’s the greatest live MC that there’s ever been.
La Famiglia – Are there any issues lately socially or with society you feel are really important for people to take to heart?
Brother Ali – The new album, is really about being a human being and just registering the human element of the different experiences we all have coming from different parts of society. To talk about different experiences and different people, and walks of life. People that because society is so fragmented don’t know each other, and don’t have a whole lot of personal interaction with each other. To talk about these different scenarios and really focus on what it feels like for a human being to feel like to be in that situation. Because those feelings of pain and fear, joy and sorry, hate and love and everything else. Those are really universal.
BROTHER ALI INTERVIEW ~ CLICK HERE
Links:
Fashawn’s official Wesbsite
Brother Ali’s Official Website
BK-ONE’s Official Myspace
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