You composed your last album in Los Angeles, what brought you in this city ?

I created the album in so many different places. I did some production in Eastern Europe some in LA and some in Detroit. Most of the beats were created on a tour bus. I find inspiration from being on tour and playing live music.

« Soul music lives in Detroit and I will forever be inspired by this city »

Then you came back to Detroit, somewhere « you can breathe », you said. What did you meant?

Creating music in Detroit is effortless for me. I feel the soul of the city and it puts me in a very artistic frame of mind. There are also record stores here that i can dig in that has records that are hard to find outside of the city.



Yves Marchand & Romain Meffre, two French photographs, have taken pictures of Detroit and published a book two years ago called « The Ruins of Detroit ». How do you feel about the « decline » of the city ?

I definitely feel bad about the decline in my city but I’m also optimistic about the resurgence. So many people from the automotive industry left the city but the music and the spirit of the music remains. Soul music lives here and I will forever be inspired by this city.




You play Jazz and produce Hip-Hop beats. You also work with Paul McCartney or The Roots. Is that the way you see an artist, ie « thinking outside the box »?

Playing and producing different styles of music is important to me. I think it’s important to « think outside of the box ». I listen to everything from Karlheinz Stockhausen to J Dilla to Miles Davis to Gentle Giant. It’s all important to me. I grew up listening to so many different things. I always knew i wanted to learn to play and produce it.

« I’m a big fan of Stones Throw Records and (…) Peanut Butter Wolf helped make the vision come to life »

After all these collaborations, did you feel like you needed to do this solo instrumental Hip-Hop album ?

I’ve been wanting to release music for a long time. I felt the time was now and it was a blessing to have such a great label supporting me. I’m a big fan of Stones Throw Records and Peanut Butter Wolf. Peanut Butter Wolf helped make the vision come to life.





Is that some kind of DNA stuff inside you ?

I would like to think so. My mom has an incredible ear for music. My dad is a Piano Player/Jazz musician who played with Grant Green for a lot of years. Being around that was a major influence on my profession and love for music.

GOD bless!!

Alone Together on Stones Throw | Moogy Fog It (Free download)