March 2012 – ChanteSez.com

Peven Everett, a longtime house music producer/vocalist/performer with Chicago roots, is coming to the Sound Table tomorrow night, courtesy of Kai Alce and NDATL/Distinctive. Alce will be spinning, along with ST’s own Karl Injex.

OTL caught up with Everett for 5 quick questions.

Photo by Carlos Bell

1) How are you? (I mean this sincerely!) What’s going on?

Everything’s pretty OK right now. What’s the use in complaining.

2) Give us the rundown of how a (typical, if I may) Peven Everett production comes together.

It’s hard to say so I don’t because often times my explanation is thought to be self-preserving. I think it’s selflessly preserving as well as being involuntarily self-preserving. Everyone does it different and must never tell their method if they wish to have any future value.

3) Who or what are you on the lookout for these days? (It could be an artist, musical style, an inspiration, or an issue in the news.)

I am on the look out for everything.

4) What new projects are you working on? What should we be on the lookout for from you?

Be looking to like what you hear. No matter what.

5) What is the future of house music/soul music, in your opinion?

It could go many ways but only one way is the right way. There are only a few ” artists” with infinite marketing budgets and lips tight enough for a huge payoff as historically seen in the televised part of the music industry. Ninety percent of them — no, 95 percent of them — have been to my live shows LOL. Music shields my spirit from the little things and keeps the beauty of my dreams from harm. Business and life are like a piano. A hidden hand is useless.

Robert Glasper Experiment, with Chrisette Michele, and surprise guests Bilal and Musiq at Variety Playhouse, Sun., March 4, 2012.

Thirteen highlights:

Hosts Jamal Ahmad of WCLK-FM (91.9) and Derek Harper of WAMJ-FM (107.5/97.5).
Opening song: Radiohead-esque riff that runs right into “A Love Supreme.”
Lots of stories from Glasper, including one about Ledisi taking just five minutes to write “Alright” during one 3 a.m. session.
Chrisette Michele’s supremely jazzy voice on “Afro Blue,” and every other song she laced that night.
Chrisette Michele’s green dress.
How Glasper’s haughtily humorous introduction of Bilal — “Well, actually, he sucks!” — is indicative of Glasper’s personality in general. “Letter to Hermione” shined nonetheless.
The Experiment jamming out while waiting for Bilal to return to the stage for more singing.
Electric bass player Derrick Hodge’s solo leading into Floetry’s “Say Yes” — not a stretch considering Hodges was on the original recording.
The crowd’s enthusiastic response when Glasper asked if there were any J Dilla fans in attendance.
Recognizing the Experiment’s take on rock classic “Teen Spirit” by Nirvana. It took a minute.
Surprise guest Musiq harmonizing with Michele on “Ah Yeah.”
Glasper acknowledging the blessing it is to have seen Dilla make “Reminisce.”
Bilal grabbing his mic out of the stand once he realized Musiq had joined him on stage, like a nonverbal “Oh shit! Let’s do this!”