Seattle Soul: Choklate
Soul singing has become an increasingly fraught vocation; the Brit revivalists are cracked out or allegedly boinking for tracks and the run of the mills mask their mediocrity with Auto-Tune, designer beats and chest-popping choreography. But as Barry O and India.Arie remind me, there's hope. Moments of brilliance lurk in overembedded corners of MySpace, the low rent live circuit, DIY labels and occasionally a major label worth their weight in surplus jewel cases. I've recently been intrigued with Seattle-based soul singer Choklate. Her full-bodied voice, laid back melodies and judicious storytelling recall Jill Scott and Georgia Anne Muldrow. Check "Now What" on Choklate's MySpace page for a sample or if you're in the New York area, stop by the Highline Ballroom Saturday night when she opens for the inimitable Bilal. I caught up with Choklate via e-mail as she prepped for the Highline show and a number of Southern dates, including SXSW, after which she'll return to Seattle to record a follow up to her eponymous 2006 release.
VIBE: For those unfamiliar with your music, which of your songs best encapsulates what you do and why?
Choklate: That's hard to answer because each song encapsulates a different side or layer of what I get to do and there are many sides and layers. "Incredible" is the one though. I've just realized that theres a bit of greatness in me that I didn't know existed and that God put there and it (HE'S) really on display within the music and that song kind of captures that.
In what tradition of musicians do you see yourself working and what uniquely Choklate are you bringing to that tradition?
I see myself working with people who don't see dollar signs when they create their music. I envision being completely immersed in the moment of creation and looking over and the person I'm working with and seeing them be the same way. I don't know who that is yet though. I'd like to work with Mos Def, The Roots, Lauryn Hill, Bilal, Talib Kweli too--that'd be kewl. Brandy & Alicia Keys, maybe (they're really talented and Aquarian too. I like Aqua people). I could go on forever. It'd be a dream of sorts to work with Yo Yo Ma just because of the Silk Road Journey: one of my personal faves.
What are some hallmarks of your corner of the Seattle music scene and why do you think Seattle hip hop and soul artists have so infrequently garnered national attention?
You know what? I'm going to be completely honest with you. I have absolutely NO idea why that is. I will say this though: We have some institutions in place systematically that create the illusion of success to a handful of Seattle artists that doesn't always transfer outside of our little corner of the world, so perhaps it's the idea that what your trying to do, musically, is good when really you need to stop trying so darn hard. But that's me being smart mouthed in a way. Truthfully, I don't know.
You're playing NYC with Bilal as well as Dallas and Miami with Yahzarah. Tell me a little about your experiences with the larger indie soul community.
They're all really kewl people and I admire quite a few of them. I see their hustle and drive to exist in this industry and they all have genuine, unique stories. I've enjoyed meeting them and working along side them. I see that it gets a tad competitive sometimes and political just like anything else. It has been a roller coaster ride: sometimes up and sometimes down, at points, really wonderful and sometimes a smidgen of disappointment creeps in along the way but generally it's been fun to deal with the larger indie soul community. If people like the music you create, they support you and that's been nice to witness and experience.
What's next for you?
I get home from traveling late March and I'm going to make a pallet in the recording booth and have Vitamin D slide bread and water to me underneath the door till this next record is finished. We're not too far from completion so I should have to endure too much torture.
*Photo Credit: Jawara O'Connor
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