Having worked with artists like Lauryn Hill and Talib Kwelli, Novel knows a few things about music. Check out what he has to tell mtvU in this week’s Hot Seat.
1. Tell us about your craziest touring experience.
Novel: “My craziest experience…On the Alicia Keys tour we lost our luggage on the flight so we didn’t have any clothes. So I had to perform in kinda like jeans and like a sweat type shirt or something. Then I think our keyboard got broken or something. It was pretty insane but we made it work…we made it happen. Probably one of my craziest experiences. Just gotta prevail the best you can.”
2. What type of college class would you’d most want to take and why?
Novel: “Um probably be…most likely political science and history. You know, just study more about the world and see if I can do anything to perfect or change anything. African American studies, you know, learn more about my own history. That would be one of my courses. That would probably be hard as hell for me (laughs) but that would be it.”
3. What city in America is the most fun to visit and why?
Novel: “Cali…LA. All of you gotta go to LA. Palm trees, beaches, water, beautiful women. That’s where I’m from…so.”
4. What’s some of the best advice you were ever given?
Novel: My manager Dave Gates gave me the best advice…always be involved with your own business. I’m totally hands on most of the time which makes it a headache for him (Dave) sometimes but we get the job done so. Yeah, always be personally involved with your own stuff. Know where everything is going. It helps to keep you be a little more organized. So be hands on because I come from a position where I’ve lost money and been broke because I wasn’t personally involved and I trusted a lot of people. So..yeah, be hands on.
5. What’s in heavy rotation in your MP3/CD player right now?
Novel: “In heavy rotation in my mp3 player would be Imogen Heap…her album, I love her. Thom Yorke’ s Eraser. J Electronica, a couple of songs he leaked out on the internet. Um…and there’s a new band, well I’m not sure if they’re new but I just got into them called LIttle Dragon. They have a song called “Twice”…I love it so check them out. And…Spree Wilson, incredible artist.”
6. The last good book you read or TV show you’re addicted to.
Novel: “I love Top Chef baby! I love food. You see this? (pats his stomach) I gotta slim it down. I love food, I love to eat, I love to cook. Top Chef, that’s my show. Tom Colicchio…shout out to him.”
7. What’s the first concert you ever saw - how was it?
Novel: “My mother probably perform when I was younger. She’s performed a lot and my grandfather performed. I’m not sure where. I couldn’t remember where and the time but I know I was a lot younger. That was my first time seeing anybody perform…was somebody in my family. My mother used to do back up for Chaka Khan. She’s an incredible singer…Melanie Burke. So that’s kind of where I got it from…watching her.”
8. What are three items you can’t live without on tour?
Novel: “A Neil Gaiman graphic novel, I can’t live without that on tour. I can’t live without my iPod and my laptop… definitely can’t live without my laptop. Well you know what scratch the iPod because if I have my laptop I don’t need my iPod. I think the third item would be…I have these movie glasses, like shades, you put them on and you can watch movies. It projects films out…I love those.”
9. Who are your major musical influences?
Novel: “My major musical influence would be…because I can relate to this artist the most, is Lauryn Hill for the fact that she is an emcee, she sings, she raps, she produces, she writes her own records. So Lauryn Hill would be one of them. Prince…definitely Prince…and Stevie Wonder.”
Any random messages or tips you’d like to give to mtvU watchers?
Novel: “I would say a lot of young cats are in the game right now and they get discouraged real easily and don’t understand the pressures of music and business and politics. I would say don’t let these things discourage you. Just keep making music and keep doing what you do. Like you never hear about artist like Stevie Wonder and Prince after a couple of records or one record like ‘Oh, I’m going to stop making music’ Like just do what you gotta do. It’s tough out there so I definitely understand. Keep your head up. Just make great music and don’t let it get you down. That’s all I can say.”
