Music Avery Dey: Interview with Lil' John Roberts

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    This is the first of a new series on SoulTracks called "Music Avery Dey" with interviews by soul music writer Avery Dey. See more about Avery Dey at the bottom of this page.

    Uh oh family I received another blessing that I just have to share. I had the honor to sit and chat with one of the most incomparable and talented musicians, Lil’ John Roberts. A professional drummer, writer, and overall down to earth individual who has the talent the size of the galaxy, yet his gentle and poised demeanor is as refreshing as a cool ocean breeze. Ok, ok enough with the analogies, just read for yourself about this remarkable artist…

    This is the first of a new series on SoulTracks called "Music Avery Dey" with interviews by soul music writer Avery Dey. See more about Avery Dey at the bottom of this page.

    Uh oh family I received another blessing that I just have to share. I had the honor to sit and chat with one of the most incomparable and talented musicians, Lil’ John Roberts. A professional drummer, writer, and overall down to earth individual who has the talent the size of the galaxy, yet his gentle and poised demeanor is as refreshing as a cool ocean breeze. Ok, ok enough with the analogies, just read for yourself about this remarkable artist…

    AD: Being that you’ve worked with a variety of different artists, which were your biggest influences?

    LJR: George Duke. I’ve worked with George Benson, George Howard… yeah so people like that earlier in my career had a great influence. Janet Jackson had a big impact of getting me out there. I was 24 when I played for her and for 17 years.

    AD: WOW!!! So we may have seen you on her concert tours, right?

    LJR: Yeah, I’ve done 4 to 5 tours with her including: The Janet Tour 94/95?, The Velvet Rope 98?, Rock Witchu Tour 2008, and The Number Ones Tour 2010.

    AD: As an independent artist, what are some of the challenges that most people wouldn’t know about?

    LJR: Being an independent artist, you have to take care of everything yourself. That’s one thing for sure. Financially, all of that kind of stuff – you don’t have backing coming from anywhere such as: a major label source, no advances and all that kind of stuff. So everything that I have to do regarding my record, financially I have to do that myself. That takes a lot of budgeting.

    AD: Ingenuity too, yes?!

    LJR: Yes and friends. Friends like Denise Russo who is helping me with my business management and my friend, Jodine Dorce who actually introduced me to the record label that I’m signed and do distribution with, Purpose Records. George Littlejohn and Russell Johnson, and so many people like that in my corner too helps a lot; since I couldn’t do all of this by myself. So you have to have a team – that’s the support system.

    AD: Love it!! In 3 words, describe your music.

    LJR: Organic. I come from a very natural approach to recording. Everything is live mostly; so you know I’m used to using live instrumentation the whole time. The heart of the music I create/perform come from an organic and natural place.

    Funk-Jazz. I say this because all of those elements I try to put together are all in one sound for my music.

    AD: So would you categorize your music as Neo Soul?

    LJR: If there were a category for Funk-Jazz, then I would put my music within that category. Because it’s not all hip-hop, it’s not all jazz, it’s definitely not smooth jazz. There’s some rock in there (as you heard from my performance). So if I were to put it all into one category, then Funk-Jazz would be a good one. Currently, the sound is categorized into the R&B category.

    AD: Well you have a new fan now!!

    LJR: Thank you. Also, the new single off my new CD is called Space which has the Funk-Jazz sound. It features: Eric Roberson, Stokley Williams, Anthony David, Musiq Soulchild, and myself. The video will be featured on Essence.com.

    AD: Really?!!! That’s a great song with some awesome heavy hitters!!!

    LJR: It’s the first song on the record and it’s the first song I recorded when we started this project.

    AD: What was the inspiration for your new CD?

    LJR: After 20 years of working with so many people and recording so many records, my friends just told me “John, it’s time for you to do your own record. Call all your friends that you play with, get your features that you want to have on it, and just go for it.” I reached out and talked to all of them and they consented to it – no pay. They just did it as a favor. They all said, “you’ve done so much for us and we just want to give back to you.”

    AD: That’s love right there.

    AD: So, what advice can you give to up and coming independent artists?

    LJR: Gotta be driven, disciplined, professional, you have to be organized!!! Your project will be a hot mess if you don’t have it all together. People who work with me know everything has to be lined up just right. Independent artists – make sure you put yourself out there in many places that you can, because you never know what one thing might lead to the next.

    AD: True, True.

    LJR: This festival was hard for us. Because I came to do the George Duke tribute first; and I was asked to do the second day here as my own performance, and trying to put it all together- production wise it was a little tricky. But we got our stuff together, so it made it easier on our end to deal with the matters that were a little loose screwed in some areas. So you just got to be ready for whatever. Anything that’s going to come, you just have to be prepared for the worse.

    AD: Ok, so I said that was going to be my last question, but I can sneak just 1 more question?

    LJR: Sure, that’s cool.

    AD: Thank you! You’ve obviously worked with the best, but who is on your collaboration wish list?

    LJR: Sting!

    AD: I LOVE HIM!!!

    LJR: and Peter Gabriel!

    AD: I LOVE HIM TOO!!

    LJR: Those are the top people I think about working with right now. I like world music; and I like how Peter Gabriel covers different genres. Yeah, I love his stuff. I got called to play with Trent Reznor; but I didn’t take that, ‘cause I didn’t feel like it was up my alley as far as spiritually or musically. I’m very spiritual and as far as music is concerned; so it has to resonate with me right. So frequencies and all matters mean a lot to me. I’m an old church boy. My dad is a pastor so I can’t go too far, you know. So, I think I’ve done a pretty good job with just staying close to the spiritual thing of playing music that has a good meaning and good messages.

    AD: Now that’s awesome.

    LJR: Now I just hope to get a Grammy for my CD.

    AD: Please you’re already within the top 10 on iTunes; so I’m going to claim it for you right now.

    LJR: Thank you. Besides whatever is suppose to happen, is already planned out.

    AD: Exactly!! Lil John, thank you so, so, very much for taking the time to speak with me today.

    LJR: My pleasure and thank you as well.

    Again family, please go and support this fantastic performer as well as other independent artists. Lil John Robert’s CD, The Heartbeat is currently available and you can check out more of his work on his web site: http://liljohnroberts.com/

    About Music Avery Dey 

    Inspired at a young age, music has always been a driving force in my life.  Having been exposed to many genres and events centered around music, I wanted this series to bring the human aspect of the artist to the music that we love. 

    My passion for the music and desire to introduce new artists and the artists from yesterday, has been my dream for quite some time.

    I am your “Avery Dey” individual who wants to share my musical appetite through my series entitled “Music Avery Dey”.  I believe that music allows us to express emotion without words yet it cannot be silenced.  It’s a powerful instrument that influences us all. 

    You can experience more artist insights on my website AveryDeyEntertainment.com