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Chaka Khan Rediscovers Her Funky Soul
Chaka Khan is the perfect example of how resilient human beings truly are. Ahead of her 35th Anniversary World Tour, the living legend speaks from her Los Angeles home about life’s dramatic highs and lows; and the soul searching process that helped rediscover her roots in music.
Khan, born Yvette Marie Stevens, attributes her triumphant return with Grammy Award-winning album, Funk This, to rediscovering Yvette – a journey that occurred during her stint in rehab for self-medication, prior to recording her latest release.
“I was reconnecting with myself and my core as a human being: the girl that’s been with me before I was born… that’s known me all my life. I’ve not given her much credit,” she says. “So now I am.”
With a career spanning four decades, Khan has taken on just about every genre. From pop, R&B and rock, to jazz, rap and classical – she has done it all.
At just 20, Khan rose to fame as lead singer of the successful R&B, funk and pop band Rufus. But it was the launch of her solo career five years later that marked the genesis of a new musical era, ultimately seeing collaborations with a string of iconic singers including Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder and Gladys Knight. She is best known for her rendition of Prince’s I Feel For You and of course her signature song, the anthem I’m Every Woman.
Apart from releasing studio albums, Khan has also dipped into the odd musical. Although she’s admits that her first attempt, while well-received, wasn‘t entirely pleasant.
“I had a very bad experience with musicals when I did Mama, I Want To Sing! and I hated musicals.
“But every corner I turned, everywhere I looked and everything that someone said to me was about The freaking Colour Purple. So I said, ‘okay… I give in, I’ll try again’. And I’m glad I did because this time I found that it was a bad experience for me before because I was working with a shoddy company.”
She adds: “That makes all the difference – intent. These people’s intentions (with The Colour Purple ) were totally different than the other people who were just about making a buck and treating everyone like crap. The Colour Purple was a class act.”
Khan only briefly played the part of Sofia in Broadway’s The Color Purple earlier this year, but it was a character that she strongly connected with.
“I didn’t have to go far for that one, I could pretty much be myself,” she laughs.
“[Sofia] didn’t take any shit from anybody. She was a powerful woman, self-sufficient; a lot like me. Her spirit was very like mine… free.”
Two musicals, ten Grammy Awards and countless other accolades later, this powerhouse boasts a catalogue of work that would have many of today’s artists trembling.
While she is constantly hailed the quintessential diva, Khan opts for the respectable title of ‘Innovator’. And understandably so; after all, as a pioneer in music this is one woman who has influenced generations of artists; and as a ‘free spirit’ she continues to test creative limits.
“[Pushing boundaries] is something that the powers of be don’t want us to do. Because this is a powerful thing – when we work together without competition, shit, we can move mountains. If we could all just come together without jealousy and competition we could get so much done with this planet,” she asserts.
It’s no wonder Khan is a fan of high profile collaborations. Her first studio album in ten years, Funk This, features the Grammy Award winning single, Disrespectful: a duet with superstar Mary J. Blige that won Best R&B Vocal Performance By A Group Or Duo.
Funk This also prides itself on a mix of covers from the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Joni Mitchell, two of Khan’s idols, as well as originals such as the poignant Angel, which was penned in a moment of unadulterated honesty during Khan’s more tempestuous days.
“When I wrote Angel, I was not a yoked up, messed up person. That all came from my pure spirit – untainted. My higher self was speaking to myself at the time. I don’t even remember writing the lyrics,” she admits. “I was definitely having a spiritual moment of clarity when I wrote that.”
As she prepares to return to Australia for the first time since performing at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras over a decade ago, fans can expect to hear an array of Khan classics – many of which have taken on new life over the years.
“There are some songs that have adopted new meaning for me, like Through The Fire. That’s become a sort of testimonial song for me. Because I have been through the track of fire. And I have survived it. I have survived,” she says with understated confidence.
Outside the glitz and glamour, drama and controversy, Khan indulges in the simple pleasures of life. She ‘gives back’ through The Chaka Khan Foundation, which was formed in 1999 to aid women and children at risk, and simply enjoys the company of loved ones.
“There are certain aspects of me that I will not let anyone touch… [I stay] close to my family and the little things – the giving of myself in life – being of service with my foundation, to my family; by being a mother and a grandmother. Those things will keep your butt grounded.”
It would appear that this time, Yvette is here to stay.
Chaka Khan is touring Australia this month, performing at Melbourne’s Hamer Hall June 13 and Sydney’s Enmore Theatre June 14. Her new album Funk This is out now through Burgundy Records.
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Jae81m
said ages ago