OKP is very excited to make a special introduction today.  World, meet Donn T.  We've been Donn T. fans for sometime, and now she is poised to bring her beautiful, soulful, melodic sound to the masses.  As a child of two working musicians, Donn, a Philly native, was brought up with serious eclectic musical tastes, and has been part of the OKP fam since it's inception, as her brother is none other than ?uestlove.  Donn says "The music library in my family home included an extensive collection of my mom’s flavor classical & jazz, and my dad’s - rock n’ roll, soul, country and gospel. Music from that library continues to resonate with me as the single greatest influence in my life."  Take a listen to "Kisses," below, which will appear on Om 15 - Celebrating 15 Years of Om Records, a compilation album out on Om July 21. After the jump, hear "Look At (What u Startin')," a leak off of Donn T.'s forthcoming album.  Also after the jump, read an in-depth interview with Miss Donn, and get to know the woman behind the music.  The article was originally published in Kingsize Magazine in Scandanavia, but is translated here for your reading pleasure. Stay tuned for more news on Donn T., as we're sure there will be plenty!
Donn T. "Kisses"


*Photo by Sidney Etienne

Donn T. "Look At (What U Startin')"


 
Donn T - Soul Sista
King Size.

Text: Svein Brunstad

I enter a bus, on an icy February morning in Chinatown, New York. A little Chinese lady up front insists, "give me money!” for a ticket. I am headed to Philadelphia. I hope. She doesn’t understand my English, nor does the driver. I am Norwegian by birth, based in Los Angeles so, fluent in English and Norwegian. Still, as the bus takes off, I’m not certain Philly is where I’ll end up. The bus passes through rural New Jersey where the landscape consists of factories, large farms and frozen rivers.  The trip is an hour and a half, and in the heart of Philadelphia Donn T (for Thompson) picks me up in a silver beetle.  She is the sister of The Roots famous front man /drummer Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson. She is also about to release her debut album “Donn T/ Kaleidoscopic”, produced by the French DJ Simbad, who released the fantastic album “Supersonic Revelation” in 2008, and among other things has worked with Ty, Yungun, Bugz In The Attic, and the Robert Owens, to name a few. Donn T guides me through her favorite streets, stores and restaurants. One of the highlights is The Root’s studio, where I get access to her family’s holy record collection, or should I say library.  I'm in the middle of what appears to be 100,000 records, and need to wipe some drool.  I’m tempted to play ?uestlove’s drums, but dare not take it too far.  She introduces me to a number of people in the studio. I realize later that I had been introduced to Larry Gold, legendary producer, and a “God” on the hip hop circuit.  We also stop by a bar where the local hero DJ Junior is spinning.  I leave the premises gifted with of a bag of records from his own label "Record Breakin”. After a short visit to her mother’s home, whose neighbors include family members of Will Smith; the day ends at her favorite restaurant, where we conduct the interview over a cold beer and great food.

 Since you come from a musical family with a big track record, do you feel there is a lot of pressure on you?
Every member of my family has been signed to a label, and I am very proud of the mark they’ve made in music history.  My father was signed to major record companies several times in his career (Chess, Imperial, Avco).  He was only 13 when he was first signed. He came from a strict Pentecostal family where “reals” (their term for secular music) were forbidden. He was the 4th of 7 children so, I don’t know if he got lost in the crowd (laughing) or what - but, he was discovered when he sneaked out to sing doo-wop on street corners.  His music was being played on the radio, he was playin’ Dick Clark’s American Bandstand and his parents were none the wiser. In stark contrast, the home that I grew up in was pretty creatively charged. I had my first published work at 11 years. My folks were Eccentrics and there was an emphasis on allowing your uniqueness to shine thru. I was pretty strongly encouraged to be outside “the box”. So, support was always there to be an innovator. I’ve just always been pretty comfortable with being that person. The path I’m on - is one specific to me - and I’m proud of that.
 
Being Questlove’s sister; do you think it’s a handicap or an advantage?
It’s neither (laughing). I think “same sex” siblings may have a more difficult time carving out niches in the industry (ex. Beyonce/Solange, Jessica/Ashley, Eddie and Charlie Murphy etc.). With opposite sex siblings, it’s just a different conversation (Michael/Janet), Jake Gyllenhal & Maggie). Folks have different expectations often simply based on the gender difference. So, it opens things up. It hasn’t affected me so far. I’ve been working in the industry for a while as an artist but, mostly as a songwriter so, lots of folk are aware of me. My experience has been only positive. And now I have my debut album. So, a bigger audience will know I’m here - which is very cool. (Laughing) if I were a boy though, Questlove’s brother complete with ‘fro and drum kit - I’d be shakin’ in my boots right now, thinking, “geesh, my last name’s Thompson too, now this could be a problem.” But for me, it’s not. I think people will be ready for this surprise.



 Is he a fan of your music?
 My brother is first in line in terms of being my fan, well, after my parents. He is excited about my debut album. In many ways, it’s the result of my coming in through the back door. Meaning, I’ve been doing work behind the scenes, writing songs that have gone to TV/Film for a few years, plus writing for other artists. (Song "Beauty" appears in film “Cougar Club” (Open Sky Entertainment), Song "Rainy Day" featured on UPN's "Kevin Hill" (Taye Diggs) drama series, "Love" single from the "BAADAAASSS" (Sony Pictures) BBE soundtrack/ radio ads. Five songs included in the 2nd season of Showtime's "Street Time"). As a performer, I’ve supported or shared the stage with Alice Smith, John Legend, Alice Russell, Nelly Furtado, Jill Scott, J Davey, Amy Winehouse, Zap Mama, Les Nubians, Floetry, Graph Nobel, SA- RA. My brother and I have work together a bunch in addition. I co wrote song “I Am Music” (Common’s “Electric Circus” MCA), I did voiceover’s for Chappelle’s Show (Comedy Central), he was music director.  I was featured on Exit Music: Songs with Radio Heads (BBE) “Morning Bell” with The Randy Watson Experience.

 Do you feel that you’re a part of the neo-soul from Philly that has defined soul music for the last 15 years? Or do you try avoiding identifying yourself with that “movement”?
I’m a Philly girl who’s spends as much time in LA. I see Philly as a creative Mecca. The world has at times seen us as this area where one massive movement at a time emerges. But, when you’re in it – It’s a different experience. It’s more fluid and complete. As the world applauds one genre, you hear the rumblings of the next new thing. Progressive and always pushing the envelope musically is what Philly does. Folks don’t know the half of it. In that way, I see myself as a part of the progressive music movement that is Philly.

We have a "Star Walk of Fame" in town (on Broad St), where my father is included; it celebrates how we’ve (Philadelphians) impacted all music, in every genre. That’s who we are in our entirety. Philly is about risk and tireless innovation. I respect Philly’s rich musical history, it’s early movement, which covered 50’s – 80’s and was termed The Sound of Philadelphia - straight thru to the ‘90s Neo Soul Movement. I can’t discount the strong jazz and classical culture that is too very much Philly. My greatest identification is currently, with a few Philly artists hitting the scene now Santigold (based in Brooklyn, though a Philly girl) and Jazmine Sullivan. Like me, they’re pretty risky – and don’t easily fit. I think that’s the secret of Philly, we’re always creating and looking to birth the next thing.

Why did you choose to work with European producers instead of American?
The process of making an album includes just being in rooms with lots of producers and writers and just making music and seeing where it goes. I’ve written stuff with a bunch of producers (Doc ‘Res’, Darryl Swann ‘Macy Gray’ - On How Life is, Hezekiah, Freddie Cruger, etc.) You kinda chill together see where the process goes.

My meeting Simbad happened pretty organically. I didn’t know him until the day before we started recording. 8 days later we had the album. When I say we had the album, I mean from writing to final mix. It just flowed, the chemistry, the concept.  It was last Sept, at this party in Philly called Sundae (cause it happens on Sundays). King Britt was spinning. DJ Junior (Recordbreakin’/Eavesdrop radio) was there hanging in the crowd with Simbad, and made the introduction. It was funny. He’s French but based in London. I know some French and we spoke in both languages some and laughed a lot, ’cause I was messin’ up. We both share a wicked sense of humor and an intense work ethic. By the time we got to the topic of astrology (laughing) and discovered we were both Libras – I was there! So, the next day, we went into the studio and with each tune we created, the theme for the album emerged.

 Your music is very eclectic, and has a global sound.  What kind of music inspires you?
I believe my early eclectic musical influences, are what most inform my approach to music today. I grew up with it all – every genre. I don’t mean that in the vague or general sense but in a very intentional way. My dad was almost tyrannical about that idea. His parents plan to shelter him from music only fanned desire, urgency, for his own children to have the most broad and open approach to music. In addition, my mom was in the mix too, a singer, his band mate, and part of his last signing in the 70’s. She was a ballet and tap dancer and for much of her early career was trained by tap legends The 4 Step brothers and Charles "Honey" Cole. So, the music library at home included an extensive collection of my mother's classical and jazz records, and my father's soul, rock & roll, country and gospel. Music from that library continues to resonate with me as the single greatest influence in my life.

Genres may vary. What is consistent is I am a music head with a bent towards voices and lyrics. Rich voices, unusual or non-traditional ones, draw me in. I am inspired a lot by tone and what is being said. Nina Simone, Donny Hathaway, Cassandra Wilson, Sade, Jeff Buckley, Thom Yorke, Bilal, Duffy, MIA, M'shell Ndegeochello etc.  They each have a unique voices. They open their mouths, and you expect to hear something different than what comes out. I like to hear something that is not expected, to be surprised.
 

 What's in your car stereo now?
 1) Hercules and Love Affair
 2) Santigold
 3) Fela Kuti (King of Afro Beat - The Anthology)
 4) Estelle (Shine)
 5) MIA (Kala)
 6) The Knux (Remind Me in 3 Days)

What do you want to express through your music?
At the end of the day, I simply want to make good music. I want my music to have a timeless quality. I want folks to be able to play it now or 10 years from now and be able to appreciate it. Beyond the innovation or whatever risks I take musically, I want it to always create a space for itself. My debut album Donn T - Kaleidoscopic has a wide range of styles that takes you from late 70's and early 80’s post-disco New York, to the underground clubs in Chicago and continental Europe.  It deals with electronic stripped down London-funk and tecky, minimal Berlin-soul. It is risky, but it’s me!

You have worked with many great artists, but who would be your dream artist (s) to work with?
Dream artists – Producers Dr Dre, Mark Ronson, Osunlade, and Pharrell. I want to do a duet with someone people will be hearing from in a sec, Jose James. He’s getting some hype right now - (laughing) another one of those voices, makes me want to bring the duet back. If I had some magic dust to bring D’angelo out of hiding – I feel the same about him.

 
How do you manage to juggle between all the projects you’re working on?
In this climate, with what’s happening in our world at large and in the music industry, artists have to diversify. They’re really isn’t an option. I got pretty early on that it was the business of music. Today, I’m aware that in order to have a career in music, it takes sometimes working in front of the mike and in the background. I’m cool with all of that. I love being in the spotlight, as much as, I enjoy writing for someone, or having a song placed in a film and me being heard and not seen. They are all expressions of me. Most artists are juggling right now. We have to – it’s just the nature of the beast. In addition, my management MoreAboutMusic (MAM), which is UK based, helps me stay sane. I guess it’s about harmony and balance plus, a little laughter, that’s key. 


 

Do have any plans to tour, and if so, will you go to Europe?
I’m planning tours in USA, Europe and Asia late this year.  I especially want to go to Scandinavia; I definitely look forward to going back there again. I love the Norwegian chocolate!

Til alle vare venner fra Scandalnavia! (This is for all our Scandanavian friends) Click here for the full article.