Lee Fields is a man who needs no introduction. As one of the artists leading the charge in the recent revival of soul music, Lee Fields and his band the Expressions have been capturing the attention of the public with their style of straightforward, honest music that speaks directly to the soul. Recently Lee took a break from his busy tour schedule to chat with me.
Neil Ferguson: How’s your current tour going along?
Lee Fields: The tour is going great. No doubt. We are having fun. We are meeting a lot of new supporters, all of the people that come out to the shows, and it’s been just a blast man, really really fun.
What’s it like being a soul singer and getting booked to play shows and festivals with rock bands?
My experience in the music business has allowed me to do a lot of different kinds of music. I think you may know that I was singing with a French producer, Martin Solveig, [who was making] house music. I have also recorded a few of the Rolling Stones’ songs, so I’ve wrote all kinds of music. What makes [Lee Fields and the Expressions] fit in is that we do it from the heart. When you do something from the heart and soul it’s going to merge with everything, because music is the universal thing. People know that it’s coming from that place, and when they know it’s coming from that place people accept it. Other bands do what they do and we come on and do what we do and it’s just a marvelous experience, no doubt.
In your opinion, what is it that has led to this fairly recent soul music revival?
The public now at large has the means to sort out what kind of music they really enjoy because of new technology such as the Internet, Facebook, Twitter, and other means of social communications. So people can find what they really like, and what they’re doing now with the resurgence of soul music is because of the platform of social media and the Internet. That’s what has brought soul music back to the forefront.
Do you see the current political and economic climate as conducive to soul music?
Oh absolutely. I’m not a politician, but I do know when you listen to politics most of the time politicians say whatever they have to say to be accepted at that moment by the public. So we get a lot of rhetoric and a lot of lies from politicians. I try to stay out of the political realm, but what makes soul music so acceptable now is that people are so used to the politicians talking out of one side of their mouth, and when they sit back and watch the depressing stories on the news with people doing all kind of heinous things to each other – soul music soothes the soul and comforts the soul. This time we live in today is definitely the climate for soul music because we make music that soothes the heart and soul, relaxes you and makes you feel better about yourself. We’re trying to make the type of music that when you listen to it, it makes you feel happy. I feel that’s what the world needs at this time because there are so many things that can depress us. We sing about the things that happen in this world but we try to sing in a fashion that’ll pick you up, make you feel good about yourself. That’s one of the reasons I tell people that when they come to see Lee Fields and the Expressions we want to give you joy, we’re not satisfied until you’re satisfied.
When you put together songs, is that where your inspiration is coming from?
When we put together an album we want an album that, when you listen to it, you feel better about yourself. Of course, I may be saying something that might be a little sad. There’s a song that I sing called “I Wish You Were Here” and it saddens me sometimes when I go onstage and sing the song because of the passing of my father and he used to love that song so much, but in this world that we live in, sometimes when we think of those moments – those melancholy moments – those are the moments that make us appreciate the things that are really going well for us. Sometimes the melancholy moments are the most cherishable moments that we have; when I think of my father, although it saddens me a bit, the thought of him refreshes me although he’s no longer here. When we choose songs for our album we try to choose songs that we feel people, once they hear it, will be moved by and feel good.
I was just listening to Let’s Talk It Over (1974), which is much more of a funk/disco style sound. Do you identify with that material still and do you see yourself returning to that?
It’s kind of hard to say. It depends on the mood of the public. Right now the new album coming out will have a lot of refreshing, mood-setting songs on it. But there’s a possibility in the future we may do another funk album. I hate to contemplate exactly what our future moves will be. I let them come at random [and] I don’t like to think it out, because when you try to think something out it seems to take away the elements of spontaneity.
You’re working on a new album. Can you shed some light on it?
I’m really excited about it. Hopefully it’ll be out in the spring, but with taking the time we are trying to put together [an album] that’s refreshing and will have all of those elements that I spoke of earlier. We want people to say, every time these guys come out with an album they get better and better. In order to do so we’ve been taking our time, we’re not rushing to get an album out just to make the money. Although we want it to be a successful album, we choose quality over being hasty.
This interview was originally published on The Horn, an online publication based out of Austin, Texas. To see more of Neil’s work for No Depression check out his profile page!
