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Chaka Khan on Prince, poetry and wild, wonderful nights: ‘No one’s done anything but craziness at 4am’

The singer answers your questions about her drum skills, friendship with Joni Mitchell and more – and reveals unheard music with both Prince and Sia

‘I have confidence in everything I do – all the time’ … Chaka Khan. Photograph: Nick Nelson

‘I have confidence in everything I do – all the time’ … Chaka Khan. Photograph: Nick Nelson

Interview

As told to Stevie Chick

Can you remember the precise moment you realised you had a gift as a vocalist? SalfordRed64
I was doing a talent show at the Burning Spear in Chicago. My group, the Crystallettes, graced many a nightclub stage in competitions, and every time either us or [fellow Chicago girl group] the Emotions would win. But I remember singing some Aretha Franklin songs and people in the audience were throwing money on the stage, and they started calling me “little Aretha”. That’s when I connected the dots: “Oh, I see what this is all about.” I realised I didn’t have to become a teacher or a whatever I wanted to be when I grew up back then – I could be a singer!

You have so much confidence and you just knew you and [the band] Rufus were going to make it big. Where does that confidence come from? stifwhiff
When I was with Rufus, I knew I loved what we were doing, and I could only hope and pray everyone else loved it like I did. That’s all you can ask for. And that’s still how I am about the music I make. I have confidence in everything I do – all the time. And that is a necessary thing to have if you want success – if you’ve created something and you want everyone to love it, you have to love it first. And that’s applicable to everything in life, not just music.

 

This is her night … Chaka Khan performing at the Auditorium theatre in Chicago, April 1980. Photograph: Paul Natkin/Getty Images
This is her night … Chaka Khan performing at the Auditorium theatre in Chicago, April 1980.Photograph: Paul Natkin/Getty Images

 

Your cover of Joni Mitchell’s Hejira was unbelievable. I’ve read about your planned Mitchell album for a long time. Are you still planning to release it? Jroel72
I love Joni – she’s helped me out of a lot of rough spots, just with her music. We’re great friends, and have been for many, many years. I first met her when I did a little ad-lib on her song Dreamland. She knows how to get a good collaboration going, and she always has a great rhythm section – my all-time favourite songs of hers are the ones where Jaco [Pastorius] is playing bass, God bless his soul. I am indeed working on a CD of some of my favourite songs by her, and it’ll be out … soon.

I’m every woman … Chaka Khan circa 1970.
Photograph: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

I saw you in [stage musical] Mama, I Want To Sing! many years ago (which you were very good in). Do you have any ambitions to return to the stage? jaelliott
No. I’m glad you saw it and enjoyed it, but I got zonked out from doing that. [Acting on stage] is just too much hard work; I don’t need to do it and it’s just not my favourite thing to do – music is. I never get bored with songs and music and melody. I’m lucky to be doing something that feeds me and nurtures me and makes me feel good.

How often do you play the drums now? Knobtwidller
I love playing drums. I just don’t often get the chance to play, unless I’m jamming at the club with somebody – and I don’t go out clubbing much these days. I love any drummer who’s in the pocket. Buddy Miles was my favourite, growing up, and my dad turned me on to Max Roach when I was a kid. My dad inspired me to play drums; he used to play congas. When I was a little girl, my sister and I used to go with him to the park, where they’d have a drum circle going, and we’d join in and have a great time. I can also play a little bass, and I took flute and violin in school for hot minutes. But I’m really a drummer. I’m going to just start doing some drums, some beats, on my recordings.

Like Sugar [from 2019] is an absolute banger. Any plans to release more music soon? snak3span
I’m working on it right now! Sia and I are working on an amazing project, and I hope the first single will come out some time this summer. I’m alwaysworking on music. And Sia is amazing – she’s my goddaughter! This is something we’ve been working on for a year now, and it’s killing us, because we keep coming up with more great music to do! We can’t finish, because we’ve got so much to give. It’s beautiful.

 

 

I once heard you write poetry in your spare time. Have you given thought to compiling it and releasing a poetry book? JulesTheDreamer
I’ve talked about doing a poetry book; I just can’t find all the scrap paper I’ve been writing my poems on! When I’m in creative mode, I need somebody to snatch those papers up before I go on to the next sheet! But I’ve got to start putting all that junk together and see if it inspires anybody, because sometimes the most disorganised stuff can be the best you’ve written. Life is inspiration to me – it’s like a bag of chips and popcorn, a major mix. I’m never at a loss of stuff to write about.

On stage with Sia in 2023, when Khan was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Photograph: Kevin Kane/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
On stage with Sia in 2023, when Khan was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Photograph: Kevin Kane/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

 

I loved your version of A Night in Tunisia. Would you take such an innovative approach to other jazz standards? And when did you start loving jazz music? User28
I’ve done plenty of jazz standards. I’ve loved jazz since I was a toddler – my mother and father were jazz fanatics. I heard everything from the Art Ensemble of Chicago – which was, you know, out there – to Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Miles Davis. And I worked with Miles. He and Prince were very similar – big thinkers. Miles was always looking to grow. Prince was, too. The three of us collaborated on Sticky Wicked, on my 

What’s your favourite Stevie Wonder song? What was he like to work with? EddieChorepost
I Was Made to Love Her. That song just wipes me out. I covered it as well [as I Was Made to Love Him]. Another genius.

You performed once at Gay Pride in London in Kennington Park. My first Pride – I was a young lesbian, 19 or 20. The power of your voice blasting across the field was incredible. Firstly, thank you. It felt like the gays were being blessed by you. Do you remember being there? And have you always been a champion of the LGBTQ+ community? FoolishBoy
I’ve always been a champion. I’m so sorry, I don’t remember that day; it sounds remarkable. I’m so glad you were able to bathe in that wonderful feeling. I’m a champion of anyone who is having a problem getting their point across, of living their life, their love, the way they want or need to. If they are struggling to be heard, to be loved, to be understood, I’m behind them.

 

Khan on stage with Prince in 2006. Photograph: Michael Caulfield Archive/WireImage
Khan on stage with Prince in 2006. Photograph: Michael Caulfield Archive/WireImage

 

What was performing with Prince like? GeeSNZ64
It was like working with myself, more than anyone else I’ve worked with. Sia’s bringing up a close third, behind Prince and Miles Davis. Quincy Jones, too: he oozed inspiration and shared it. Prince just grabbed ideas out of the air and left you wondering: “Where did you get that?” He was a really deep and beautiful thinker. We worked on a lot of songs, and they’re all going to be on a CD I’m soon to release – there’s a lot of red tape that’s been in the way, but we’ve cleared it. It’s him and me and Larry Graham, together.

Way back in 1995, you sang with Prince at his Wembley Arena aftershow party at the Astoria. I remember that he came out at around 4am and you and George Benson joined him, and it was a great night. Other than that my memory is hazy. What do you remember of that night? Whistlebump
My memory is at least as hazy as yours, I bet – probably more. Four o’clock in the morning? No one’s doing anything but craziness at four in the morning! So I’m sure it was like a wild, wonderful night. And don’t look for the little details; just remember the big feeling you had. That’s how I handle mymemories. I don’t remember a lot of what I did. And thank God! I’m a “next!” person. Life is about what’s happening now, what’s coming next. I’ve done a lot in my life, and over half of it I don’t remember. Did I ever keep a diary? Oh, hell no. That takes a special kind of patience.

Does the fact that music is a universal language prove we all have a lot more in common than we realise? Twist27
Absolutely. Music is the language of the angels – when I sing, I feel oneness with all creation, oneness with God, with everything. It’s a remarkable thing. And maybe it sounds a bit cuckoo, but it’s the truth. When everything comes together – the instruments, the vocal – that’s the sound of angels speaking.

Author: Editors Desk, The reader interview

Source: The Guardian

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