InDaHouseMedia Exclusive interview with Lalah Hathaway

By: Brittany Coleman
Photo by: Maurice Bush

Powerful vocalist Lalah Hathaway talks about her eighth project entitled Honestly and her first single from the album I Can’t Wait. The album will consist of all original material and is expected to be released this fall. Lalah describes the tone of her new single and album as resistant. Although Lalah stated her album is not a protest album, Lalah is fired up about the changes going on in the world. Fans can expect to hear and see through her visual presentation a little more of her sentiments regarding societal changes. Lalah mentioned that her new album is simply about who she is.

Outside of Lalah’s new album she recently worked with Esperanza Spalding on her recent album entitled Exposure that streamed on Facebook and created in 77 hours. Hathaway said “I needed that experience so bad and it was like a master class, I love to associate with greatness, it lifts me up and makes me better”. Collaboration is essential and important to Lalah and has learned from her session with Esparanza to be honest and not sensor herself, which Lalah mentioned is sometimes hard for her to do. If there was anything Lalah mentioned she took away from that experience was to simply just explore more.

Music truly motivates Lalah and she explained what differentiates her and keeps her energized is not getting wrapped up in the industry piece of the business, but simply focusing on the music. Lalah even mentioned that when talking to young children she tells them “I can’t give you industry advice”, but if they have questions about music she has a lot of information to share. Being on tour, writing songs collaborating with other artists is what keeps this talented contralto inspired and in love with the art.

When Lalah was asked about how she felt about the evolving sound of music she said “R&B or good music never went anywhere, however the radio is just a narrow lane to find that music” Lalah mentioned the radio is about, fashion, trend and popularity and good music is not about that. Hathaway believes we have many outlets to find good music nowadays, but many people are still less inclined to do so. However, Lalah is confident soul music will never die, because there will always be ears around the world who are interested and in love with the sound.