EWrecently chatted with the singer-songwriter-guitarist-actor-dj-activist from an Australian tour stop about every one of those hyphenated titles.
Things are so weird and so depressing and so divided.
I felt like we needed something a little uplifting and some kind of hope.
Credit: Björn Olsson
Thats really what its all about and just variations on that theme.
Do you arrange those yourself or does someone assist you?I arrange it myself I just love it.
She has three great background vocalists and I had so much fun arranging the parts on that album.
Everett Collection
So having that third element to interweave with my usual horns and strings was just so much fun.
As an arranger thats what I really get off on the most is having those parts complement each other.
I just grew up loving The Shirelles and The Chiffons and Darlene Love herself.
Everett Collection
Its a genre unto itself.
Ive been taking this non-partisan sort of position now for quite a while.
Its been a very exciting year just seeing it now being used and going into pilot programs.
Seeing how the teachers have embraced it has been extremely satisfying after working on it so long.
Youve been inviting teachers to your shows.
I mean, its been so long since I was actually doing my own thing.
What kind of student were you?I was absolutely terrible.
I just couldnt care less.
We find that music is the way to get their attention because every kid is into music.
So we go to them, were not dragging them to our sort of archaic education format or program.
We come to them: Whos your favorite artist?
The nice thing about the arts is theres no wrong answer.
Heres whats going on in Detroit and she comes from the gospel church, lets talk about that.
And she got involved with civil rights, lets talk about that.
That direct line is keeping them interested.
How do you choose your set list for the live shows?
Are there ever people who show up shouting out Springsteen songs?I dont ever get that.
They may not show up for me, I get a lot of that.
(Laughs) But its really been quite respectful in that way.
The new show will be a whole new show.
Were rehearsing it now and its a whole nother trip.
But it was time to evolve.
This new show is the next step.
Its a little wilder in some ways.
Its a little more intense in some ways.
Its a little more fun in some ways.
Its just more of everything.
Its the only two records in a row that Ive ever done with the same band.
Ill always be grateful to them for being so loyal.
Finally, its been reported that some of the characters from the series will appear in theSopranosprequel.
Do you know if Silvio is one of them?Well, Im not sure.
(Laughs) But if he does show up, itll be 30 or 40 years younger.
Do you have any casting suggestions?Well, check and see if Johnny Depp is busy.
The world tour comes to the U.S. and Canada beginning June 29 in Syracuse.
