Music and Performing in Dubai

interviewEddie Cole, the great-nephew of Jazz legend Nat King Cole, has had a career of his own for quite some time.

As the son of multi-instrumentalist Eddie Cole, he picked up playing a handful of instruments at an early age and by his teens had begun recording his own music and playing in bands.

One of the bands he played with, Mulatto, caught the attention of Nas, who then brought Eddie on tour to play alongside him and DJ Green Lantern. Now, fresh off of the Nas and Ms. Lauryn Hill Powernomics tour, Eddie Cole is premiering his new single “Right There” with MASS APPEAL.

The first release since his 2015 album Inertia: The Art of Motion (above), “Right There” continues Cole’s tradition of blending genres. With R&B vocals, wonky funk bass-lines, and a fast-paced back beat, he sings about not being able to escape the spell of former lover.

Having grown up surrounded by jazz, blues and traditional music – do you think these genres ought to stay traditional or now adapt with the times?

The only thing constant is change. Everything and everyone has to adapt. There’s room for all though; roots music is important for remembering where we came from, and adapting/evolving is important for survival.

Do you feel any pressure living up to the famous name?

Not at all. I only feel pressure to leave a legacy for my son and daughter.

What’s the difference performing at a large concert vs. performing for a handful of people at an intimate session? Which gig would you prefer and why?

Intimacy is the key word. It’s easier to float off into your imagination when you’re performing in front of thousands. You can be a “you” that you can’t usually be. I don’t prefer one to the other, however, I do seriously love playing the smaller crowds. It’s the most honest expression I can give to a crowd. Connecting on the deepest level possible is always my goal, big or small room.

With the new wave of young musicians out there, are there any artists you vibe with? If so, what makes them special? Could you recommend one or two for our readers to check out?

Man I’ve made a list of artists I’m pushing to collaborate with, and it’s always growing. Hiatus Kayote, SZA, Mr. Carmack, Disclosure… I could go on. Lots of freshness out there.

Anderson .Paak is at the top of my list these days. Truest talent in the game in my opinion. He’s been in the trenches for years building his name and carving his lane, and he’s finally getting his due shine.

H.E.R. is another amazing talent that constantly inspires me. I’m a sucker for female artists and she’s a monster singer AND musician, something you don’t find too often anymore.

If I had to pick one more I would say Gabriel Garzón-Montano is well worth your time. He’s from another planet that I very much want to visit.

The genre-swap performance of ‘Sweet Dreams’ at the Byron Bay Bluesfest 2017 (below) was absolute gold. There isn’t a question here – I just wanted to tell you that.

Ha! Thanks man. That’s one of those educational moments in the show when you put 2 & 2 together and the light comes on. Nas made that song his own so hard that a lot of people don’t even realize the Eurhythmics connection until that moment.

You seem to love fusing and swapping genres of music. What genres would you love to experiment with and what wouldn’t you touch?

There’s nothing I wouldn’t want to experiment with musically. I’m open to trying anything. If I don’t like the final result then I’ll deal with that in time. What’s it hurt to at least give it a fair try? There’s a lot more opportunity to learn and grow when you keep your mind open.

When it comes down to creating music do you have a process? Traditions? Quirky superstitions?

I do my best to stay fluid in the creative department. I always keep some gear on me to record with; computer (Ableton Live, Maschine, etc…), Midi Fighter 3D, and a microphone are my essentials.

I travel for a living, so if I get too rigid with my process I’ll lose the ability to create. Sometimes I get inspired while I’m in an airport or hotel room or backstage at a gig, far away from a traditional recording studio.

I think the funniest thing is all the crazy voice memos I have of song ideas. Nobody would ever hear a song in them like I do. It’s kinda like chicken scratch; only I can understand what I want from weird humming and beat boxing. Some of my proudest creations started in my voice memos or a portable recorder.

What’s created first – the beat, notes or lyrics?

It really depends on the moment, but I typically hear the music and instrumentation first. I definitely have a lot of moments where the song concept and some lyrics hit me and I jot it down in my pad or phone notes (pad & pen > phone —FOREVER!).

And then there are those times where a vocal melody is on repeat in my head and I gotta get it in my voice memos. It’s never just one method.

If you weren’t a musician what do you think you would be doing?

Too easy… I’d be a full time chef! It’s the one thing in this life other than music that I’m maximum passionate about. The kitchen is my other studio. I actually have a food project called Chuck’s Pull Up.

I create a menu and prepare and personally deliver to the lucky few individuals that catch the announcement on my socials. I also do weekly meal prep and personal chef for some awesome people. Peep my Instagram highlights for some of the skills!

What are the chances we’ll see you back here performing again in Dubai? I noticed, on Insta, you absolutely love Legoland 🙂 what are your thoughts on the city?

I have a pretty full touring schedule for the next few months, but I’m pretty sure I’ll be back sooner than later. This long stay has been good to me and my family. This city is still fairly new and developing its music scene. There’s a lot of untapped energy out here and a lot of space for great things to grow. I’d love to make my mark early while it’s still fresh.

As for Legoland… ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?! We took our two kids and I promise you I had waaaaay more fun than they did! It’s more like an art exhibit. Mind meltingly amazing stuff in there. I wanna go on a Legoland tour around the world now!

END OF INTERVIEW

LINK: The Green Room

EDDiE COLE will be performing at The Green Room on Jan 9th and 10th.

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