00:00The thing about rhythm and blues, for me, is that it's hard to describe.
00:06And what happens is, once we begin trying to describe it, we sort of devalue it.
00:13So it's kind of like if someone says, what does coffee taste like that's never had it?
00:16What does coffee taste like?
00:18There's nothing else like it.
00:19I find that for rhythm and blues as well.
00:21It's a spirit.
00:22I don't know that there are very many words to describe that place.
00:26When I think of R&B, the first thing that comes to my mind is Donny Hathaway, which,
00:30you know, that's probably pretty natural, soul.
00:34But I think of the rhythm and the blues and the work song and the people in the fields
00:40and what that sounds like and how it has evolved.
00:45So there are lots of soul artists out there, a lot of people, you know, there's this big
00:48debate about what's happening in R&B and what's happening in soul, and it's very much alive.
00:53You just have to know where to look.
00:55What would I bring back to rhythm and blues music that I feel like is sometimes missing?
00:59Soulfulness, vulnerability, honesty.
01:05People feel like educating yourself, particularly about an art, may take the grime or the street
01:09or the natural somehow off of it.
01:12And I really feel like it has enhanced what I do and it has made me more well-rounded.
01:17I'm really lucky.
01:18I have a lot of really proud moments.
01:20I have three Grammys, I opened for Prince, I sang with Dizzy Gillespie, Anita Baker, Chaka
01:28Khan, Stevie Wonder, Take Six, Marcus Miller, Joe Sample.
01:32I don't have a most.
01:33I'm really happy about the associations and the relationships that I've been able to make
01:39and maintain.
01:40Hey, I'm Layla Hathaway and I'm playing the Essence Festival this summer.
01:43Essence celebrates R&B, which makes Essence Fest the number one festival for rhythm and
01:48blues music.
01:49Join me Saturday, July 2nd at Essence Festival.
01:52Have you gotten your tickets yet?
01:53You better do it!
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