Interviews
Lil Eddie – Island
By: Jamie Steinberg
Q) How would you describe your sound?
A) I like to call it heart music, world music. Life songs.
Q) Who are some of your musical influences?
A) MJ, Whitney, Biggie, Tupac, Bone Thugs and Harmony, Pharell, P. Diddy, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder and so many greats! Aretha Franklin and Latin music. Wow! So many! Marc Anthony, Juan Luis Guerra, Tito Puente, Selena, Celia Cruz, Romeo Santos, Prince Royce, etc. A fusion of so many artist and sounds.
Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Island.”
A) “Island” is a song that represent the feeling of loneliness. The stage when you realize you can’t do it alone. No man is an island.
Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?
A) I hope people do connect. [laughs] If so, I would say I sing from my heart. Music found me it’s all I got! I express myself at times better in song more then even talking.
Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?
A) The video was a lyric video idea, which became a Vine of who I am. The journey alone in life when love has gone away; the confusion, the point of vulnerability.
Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?
A) I always say people write the songs I’m just the vessel. My writing process happens mostly in my everyday life. I jot down ideas I gather from things I hear popular expressions, things I see and go through or past experiences. Also, reality television always gets my brain working. I believe in the midst of passion, love or anger people say the most amazing things. Real life appears.
Q) You were discovered on the train at age sixteen by Diddy. What advice did he give you that has stayed with you?
A) I was a kid introduced to Eddie Morales, a famous choreographer. I sang in the New York Boys Choir since I was ten years old, traveled the world singing for the Pope in Italy, the Olympics in Japan and backup for celebs Stevie Wonder, Hootie and the Blowfish, Micheal Bolton, Diana Ross, etc. before I even turned thirteen years old. I realized early on this would be my life and pursued it. Diddy heard me and offered me an opportunity to grow and develop. I signed with Mario Winans and did a incredible album that didn’t release and I grew so much. Diddy and Mario Winans groomed me! They pushed me to be a great writer and be real and vulnerable in my lyrics and my word play. The jewels I accumulated from them are priceless made me who I am. They gave me my name!
Q) You were the Vocal Coach for Season 2 of “X-Factor.” What did you hope to instill in performers?
A) That was a life coach job. I would tell Camila [Cabello] and Fifth Harmony they were amazing; that one day their dreams would come true with hard work!
Carlito Oliverio, I would tell him he was special and Latino was the future! Look where they are now!!! These contestants were always delicate stars to me and I did my best to encourage them as well be honest tell them what needed to be improved. The ones who are winning worked really hard to get where they are. I’m just blessed to be a part of their legacies!
Q) You’ve already produced for big names like Usher, Janet Jackson, Keith Richards, and Kylie Minogue. As a producer and performer, who would you most like to collaborate with on a track?
A) So many people left to work with!! I love the new wave of artist! All the Lils and the greats Adele and Ed Sheeran! So many like The 1975, Coldplay, Seal, and Sade! Drake is GOAT. Any one who shares my passion equally for the art! The culture! History!
Q) Will there be a full EP or album coming from you soon?
A) I plan to release one, but focused on singles every month or so.
Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?
A) Japan! I’ve sold five #1 albums of greatest hits there! They truly love music and melody it works well for me! NYC is always lit…and my hometown! Germany, I did many tours their they all showed me love. I plan to spread out and do so much more tour the world; see and feel the people’s energy! It’s always very spiritual to me!
Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?
A) Currently, I love Daniel Cesar, H.E.R., Khalid – they are classy real vocalist musicians! Like from an old era but 2030! The 1975 – I love them, always have, and can’t get enough of their musicality! Love the trap – Lil Pump, Uzi, Migos and Cardi B is just killing the game. Steff London. I’ve also been a fan now and did some work with her and I’m so impressed by Steff!
Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?
A) Today the fans want to be a part of the journey from the beginning! It’s a way to connect and allow the fans in your life to be friends; a new way of pen pal kinda relationship! We spend more time on our phones than anything else! We must at the least give back to the people supporting us and our dreams!
Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?
A) Thank you from the bottom of my heart! I am nothing without the love and support! I am doing my best to keep the music coming and share it with them and the rest of the world! I invited everyone into my journey and hope everyone can find something to enjoy about my story and music! Love is the answer! Spread love and peace the world needs a hug!
You must be logged in to post a comment Login