|
|
|
MALIK ALSTON:
MUSIC IS MY WAY OF LIFE…
|
Damned. Da hell how time’s flyin’ !!! I remember being talked about a young prodigee by (uncle) Sundiata OM the very first time I came to attend what was known at the time as the DEMF (*). We was sumthin’ like in 2000 and, as you may guess, there was music comin’ from all over the place provided by a whole bunch of big names when Malik appeared on stage with a keyboard and a drum machine. I couldn’t move away from there, litteraly stucked by the emotion hailing from the music he was playin’ and definitely felt I had to know the man. Seven years and a newly released first full album later, he’s looks set to have his name added in the long list of those who’ve contributed putting Detroit on the map as the mecca of the (modern) groove…
Hey Malik, what’s up my brother? How do you feel at the perspective of having this long-awaited project of yours finally released?
I'm doing fine. I feel great about the long-awaited project finally being born.
Looks like this has taken quite some time… Has your long time experience as a live perfomer been in any use in the way you’ve conceived the tracklisting of this album?
Yes, it did take a while to finish the project, about 2 ½ years. I wanted to take the audience on a journey through my life as a producer/artist/musician, which also reflects how I perform on stage as well. I like to make the music as visual as possible.
So many things expressed there in so many different ways. This offering looks like a sort of internal roadbook… Let us know about its starting point?
Very much so, let me give you the short version. The starting point is in gospel - where I started from. It flows through various styles of music to soul, funk, jazz, hip-hop, latin, house, and any other style of music that the Creator blesses me with and allows me to envision.
As earlier suggested, there are a lot of different moods, such as what’s been touted as nu soul with people like Rafael Saadiq, D’Angelo and Maxwell (‘Reach The Sky’), hip hop vibes, eventually R&B but also modern blues with both ‘You Are ’ and most likely ‘Light Within’ that seems comin’ out of the Bayou. Not to mention the Latinesque ‘Tie It Up ’ with
its Puerto Rican influenced horns… Your explanations…
This Music Is Life is truly a reflection of life and the moods within. I have a very vivid imagination, and study many different styles of music. I have been exposed to a lot of different styles of music. This album is a small glimpse of my reflection and the people that I reflect.
"Reach The Sky" does have a strong hip-hop feel due to how the song was arranged by me (:brownstudy did the filtering on the song). My wife, Badriyyah Wazeerud-Din, wrote the lyrics and assisted with the old-soul vibe that you hear so vividly in the song. "You Are" is a soulful, futuristic gospel song, written and arranged by myself. Additional help on the horn lines came from my brother-in-law, Howard Wazeerud-Din II. "Light Within" definitely has that bayou approach - nothing but guitars, stomps, hand-claps, desk-slaps and improv set to Craig Huckaby's bluesy guitar line. Pirahnahead played and also helped with the arrangement on guitar on this tune. "
Tie It Up" reminds me of working on the railroad and how we often started out the day doing one thing as the day continued. We did a lot in between and ended the day where we started.
Quite surprising to say the least to have this Latin cut from someone coming, sa
y… from the North! Let us know about its recording process sounding like a big band work…
I started out the piece as a sequenced arrangement. I loved the first arrangement, but felt like it could be bigger and better. I let Howard hear it, and he really liked the piece as well. He added his live trumpet lines and after hearing what the combination of live and sequenced sounds were like together, I added live instrumentation to the whole song. Skeeto Valdez on drums, Marion Hayden on bass, and Dan Haddad on flute and sax were added to the piece. This is why it has such a big band sound.
Not that many uptempo at the end of the day. One comment?
There are many sides to Malik Alston…
With people like you, Pirahnahead, Minx, Amp Fiddler et al, not to mention Quentin Harris on a wider extend, looks like Detroit has finally got back to its soul roots after a long techno hiatus. One reaction?
Detroit is nothing else but one of the foundations of soul music.
Could it be that techno has been for something in what may today look like a redefinition of soul as inherited from the Motown period?
Yes, it could be that, but it could also come from the car industry as well. People are going to interpret and reflect what they feel art is, in relation to where they live and what they experience in their lives, as well as what they have not experienced.
There’s been quite some change over the last years in Detroit as far as the scene is concerned with the arrival of a new generation of local activists quite away from what techno is as a musical genre… How come?
The sociology of Detroit has changed. There are less people living in the city, the car industry has left a lot of people in abandonment. Lot more struggle is going on in the D. People are reverting back
to true musicianship and real life stories.
In the meantime, it looks like those who’re known as the techno originators have got a lower profile these days……
Let’s end up this chat by what we’re supposed to start this exercise with. In other words, an introduction as to who you are. So who is Malik Alston?
Malik Alston is a man who believes in God, a man who speaks and lives with conviction and loves his family, friends, and peace of mind. I'm an artist and producer who loves to create passionate, beautiful art. I also love to laugh and enjoy life.
Each time we’ve met here or there (in Miami for instance), you always had some music for me. Would you tend to consider yourself as a workaholic?
Not as a workaholic, just consistent.
How do you deal with your family life? The sweet Madame Alston who I also have the pleasure to know looks the very first of your supporter? Does she help you finding your direction either while suggesting you ideas or with her eventual critics?
Yes, Madame Alston is very supportive and is an artist as well. As I said, she co-wrote "Reach the Sky" and performed on it as well. She does make suggestions occasionally, but tries not to get in the way of my creativity. Usually she's pretty successful at that.
What about your people? Let us know about them?
My family is very supportive as well.
Have you already got some feedback in regards to your album by the likes of Roy (Davis Jr) who you’ve worked with on the vibrant ‘Back To Chicago’ released a while ago on King Street?
Roy has always been supportive of my work and visions as an artist and producer. He will be doing some remixes for my project.
Let us know about your own label…
Truth Manifest Records is the label that I founded in 1997. It originally started as an outlet for my own music, and transformed into something bigger. I strive to bring listeners the best in many genres of music - from jazz to soul to house to hip-hop, and everything in between.
Any aside project at the moment?
I have a few projects in the works - the next album for Painted Pictures, a hip-hop compilation, and various remix projects. I have several new artists as well that I am working with.
Technology’s on a never ending process of evolution. I remember Jeff Mills tellin’ me one day how he would like being provided with the program which could allow him transposing his ideas directly from his brain to the recording machine. What bout yo’self, should you be offered the same opportunity?
Yes, for the experience, but no in the long run. I think I need to explain this - no because the process of getting out what's in your head is also part of the music.
Any key thing that you feel like it’s currently missing in technology?
Technology will never be able to replace human experience.
You’ve pretty much achieved doing everything on your own so far, including the launch of your own label. Which advice would you give to a newcomer?
You always need help from everyone that truly believes in you. These are the people that help you succeed. Have enough faith to allow God to use you and enough discipline to follow through with the work that you start. Don't be afraid to help others because they will help you, directly or indirectly.
The next step for you?
World domination… Naaaa, I'm just joking! I'm really looking forward to touring, getting the music out here in a big way with your help. And with your readers' help, promote the album as much as possible. And thank you for this interview, Frederic.
Definitely welcome, bro. MFSB
(*) Detroit Electronic Music Festival
MALIK ALSTON - This Music Is Life CD/LP (Truth Manifest Records)
Catch This Music If Life CD Release Party w. MALIK ALSTON & FRIENDS LIVE this Fri. AUGUST 24 @ The Buzz Bar, 546 E. Larned (Dwntn) DETROIT, MI
INDAMIXWORLDWIDE.COM: Only the best, No time for the rest!
INTERVIEW
