Things happen at some time quite curiously. While putting the final touches to this week’s display, just received a message from a man talking about new releases of his he was to promote in Miami... I then asked him to sent me snippets which he did almost instantly. And you know what? I got like waow ! This should turn many headz and asses upside down at those big parties like Soul On The Beach! And as it it wasn’t enuff I suddenly got back to this man’s name while havin’ a look at his bio, remembering that I licenced a song of an outfit – The Pound Boys, to be more precise - he was the guest vocalist of on a comp of mine a few years ago. Funny how the world happens to be quite small at the end of the day…
Yaow Rashaan. Quite interesting to get back to you on such conditions man… How have you got to know about IDMW.Com?
IDMW.com is one of my favorite websites of the moment. I was doing a little surfing one day and came across it and now I visit religiously.
Damned, I remember how I truly got stucked to that ‘The Right Way’ tune which you’ve done with The Pound Boys. Do you remember the circumstances of its recording? Anything in relation to your personal life at the time?
When I write a song just kinda comes to me for lack of a better way to explain it. In my head I hear the lyrics, melody, instrumentation etc. It’s usually inspired by other music. In the case of "The Right Way", that came about six months before I began collaboration with the Pound Boys. I was driving along listening to "Cafe' Con Leche'" remix by El Presidente' and "The Right Way" started coming- in fact I recorded my demo to that music, ha! It wasn’t based on anything going on in my personal life at that time but has certainly become more relatable over the years and clearly there is something about those lyrics that the audience has stayed connected with although I'm still not sure about what it is exactly.
We all know how few are those ‘house’ songs with a real meaning. How do you explain this? Isn’t that why it has been so hard for house music to get a significant exposure as compared to say hip hop for instance?
Everything I have ever written, recorded, and presented to the public has meaning, in my opinion because I don’t find any interest in singing about "nothing" and I definitely try to always share some type of message. That being said, I don’t have an answer for that and I can’t really compare house to any other genre because (as we all know) house music is afeeling, a spiritual thing, a soulful thing... Y’all know!
On the other hand, you would hear some record companies execs sayin’ that lyrics have no importance as far as dance music is concerned, if not that the crowd don’t give a sh.. about it at the end of the day. Can you understand this and how would you explain it?
I can’t agree with that based on my personal experiences. Over the years, my audience has been more connected with what I say then how I say it. They are hearing my lyrics and telling me how they relate to them. Even in the middle of the floor, sweated out at peak hour - they tell me they hear. It’s possible any execs that have that opinion could be underestimating the audience a tad bit…
What has led you to get into house music?
I've loved house as long as I can remember. Of course I grew up on disco, a '70's child- in fact, I'm reliving the '70's by doing house because I think I was born in the wrong era. I was supposed to be at Studio 54 with Sylvester, Martha, and Izora doing this. But I grew up on gospel, hip hop, all kinds of music. I got connected with house the most because it’s such a hybrid of all the type of music I've embraced- gospel, disco, jazz, some rock edge, you get the idea - I'm sure some would be inclined to disagree with me, but this is how I feel about house.
Your first meeting with the P Boys?
I have to preface by saying that my collaboration with the Pound Boys was meant to happen and I am happy that it did. We were connected by DJ Eldon (Feldman) after I approached him back in 1996 and told him I thought it was time I started recording. I met Greg (Diehl, DJ Dealer) first and we recorded "The Right Way". I didn’t meet Craig (Christensen, Craig C.) until much later. What was most significant about the first meeting for me was how much Greg loved the music, just as much as I did. We sat in his studio for hours and he mixed live for me, from Ron Carroll, to Byron Stingily, to Kimara Lovelace. This was the type of experience I hadn’t had at that point yet, just loving the music with another person that loves it as much as you do.
The way you’ve been collaborating?
My recent collaborations (Audiowhores, "Work It Out" Peppermint Jam & RedSoul, "Its Alright" Generate Music) have been trans-Atlantic affairs. In the case of Audiowhores, George Jackson of Ruff-n-Tuff Records produced the vocals in Chicago, where I was living at the time, and we sent them to the Audiowhores to do their production. I still haven’t met them, which in
retrospect is not the greatest way to work. There’s that disconnect that even comes across in the mucic because you haven’t personally connected with someone, yet you are doing something personal together, like expressing yourself through music odd. With RedSoul, I recorded here in New Mexico, and we kept a great connection through e-mail and instant messenger. I definitely believe it comes across in the music. Working with RedSoul Dave Wareing has been an awesome experience and he is a great person who really has sincere love and appreciation for the music.
Still in touch wit’em?
Still in touch with the Pound Boys? Yes, with Craig C. We talk almost every day. He sends me samples of his latest works and I just sit back in awe thinking about how far we all have come. Craig C. aint no joke, but again, ya'll know that.
The things which have led you to part way…
Parting ways with the Pound Boys was just natural progression. I think relationships in general are based on season, reason, and lifetime. The Pound Boys collaboration was season AND reason for all of us, but definitely was not meant to last forever. I would never take away from anything we did together, but I definitely need my own identity. I am a complete vocalist, writer, vocal producer that can stand on my own, and I have something to say that is uniquely RaShaan…
Ever felt like being emprisoned into a certain format? In other words this characteristic 4X4 beat at some time?
No, I never felt like that because what I do is of my own choosing. Then outside of my recording, I also sing whatever I feel at the time. I might drop into a smoky lounge and do a jazz set of nothing but standards one night and then the next time you see me is with a gospel group. I'm not locked into any format outside of what I choose to record.
Who do you feel the closest to in terms of singing?
Wow, that’s a really great yet difficult question. I try to dodge comparison as much as I can, so I can only tell you about mentors, which are mostly all female, just a very few such as Inaya Day, Ce Ce Peniston,
Barbara Tucker, Dawn Tallman, then reach back to Sylvester, Martha, Izora and Gladys… I could do this all day, there really is no one single influence, there are SO many.
I was somehow thinking of Lighthouse Family singer Tunde Baiyewu out of UK, best remembered for ‘Ocean Drive’… Ever heard of him?
I can’t say that I have, you may chastise me later. I'm gonna write that down and try to find it later, I wanna hear someone that could draw comparisons.
How is it to be on your own right now?
I love being on my own. It just makes sense. I'm an easy going kind of person, but I can’t be controlled, and who wants to be controlled anyway?
George Jackson is my frequent collaborator. We did "Work it Out", "Happy" (Bumpin' City Chicago) and now "Warrior" (Ruff-n-Tuff Records) together. He also co-wrote on "It’s Alright" (Generate Music). It was
George, Ce Ce Peniston, and myself. So having George in the picture, I'm not totally on my own because I like for him to have a large say in everything. His intentions are pure, he's talented, and very well versed in the music business overall.
How do you live in this position of singer surrounded by producers, DJ/producers?
Ha! That can be a challenge because I've been in situations where the production team views the vocalist as expendable. Being a vocalist of course, I can’t agree with that. So, I've learned how to work through those challenges and still have a beautiful end result. But I am a big DJ/Producer groupie at the same time, even if it’s not always mutual. David Morales, Frankie Knuckles, Lil’ Louie Vega, Honey Dijon, Tony Humphries, DJ Spen, Pope, Oji, Lisa Moody, Grant Nelson- I LIVE for these people! Ya heard me? LIVE!
Tell us about these 2 new singles of you.
."It’s Alright" on Generate Music-Produced by RedSoul with remixes by DJ Meme and Soularis is like my baby. So beautiful, came about so organically. Just an honor to have a record on Generate being such a big Deepswing fan for so long and RedSoul is amazing as are the DJ Meme and Soularis mixes; all very different, but complete the package. This is the song, again, that was written with George Jackson and Ce Ce Peniston. I've been a huge Ce Ce fan since day one, so I feel so blessed to have this opportunity.
"Warrior" on Ruff-n-Tuff Records, produced by George Jackson with remixes by Ron Carroll and E-Smoove is just a crazy, way out of the ballpark record. Tribal, aggressive, yet soulful. Again, I love the whole package. I am happy to put both records out around the same time because they really can’t be compared. They are two opposite ends of the RaShaan Houston spectrum, which is what I want the audience to recognize.
Strong and positive lyrics on ‘Warrior’. I guess you know that, dontcha?
Yes. I try to always present a message. I flew into Chicago from my holiday trip around Christmas for one day. I think George and I wrote that in about 30 minutes and recorded in about 2 hours!!! I knew I had to work it out because I had to fly out the next day. There was no time to play, so we didnt!
Again, anything related to what you’ve been living during these last months/years?
The whole concept of "Warrior" came from George. He had already written and recorded the hook when I got there, which is rare for me, but it definitely works.
Tell us about your day to day environment?
Well, I live in New Mexico, and yes, its a US state!!! I dabble in real estate sporadically and event planning. So the day to day varies… I just wrapped a huge event a couple weeks ago, so now I'm resting from that. My day involves time with the kids (14 & 11), the gym, writing, maybe a recording session, it just varies so much.
Anyway, it looks that this ‘Warrior’ song might well be a weapon of massive destruction on the floors…
I hope so - I'm excited about both my new releases and the feedback has been phenomenal. I pray people just connect with the messages, but also have a good time sweating out to these. I know I do!
One word about Miami?
Miami this year? Hmmm, MINE.
Your forthcoming projects?
I have a lot of things brewing. Definitely will record my Craig C. collab soon, then plans are to work with DJ Spen (I can’t wait for this!) and Soul Central. I may have something coming out in the fall with Slater Hogan and John Larner of Muzique Boutique and Grant Nelson and I are gonna get together as well. (No words to express how that makes me feel)
One wish?
I have a very long wish list- I can’t name them all, but I do want to get with DJ Pierre and then my ultimate lifelong dream is to work with Frankie Knuckles of course. (Clears throat and laughs)
Thank you, MFSB
RASHAAN HOUSTON ‘It’s Alright’ (Generate Music)
RASHAAN HOUSTON ‘Warrior’ (Ruff-n-Tuff Records)
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INTERVIEW
