If I told you that you can tell Carlitta Durand is a soul singer just by looking into her eyes, would you believe me? There's just something very revealing about those piercing green eyes. Something that speaks honesty. Something that reveals courage. I asked her to describe her sound anyway and listened as she grasped at words to explain her style, just to hear her say what her eyes already revealed. She's a soul singer. I was introduced to Carlitta much like everyone else, when she commanded my attention on Little Brother's "Life of the Party" sometime in '07. As former classmates of LB, Carlitta got her start with the group and then quickly became the 1st lady of the Justus League, appearing on hooks for several of its artists. Although she's made notable features on some pretty incredible songs, she refuses to have her career defined by a few assists. Carlitta is a soul artist first. A soul artist that connects with her listeners with an ease carefully built around common experiences and a desire to grasp a true understanding of the heart and soul. Her Nostalgic Nights EP is direct evidence of that. Speaking to Carlitta was like catching up with a former college friend. She was inviting, engaging and most importantly personable. A good ten minutes passed by before I even began to record the conversation. We spoke about everything from her moving to DC, her hating high school (which hurt my feelings because I teach high school...and I told her that), even to her wanting to have Prince's babies! The best interviews aren't interviews but conversations. My interview with Carlitta was just that...a conversation. Read and listen below.
Shep: Who are your influences?
Carlitta: Growing up it was whatever my family was listening to in the house...Earth Wind and Fire, Gap Band, Hall and Oates, The Beatles. My mom is white and my dad is black so I got a little bit of everythjing
I was most influenced by them but when I started listening to my own music it was girl groups like En Vogue and SWV and groups like that. But, I've always liked Chaka Khan, Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin. I really like Fiona Apple. She's one of the best songwriters ever. And Prince. He's a genius. I would probably have his babies.
S: Take me through your songwriting process.
C: Usually when I'm working on an album or a project I don't really think about it. It just kind of comes. I maybe listening to a song and I'll hear a word and that word turns into something else. I just usually write about life experiences, my own experiences. Pretty much if you hear any of my songs, then it's something that I've been through personally. I just comes naturally.
S: How did you get started?
C: Like I mentioned before, I actually was a gospel artist. I wrote my first album when I was 16
years old. No one will probably ever hear that album.
S: Why not?
C: I don't know. [laughs]
S: What was it called?
C: I haven't titled it yet. I recorded all the songs but didn't title it. I just listened to it a
couple weeks ago. It's interesting hearing my growth because that was 10 years ago. It's weird because I was writing all gospel music and my mind was somewhere else then and now I write about everything.
S: So you grew up in the church?
C: Yeah, I grew up in church. I was in the choir. In high school I was in gospel choir. As soon as I went away to college, (I went to North Carolina Central University), I just started to do things how I wanted to do it. Started meeting new people...
S: Is that where you met up with Little Brother?
C: I had a friend that had a friend, that worked for them and they actually needed a singer for a certain song that Little Brother did and I happened to be available. And from then on, it just worked.
S: What is it like working with them?
C: It's actually awesome. Working with them is cool. Especially Phonte. He's like really a comedian. When we work in the studio, half of the time is just jokes, watching funny youtube videos, and whatever else he finds. The other half is business, getting this music done. He's like one of the funniest people on earth.
Hear Carlitta talk about what makes her sovereign and what to expect from her in the future.
Bandcamp: Carlitta Durand
Twitter: @carlittadurand
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