Amel Larrieux: What Next? Exclusive Interview

The Park at 14th in downtown Washington, DC has really been good to me lately. Never as good, however, as last Thursday, May 12, when Beny Blaq Entertainment presented the exquisitely beautiful voice (and woman) that is Amel Larrieux. After she enthralled those in attendance with her finely-tuned vocal instrument on classics “Get Up” and “Tell Me,” I was able to have a few words with her before her flight out of town, touching on her forthcoming LP, potential collaborations and her prom night with a certain Philadelphia music icon.

OKP: What are you working on these days?

AL: My new album.

OKP: What’s the title?

AL: It’s called Ice Cream Every Day.

OKP: Wow!

AL: (laughs)

OKP: Any fresh collaborations/duets on there?

AL: No. No, not so far. I’m mixing it now, so it’s done.

OKP: You know who I’d like to hear you with? I’d love to hear you with Robert Glasper.

AL: Yo! He came to my show, my last gig at the Blue Note in New York. He gave me his CD (Double Booked) I had heard of it, but after I listened to it my daughter and I are hooked. He’s so incredibly gifted.

OKP: He’s a beast, he’s a beast.

AL: It would be an honor to work with him.

(Author’s Note: Uhh, Mr. Glasper, young sir, you heard the lady and her ringing endorsement of your talents. Let’s make it happen!)

OKP: I recently saw ?uestlove’s episode of MTV’s When I was 17.  He mentioned that you, he, and Boyz II Men all attended the Philadelphia High School of the Creative and Performing Arts.

AL: We had so many dope people, Boyz II Men, obviously The Roots, Christian McBride, an amazing bass player, Tamika Patton, the great gospel singer. A lot of my friends (from high school) became established music artists.

OKP: ?uesto also said that he had the honor of escorting you to the prom. That’s a lucky dude. Can you speak on that a little?

AL: Amir and I were great friends in high school and something happened to his date, and she couldn’t make it. So like the day before he asked me if I would go. So I went and picked up this $50 dollar dress from JC Penney or something terrible. I looked a total hot mess.

OKP, I can’t believe that you looked a hot mess.

AL: I would never let him go out like that.

OKP: Damn, she’s cool peoples!