Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Andr 3000 at Berklee: Respect Your Taste-Thats All You Got

31/10/2024

Andr 3000 at Berklee: Respect Your Taste-Thats All You Got On tour for New Blue Sun, the iconic artist and his band sat down for a sprawling conversation on staying excited about music, trusting your instincts, and-what else-flutes.

By

John Mirisola

October 31, 2024

Andr 3000 spoke to students at the Berklee Performance Center.

Image by Elizabeth Friar

Any time Andr 3000 shows up, you know youre in for a treat. Whether a classic Outkast song drops at a party, or the artist lends a perfect cameo to a Beyonc or Frank Ocean track, or he delivers a killer portrayal of Jimi Hendrix in a 2014 biopic, or he plays a flute in a caf while he waits for his coffee, or he releases an ambient jazz opus called New Blue Sun, Andr Benjamins appearance commands-and rewards-our full attention.

Students at Berklee got to relearn this basic fact of modern life this week when Andr 3000 stopped by the Berklee Performance Center on Tuesday before his performance at the Wang Theatre on Wednesday. He and his band sat down with moderator Lil John Roberts for a wide-ranging conversation sponsored by the Berklee Career Center.

Much of the conversation centered on this latest act in Benjamins musical career, in which hes picked up the flute (or, well, many tens of different flutes, wooden and digital), and turned to atmospheric soundscapes-diving headfirst into the ethereal, spiritual, and avant garde, as Berklee student Fulano Librizzi put it in his introduction before the band took the stage.

Listen to the first track from New Blue Sun:

The world needed [this kind of record], said Roberts in his opening remarks. The world needs healing. They need the positivity, the high vibrations, with all thats going on right now.

Benjamin credited those bandmates-producer and percussionist Carlos Ni o, keyboardist Surya Botofasina, and drummer Deantoni Parks BM '03-for collaborating with him to bring about his new sound. These people here on stage are really responsible for helping me to get to that place, he said. Its the first time that Ive been in a serious collective where everybody was popping at the same time.

During the hourlong panel, Andr 3000 and his band answered student-submitted questions about Benjamins artistic journey and the production of New Blue Sun, their approach to creativity and originality, the bands practice of spontaneous composition, and much more. Read on for highlights from their conversation.

On the Evolution from Rap to New Blue SunIn response to the notion that this new album was a reinvention of his artistic image, Benjamin clarified, It was 17 years since the last time people really caught a full body of work [from me]. So what may appear to be a reinvention is really just a continuation for me.

Im just happy to be a part of it, he said about the new album. I think it just came at a perfect time. Of course I selfishly just enjoyed it-just the way it sounded. It wasnt a big plan or anything. It was just what was happening in my life, just the same way Speakerboxxx or Stankonia or ATLiens, any of those things . . . they were never planned-out situations. So Im just sticking with the same formula Ive always stuck with, and it happened to take me in this direction . . . where I was able to meet individuals that pushed me in a certain way, invited me into worlds they created.

At the same time, the compositional method for the album was in sharp contrast to some of Benjamins earlier work. I started producing for Outkast at the ATLiens album. I would sit down and go through records, I would go through playing instruments, sampling myself, and it was more constructed. And Im an only child, so I would spend a lot of time by myself with the drum machine, or with the ideas first, and then I would bring it to the studio for Big Boi to check out. . . . When I met Carlos Ni o, he introduced me to a way of recording that was completely in-the-moment. There was no other way to think outside of that. And that opened up a whole new world of things. . . . Thats how we recorded this album.

How Andr 3000 Fell in Love with the FluteThe continuation-not reinvention-of Benjamins artistic identity was spurred, in large part, by the discovery of his love for the flute. From the very first day that I got my first flute [a wooden Maya flute made by the craftsman Guillermo Martinez], I just found myself never putting it down, and waking up really getting excited to play, he said. He would wander around and play, hearing the way the sound moved through his surroundings-it sounds so great in nature, or in spaces where you get reverberation off the hallway, so it was always kind of a quest to walk around and play. . . . I would do it daily for years.

However: New Blue Sun is not a flute album. We do so many other things on the album besides play the flute. I think because Im not rapping on it, they say, Well this is a flute thing. . . . People lean into the flute thing a lot more than they should, because its a vast array of sounds.

To Stay Original, Stay Excited

Left to right: Andr 3000, Carlos Ni o, Surya Botofasina, Deantoni Parks, Lil John Roberts

Image by Elizabeth Friar

When asked how he keeps his music original and unique at a time where making music feels formulaic Benjamins response was simple: I have to enjoy what Im doing. Plain and simple. I just try to keep myself excited with what Im doing. And that leads to exploration, trying to find new ways to do it, trying to find new things to keep yourself excited.

If its coming from your heart, added Ni o, if youre feeling it-whatever form it takes-if you love it, thats it.

Botofasina also commented on the value of dispelling a negative, critical outlook on others music: A great way to not become formulaic is not to be a critic of others who are trying . . . Be a fan of music who happens to be at an instrument; or use your own pers
LINK: https://www.berklee.edu/berklee-now/news/andre-3000-berklee-panel...
See more stories from berklee

More from Berklee

31/10/2024

Andr 3000 at Berklee: Respect Your Taste-Thats All You Got

Andr 3000 at Berklee: Respect Your Taste-Thats All You Got On tour for New Blue Sun, the iconic artist and his band sat down for a sprawling conversation on ...

31/10/2024

Reggaeton's Underdog Story' Told Through Daddy Yankee's Docuseries

Reggaeton's Underdog Story' Told Through Daddy Yankee's Docuseries Wayne Marshall discusses the importance of Reggaeton: The Sound that Conquered...

31/10/2024

Why Were Not Afraid to Love Scary Music (Plus 13 of the Best Horror Film Scores)

Why Were Not Afraid to Love Scary Music (Plus 13 of the Best Horror Film Scores) Faculty composer Ryan Page discusses the appeal of scary movies and what make...

30/10/2024

Billboard Names Berklee College of Music and Berklee Valencia to Its 2024 Top Music Business Schools List

Billboard Names Berklee College of Music and Berklee Valencia to Its 2024 Top Mu...

29/10/2024

Africana Studies Division to Induct Kid 'n Play into Berklee's Hip-Hop Hall of Fame

Africana Studies Division to Induct Kid 'n Play into Berklee's Hip-Hop H...

29/10/2024

Latoya Lee Brings Industry Expertise and Connections to Berklee Career Center

Latoya Lee Brings Industry Expertise and Connections to Berklee Career Center Berklee's new director of industry and employer engagement has worked on pla...

26/10/2024

Africana Studies at Berklee to Induct Kid 'n Play into Berklee's Hip-Hop Hall of Fame

Africana Studies at Berklee to Induct Kid 'n Play into Berklee's Hip-Hop...

25/10/2024

Beloved Genre-Benders Karate Make a Fitting Comeback

Beloved Genre-Benders Karate Make a Fitting Comeback Its one of the decades feel-good music stories: How the legendary alumni acts rediscovery led to rereleas...

25/10/2024

Berklee Presents Holiday Extravaganza: Duke Ellingtons Nutcracker Suite and Christmas Vibes Featuring Warren Wolf

Berklee Presents Holiday Extravaganza: Duke Ellingtons Nutcracker Suite and Chri...

24/10/2024

Michael Shinn Named Executive Director of Boston Conservatory at Berklee

Michael Shinn Named Executive Director of Boston Conservatory at Berklee Shinn, who served as the Conservatory's dean of music for six years, has been int...

23/10/2024

Berklee Celebrates Annual BMI Day with Acclaimed Composer Mychael Danna

Berklee Celebrates Annual BMI Day with Acclaimed Composer Mychael Danna Berklee's Sean McMahon and BMI's Tracy McKnight presented the BMI Film Scoring...

22/10/2024

Lauv Inspires Berklee Students with Authenticity and Chart-Topping Success

Lauv Inspires Berklee Students with Authenticity and Chart-Topping Success Pop sensation Lauv shares insights on creativity, vulnerability, and overcoming the...

22/10/2024

Applications Open for Next Jazz Legacy 2025 Cohort

Applications Open for Next Jazz Legacy 2025 Cohort Backed by a $1.25 million Mellon Foundation grant, the initiative from New Music USA and the Berklee Instit...

22/10/2024

This Rihanna Song Has Secret' '80s Easter Eggs

This Rihanna Song Has Secret' '80s Easter Eggs The SOS songwriter revealed a nostalgic twist to the lyrics, and it's going viral on TikTok. By...

19/10/2024

Middle Eastern Music Festival to Celebrate the Music of Georgia

Middle Eastern Music Festival to Celebrate the Music of Georgia The annual event returns with performances from flagship ensembles and special guests artists ...

19/10/2024

Sphere Announces a Second Location Planned for Abu Dhabi

Sphere Announces a Second Location Planned for Abu Dhabi Berklee Abu Dhabi comments on the plans for the new venue, which is in partnership with the Departmen...

18/10/2024

Berklee Announces Leon V. Rosenberg Presidential Scholarship in Jazz Studies

Berklee Announces Leon V. Rosenberg Presidential Scholarship in Jazz Studies This permanently endowed scholarship honors the legacy of Leon V. Rosenberg, a pa...

18/10/2024

Berklee Alum Aliyah Khaylyn Wows The Voice Coaches with Tamar Braxton Song

Berklee Alum Aliyah Khaylyn Wows The Voice Coaches with Tamar Braxton Song The recent alums version of Braxtons Love and War for her blind audition left Micha...

12/10/2024

Why Recession Pop Is Hot-Even When Its Not a Recession

Why Recession Pop Is Hot-Even When Its Not a Recession Discover why fans turn to party anthems during times of economic crisis-or just when the vibes are off....

11/10/2024

Berklee Announces Gail Wilson as Vice President of Finance

Berklee Announces Gail Wilson as Vice President of Finance Wilson will oversee Berklee's budgeting, financial reporting, controller's office, and camp...

10/10/2024

Academic Leadership from Boston, Valencia Return for Abu Dhabi Educators Symposium

Academic Leadership from Boston, Valencia Return for Abu Dhabi Educators Symposi...

10/10/2024

All-Student K-Pop Bands Debut at K-Pop & Beyond Summit

All-Student K-Pop Bands Debut at K-Pop & Beyond Summit The diversity of the artists involved in the collaborative K-Pop Idol project, which developed the two ...

10/10/2024

Signature Series Presents Country Music: Black Roots and Branches

Signature Series Presents Country Music: Black Roots and Branches New Dangerfield, Dom Flemons, Donna McElroy, and Farayi Malek headline this October 29 conce...

08/10/2024

Charlie Puth's Comedy Show Is a Silly, Star-Studded Satire of Reality TV

Charlie Puth's Comedy Show Is a Silly, Star-Studded Satire of Reality TV All six episodes of The Charlie Puth Show are now streaming for free on The Roku ...

05/10/2024

Boston Conservatory Orchestra Presents Telling the Story at Symphony Hall

Boston Conservatory Orchestra Presents Telling the Story at Symphony Hall The program celebrates the art of storytelling through orchestral favorites and a co...

03/10/2024

Student Spotlight: Rafael Heredia

Student Spotlight: Rafael Heredia The flamenco percussionist is channeling the vibrant music scenes of Japan and Spain in his musical explorations at Berklee,...

03/10/2024

Berklee and Can We Talk Celebrate Healing Power of the Arts in BIPOC Communities

Berklee and Can We Talk Celebrate Healing Power of the Arts in BIPOC Communities Arts Activation 2024: Harmony and Healing (October 19) unites artists, thoug...

02/10/2024

Watch DREIONs Electrifying Shining Star Blind Audition on The Voice

Watch DREIONs Electrifying Shining Star Blind Audition on The Voice The Berklee alum wowed the coaches with his rendition of the Earth Wind & Fire classic. B...

02/10/2024

This Stevie Wonder Podcast Features the Obamas, Questlove, and Berklee Professor

This Stevie Wonder Podcast Features the Obamas, Questlove, and Berklee Professor Berklees Rick McLaughlin talks to host Wesley Morris on The Wonder of Stevie,...

02/10/2024

New Keith Jarrett Album Revisits Unheard Gems

New Keith Jarrett Album Revisits Unheard Gems The first single from The Old Country takes us back in time while still making a vital addition to the pianists ...

01/10/2024

Independent Music Platform Ampwall Launches Signups

Independent Music Platform Ampwall Launches Signups Built by and for DIY musicians, the Bandcamp alternative is now open to the public. By Tara Bellucci S...

30/09/2024

Boston Conservatory at Berklee Presents Fall Dance Concert: From the Ground Up

Boston Conservatory at Berklee Presents Fall Dance Concert: From the Ground Up Conservatory students will perform works by guest choreographers Hope Boykin, C...

28/09/2024

Berklee's Africana Studies Department Hosts Gambian Musician Dr. Sona Jobarteh as Visiting Scholar

Berklee's Africana Studies Department Hosts Gambian Musician Dr. Sona Jobart...

28/09/2024

Berklee Alumni Affairs Launches Second Season of Pass the Mic Podcast

Berklee Alumni Affairs Launches Second Season of Pass the Mic Podcast The new season will feature Mark Kelley of the Roots, Broadway veteran Natalie Toro, and...

28/09/2024

On Tour with Shaboozey's Drummer Darren Poindexter

On Tour with Shaboozey's Drummer Darren Poindexter The LA-based drummer reflects on how his Berklee training shaped his career and prepared him for tourin...

27/09/2024

Berklee Popular Music Institute Launches BPMI Live Docuseries

Berklee Popular Music Institute Launches BPMI Live Docuseries Bottle Tree Pictures filmed the course, highlighting how BPMI brings students through the proces...

27/09/2024

John Mayer Praises Alums Guitar Solo on SiriusXM

John Mayer Praises Alums Guitar Solo on SiriusXM The guitar greats cosign is a full-circle moment for Nashville-based session guitarist George Collins, whose ...

25/09/2024

Beyonc Is a Disruptor: Why the CMAs Snubbed Cowboy Carter

Beyonc Is a Disruptor: Why the CMAs Snubbed Cowboy Carter Emmett G. Price III spoke to NBC News about the lack of nominations for the pop icons country cross...

25/09/2024

Anyway, Heres Wonderwall (and 20 More of the Best Oasis Songs)

Anyway, Heres Wonderwall (and 20 More of the Best Oasis Songs) The Gallagher brothers reunite for a sold-out UK tour in the latest example of the lucrative bu...

24/09/2024

Berklee's Signature Series Welcomes Grammy-Nominated Artist Becca Stevens

Berklee's Signature Series Welcomes Grammy-Nominated Artist Becca Stevens The singer-songwriter will be accompanied by a select group of students in a per...

23/09/2024

Chicago's Danny Seraphine to Perform with Berklee Student Ensemble

Chicago's Danny Seraphine to Perform with Berklee Student Ensemble The Grammy Award-winning drummer will also lead a drum clinic during his visit to the B...

21/09/2024

Berklee Alumni and Faculty Nominated for 2024 Latin Grammy Awards

Berklee Alumni and Faculty Nominated for 2024 Latin Grammy Awards Miguel Zen n, Nicolle Horbath, Juan Luis Guerra, and Cristina Abaroa are among this year'...

21/09/2024

Berklee Abu Dhabi Fellows Bridge Worlds Through Music

Berklee Abu Dhabi Fellows Bridge Worlds Through Music The fellowship provides opportunities to musicians from the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia re...

18/09/2024

Amplify Berklee Honors the Legacy and Celebrates the Future of Berklee City Music

Amplify Berklee Honors the Legacy and Celebrates the Future of Berklee City Musi...

17/09/2024

Five Berklee Alumni Win Emmy Awards

Five Berklee Alumni Win Emmy Awards The recipients were recognized for their work on the acclaimed programs The Bear, Sho gun, and Billy Joel: The 100th-Live ...

13/09/2024

Rodney Alejandro Named Dean of Professional Writing and Music Technology

Rodney Alejandro Named Dean of Professional Writing and Music Technology Alejandro, Berklees current Songwriting Department chair and an alumnus of the colleg...

13/09/2024

WCVB Spotlights Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education

WCVB Spotlights Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education The institutes ABLE summer camp program was featured in the 5 for Good segment. By Daniel Pe...

12/09/2024

Boston Conservatory at Berklee to Present Center Stage Production of Jesus Christ Superstar

Boston Conservatory at Berklee to Present Center Stage Production of Jesus Chris...

12/09/2024

Reframing Conservatory Education Through Africana Studies

Reframing Conservatory Education Through Africana Studies As Berklee's Africana Studies Division grows, so do learning and mentorship opportunities for Bo...

11/09/2024

Nicholas Payton Announced as Chair of the Brass Department

Nicholas Payton Announced as Chair of the Brass Department The Grammy Award-winning musician will take up his new leadership position this fall. By Colette ...