Q&A with Gordon Chambers
Q. What is your earliest musical memory?
A. Listening to Gladys Knight and the Pips at one of my parents parties in
the Bronx, NY as a child and the smell of Jamaican curry goat.
Q. Who are your influences, both as a writer and a singer?
A. Stevie, Rufus and Chaka, Donny and Roberta, Lionel Richie, Babyface,
Whitney Houston, James Ingram, Abbey Lincoln, Betty Carter, Daryl Coley,
Luther, Al Jarreau, Dianne Reeves, Elton John, Patti Labelle (as a
performer). I learn from so many. Constantly studying, observing, being
inspired!
Q. When did you "discover" you had the gift to write songs that touch
people's hearts?
A. It was a childhood passion. I began writing at the age of 7 literally. By
the age of 10 one of school music teachers asked the 6th grade chorus to sing
one of my originals at the school graduation assembly. At 16, a friend of
mine from high school was killed, and I wrote I song in her memory that was
printed in the yearbook, danced and choreographed to be the school dance
troupe and was of healing to her friends and family. That did it for me. I
knew that God was going to use me in my life as a writer to help heal, soothe
and inspire.
Q. You have worked for Essence magazine several years as a writer. How does
it feel to be on the other side, the one being written about?
A. It's fun. I love talking to people. Interviewing and being interviewed are
not that different. It's connecting, conversing, sharing ideas. I'm glad,
having been a journalist, for the experience. I know how to give a good sound
bite, I think.
Q. Where do you get the inspiration for your songs? Is it from personal
experience?
A. Some songs are personal. On my album, "My Imagination" "I'll Miss You
Most" and "That's When You Fall" are very personal. "Always Be Proud" is very
general yet based on my personal beliefs. In "Touch You There" and "Be Happy"
I'm writing more as a character or my sexier alter ego so to speak. When I'm
writing for women, I'm writing the things I think they want to hear. I also
use the experiences of my friends and family and set those to music.
Q. Is writing for you also a way of
trying to deal with life's ups and downs?
A. Yes, writing for me is therapy, healing, escape, alter ego, joy, pain. All
of it.
Q. Do you write songs with a particular artist in mind?
A. Often I do write for certain artists. Sometimes I land the artist I
desire. But for instance, a song I wrote for Celine went to Brandy. Now a
song I wrote for Toni may go to Aretha. As long as songs are getting cut, I'm
blessed!
Q. Did you get to meet the artists you wrote songs for? For instance Phyllis
Hyman, what was she like?
A. I've met most of the artists I've written for, except some of the British
artists and I never met 98 Degrees. Sometimes I meet them after the songs are
done. But Phyllis was a dear friend and mentor. I took her death very hard. I
never knew she was in such pain. She was very complicated. Very generous,
very temperamental, very loyal, very protective, very lonely, yet the life of
the crowd. Bless her soul. I know she's in heaven singing up a storm. She
loved to sing and would burst in to song any time, any where. She'd harmonize
to all the jingles and knew all the words to all the hit songs on the radio
and would complain, "They shouldn't be given material like this!" She
was larger than life. We had great times. I miss her. I'm grateful. She
helped make my career happen, by introducing me to Barry Eastmond, who I
wrote "I Apologize" with. She was an angel.
Q. Any songs on other artists' albums we can expect in the near future or
will you concentrate on your own singing career now?
A. Yes, I'm going to working with Aretha in February, and possibly Lionel
Richie. I also have two songs on the current Gerald Levert album. I'm keeping
my "day job."
Q. What do you consider your biggest achievement to date?
A. I consider the fact that I'm still writing and being published over ten
years after I started a huge accomplishment. Many careers don't last that
long. Although "I Apologize" won a Grammy, being taken out to dinner by
Babyface and his family and having him toast me probably meant more than
anything. Having produced Whitney was a dream come true beyond words. She is,
has always been, and will always be my favorite singer. And we got a long so
well. I love her and her family very much.
Q. Who would be your dream artist to write for or work with on a future
project?
A. Celine Dion, Stevie, Sting, Prince, Seal, Annie Lennox, Elton John, the
Backstreet Boys, Usher again, Beyonce again, Norah Jones, Alicia Keys. So
many folks. I'm just starting out really! I consider myself a baby. Got many
rivers to cross.
Q. You have written songs for other people for so many years now. When did
you start thinking about recording an album yourself?
A. It's always been something I've wanted to do. I'd have record deal offers
before that fell through. At times I was scared. Other times I was too busy.
About two years ago, after Norah Jones' success, I got inspired and starting
feeling like there was a strong audience for adult music once again. I felt
it was my time. My producers believed in me and helped me to focus.
Q. Why did it take so long?
A. It took a while for me to convince myself that I was good enough to
present myself. Fear was blocking me most of all. It also took a while to
find the right producer who would be dedicated and visionary around me as an
artist. I found that in Troy Taylor, who produced 4 cuts and did A&R on the
project. Art sometimes takes its time. Now I see why Sade and Anita take
their time. You can't hurry something that comes from so deep in your soul.
Your album really is you!
Q. What gives you more satisfaction, writing or singing? Or is it
inseparable?
A. Both give me satisfaction in different ways. Writing helps me pay more of
the bills, and express myself in the fantasy realm. Singing is all truth.
There's no lies when you step in front of an audience. No hiding. I love the
honesty of it. You have to give it with whatever you've got in the moment.
There's no rewriting. It's just you and your truth at that moment. I love
that!
Q. On your album you have a song with Sara Devine. How did you hook up with
her?
A. Sara has done session work for me (backgrounds and demos) for years, and I
think she's one of the most amazing voices out there. I had reached out to
several recording artists like Deborah Cox and Kelly Price, but Sara was at
my fingertips and just as amazing. I'm happy she's on the album. She deserves
all the exposure she can get and is a Southern sweetie pie! Her album seems
to have gotten lost in political madness at Sony. Evidently they won't put it
out, but won't give it back to her. I hope she'll dust her self off and start
some new grooves and keep it moving. Her voice is golden!
Q. What made you use the Spandau Ballet sample on “Slippin’ Away”? It’s not
one you’d expect on an R&B song.
A. A producer named Rico Anderson brought me a track with an interpolation of
it, and I just loved it. The chord changes have a lot of feeling to them to
me. But I also love that early 80's pop ballad period. Phil Collins, Toto,
Tina Turner, Stevie Nicks, etc. I guess I wanted to honor that period of
music, because that's the time period when I started writing lots.
Q. What CD’s did you purchase yourself recently?
A. John Legend, Seal's greatest hits, Lori Perry, Jamie McCullum, Al
Jarreau's latest, Chaka Khan's Classikhan. I buy lots from David Nathan's
soulmusicstore.com
Q. What song puts you straight in “soul heaven”?
A. Soul heaven huh? Anything from Rufus and Chaka. Some titles that make me
"lose my breath" are:
Womack and Womack's "Baby I'm Scared of You"
Sylvester "Over and Over Again"
Stephanie Mills "Learned to Respect The Power of Love"
The Isley Bros. "Harvest for the World"
Stevie Wonder "Another Star"
Donny Hathaway "Flying Easy"
Rene and Angela "I Love You More"
Labelle "Chameleon"
Miki Howard "Love Under New Management"
My taste is very eclectic.
Some quick questions:
Q. CD or vinyl?
A. CD's are fine with me.
Q. Safari in Africa or romantic getaway in Paris?
A. Safari in Africa (done Paris already).
Q. If you were in financial trouble, what would you sell first, your record
collection or your car?
A. I think I'd sell my record collection before my car. Don't have time to
listen to much music these days!
My thanks goes out to Gordon Chambers for
this interview and the competition.
Monique van Royen
Editor / webmaster of Spotlight on RnB
