Lenny Kravitz
Lenny Kravitz
Leonard Albert "Lenny" Kravitzis an American singer, songwriter, actor and record producer, whose "retro" style incorporates elements of rock, blues, soul, R&B, funk, jazz, reggae, hard rock, psychedelic, pop, folk, and ballads. In addition to singing lead and backing vocals, Kravitz often plays all of the instruments himself when recording...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionFunk Singer
Date of Birth26 May 1964
CityNew York City, NY
CountryUnited States of America
The story that I wanna tell is pretty much about the way I grew up. Being bi-racial, growing up in a big city and being an artist.
I'm not one of those artists who refuses to play their hits. I find that ridiculous. Hits are a blessing.
Life, the moment. Where the magic is. That's what really keeps me motivated, alive, hungry. I'm still as excited and motivated now as I was twenty-five years ago, and that's because I really live for those moments. And that's where the art comes from, that's where the music is born, that's where it all appears. I love it.
People see my photos and think I labor over my image and I'm this cool, brooding artist. But I'm just having fun with it.
I'm more hungry now than I was 11 years ago. Which is great because I see a lot of artists that have been out for a long period of time. They get kind of fat.
I get hired as a writer or producer and I do the best I can to bring out that artist. If somebody calls you to do something, you go right for that vision and you're aware of that person's vibe. You're trying to get inside of them.
I've been compared to hundreds of artists, which just goes to show you that I'm not any one thing at all.
I was in Paris last year, where there's a great appreciation of many different aspects of African culture and of black culture. The music... the art... whatever... And I kind of went with that.
To let go of the illusion that I'm in control is an important lesson, because I tend to be a person who likes to be in control, not only of my art but of my life and things around me, and it can be healthy up to a certain point, but at the end of the day, we have to go on faith and learn to let go and ride the wave.
I'm in this for the long haul. I've been making music my whole life.
I identify with women more than men. I guess I have a strong feminine side.
In my environments, lighting is always very important.
There's nothing more that we love than having a close, personal, open relationship, and I believe that's what God wants.
I've always had to deal with being biracial, even in music. When I came on the scene, I'd go to these record labels, and they'd say things like, "Lenny Kravitz. That's a weird name." I'm brown-skinned and I've got these dreadlocks and I've got this Jewish last name.