Interview: Chaka Khan

10:57am Wednesday 16th July 2008

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Ten questions put to Chaka Khan about her new album ‘Funk This’.

1. What are your immediate plans for the future?

Well, for a start I have to come back to the UK soon for the i-Tunes festival, I am really looking forward to that and I have a European tour that is due to start soon. I love travelling and bringing my music to the people who love it.’

2. What are the three things that you could not live without?

Sleep! I cannot live with out a good nights sleep, and my gothic four poster guarantees that when I’m at home! I also like to look after myself so I drink lots and lots of water and have a bottle with me everywhere I go. The last thing would have to be moisturiser - I use it everyday and keeps me feeling fresh!

3. Why did you call the album ‘Funk This’?

I decided to call the album ‘Funk This’ as the overall feeling and vibe of all the tracks is very funky!

4. If you could pick any artist to sing with who would it be?

It would have to be Stevie Wonder, We know each other very well and have even worked together, but we have never sung on the same track together. I would consider that to be a great privilege.

5. Were you nervous about covering Jimi Hendrix’s track ‘Castles Made of Sand’ on the new album?

Sure I was, at first but I knew I would do him proud and keep the meaning of the song intact and adapt it by putting my own stylistic twist on it.

6. What music are you currently listening to?

I absolutely adore Amy Winehouse. I only have three CDs looping round in my car and she’s there with Joni Mitchell and Aretha Franklin.

7. Do you have any routine or ritual before you perform?

Plenty of practice. I’ll be going over the vocal arrangements with the band right up to the last moment. We end up changing little things here and there all the time so it’s really important that your voice is ready and able to adapt.

8. Kanye West sampled your song ‘Through the Fire’ in his debut single ‘Through the Wire’. Do you like Kanye’s version?

Kanye is great. I was honoured that a young and upcoming rapper from the city I grew up in would want to use my song. The song is great, although I was a little shocked at first about how he made me sound like a chipmunk.

9. What’s your favourite track off of ‘Funk This’?

Angel is a very special song to me, especially since I’ve started walking a different path, since I’ve been through a whole life change. It’s based on a poem I wrote a few years ago when I was in an ‘altered’ state. The words came out of nowhere. I looked back on the poem one day and thought, ‘wow, I wrote this?’ The lyrics are pretty intense for someone who was out of their mind at the time.

10. How do you feel knowing that your new music has already picked up two Grammy’s?

I was glad people knew I had a CD out! I was happy just to be nominated and it means a lot to me to know that people enjoy the album.