Electronic guru turned soul man Jamie Lidell has spoken about being inspired by Michael Jackson.
Returning with his new album ‘Compass’ Jamie Lidell sounded both more assured and more ragged than ever. His songwriting has matured, allowing the producer to merge both soul and electronic elements.
One track in particular would cause the ClashMusic office to break out into funky steps. ‘Enough Is Enough’ is a joyous funky romp which recalls the glorious heyday of The Jackson 5 – a comparison Jamie Lidell encourages.
Speaking to Pitchfork, the singer revealed that one of the musicians on ‘Compass’ actually played with The Jackson 5 during their 70s golden era. Continuing, Jamie Lidell revealed that Michael Jackson’s death has caused a shift in the studio’s atmosphere.
“I wasn’t going to put that on the record ’cause I thought it sounded too much like Jim, but the album was getting heavy and I needed an island of hope” he said. “And that one had a lot to do with Jacko. He crept in on the album a lot. That whole thing was on everyone’s mind.”
“James Gadson played with the Jackson 5. It was weird how all that happened while we were in L.A. We were asking, “What would Jacko do?” It was weird taking that on board in the darkness.”
Jamie Lidell then paid tribute to Michael Jackson and his competitor Prince. “Artists like Michael Jackson and Prince were such dominant sounds in my house growing up – nothing was as good as that shit to me. It was irrelevant to me whether they were black or not. I didn’t even register it.”
“Jacko’s sonic perfume was overwhelming. It still has that effect. As soon as “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” comes on, it’s like the whole fucking room changes. How much music does that now?”
Jamie Lidell’s new album ‘Compass’ is out now.
