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
Music, for me, is completely self-indulgent. I write it, I play the instruments, I arrange it, I produce it. It's all about me - as it should be.
When I'm in the studio, I write the music, I play the different instruments, I produce it, I arrange it, and it's a self-indulgent exercise. It's the way I make my music. And when I'm acting, I get to leave myself behind, which is a relief. I get to collaborate with a director; I respect the director's medium and all the actors and actresses. So at the end of the day, it's about a character and it's about a director's vision. It's a really good balance for being so intense and alone in my personal process of making music.
I never sit down to write. When I'm moved, I do it. I just wait for it to come. You just hear it. I can't really describe writing. It's in my head. I don't think about the styles. I write whatever comes out and I use whatever kind of instrumentation works for those songs...A lot of people don't listen to the lyrics, really. A lot of people pretty much only listen to the chorus.
A lot of people pretty much only listen to the chorus.
I don't think about the styles. I write whatever comes out and I use whatever kind of instrumentation works for those songs.
A lot of people don't listen to the lyrics, really.
When I'm making my music, I'm writing it, I'm producing it, I'm playing all the instruments, I'm performing. It's my own world where I do what I feel, and nobody tells me anything.
When I stopped trying to write songs, that's when I'm able to begin writing songs. You have to just use your life, and the things around you for your inspiration.
I never sit down to write or say, "Today, I have to record something." I wait to hear it and then I go for it.
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.