The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - Travel
ALOE BLACC MY LIFE IN TRAVEL
His hip-shaking film ‘America’s Musical Journey’ has taken the singer-songwriter and producer on a global cultural trip
I WAS FIVE WHEN I FIRST FELT A CONNECTION TO MUSIC during my first visit to my parents’ home country of Panama. The music there was loud and energetic with lots of Caribbean influences – salsa, merengue, reggae and calypso. Music was a big part of my childhood – my parents were always playing their records at home.
PANAMA HAS A FASCINATING HISTORY that my family is a part of. When the Panama Canal was being built, a lot of people from the Caribbean moved there to work on it, including my great-grandparents. Our extended family moved there from Jamaica, Grenada, and Trinidad and Tobago. There was a cultural shift that saw Caribbean culture being integrated with traditional forms of Central American music.
THE FIRST PLACE I GREW ATTACHED TO was New York City. I was a big fan of hip-hop growing up, and my favourite hip-hop artists came out of NYC, especially Brooklyn.
I LOVE THE ENERGY OF NEW ORLEANS – it really stood out for me when I was there shooting my latest documentary. It’s known as the home of jazz, but in the past decade or so it’s also become known for hip-hop and, of course, there’s also blues and rock. It’s a vibrant and creative city. The party scene is insane, the drinking culture wild, and the food is incredible. One of my favourite places to hang out is the French Quarter. MUSIC IS EVERYWHERE in Austin, NYC, Los Angeles and New Orleans. You’re in for a treat in all these cities. In New Orleans, you’ll see people playing music as you’re walking down the street. It’s the same in NYC. There’s always so much happening in Austin during the South by Southwest and Austin City Limits festivals, while live music shows take place all around LA. I cut my teeth performing live at The Virgil in LA.
NASHVILLE IS SO INSPIRING to me musically at the moment because there are so many great songwriters there who really own their craft.
I SPEND SUMMERS IN BERLIN because I have good friends there. I hang out in Kreuzberg. Berlin is a kid-friendly city – there’s usually a park within five minutes of anywhere. I also love Soho House Berlin.
THE PENINSULA IN PARIS IS AN AMAZING HOTEL. In London, I usually stay at the Langham, and love the Mondrian, too.
SWITZERLAND IS UNDERRATED – especially the tiny, lesser-known towns. I love the picturesque mountain views, the cobblestone roads, and the simple antiquated architecture – and all you can hear is the sound of a church bell.
SYDNEY IS MY SECOND HOME because my wife is from the city, and we’re there often for family breaks. My wife is Mexican-Turkish but was raised in Australia, so my children have an eclectic upbringing. I feel it’s important to have experiences that are culturally diverse.
I’M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR EXCITEMENT and whenever I travel with my family we try to explore interesting places, such as Mexico, where we go swimming in the cenotes in the Yucatán Peninsula. In Australia I jumped out of a plane when I went skydiving in Wollongong.
‘REWARDING CHAOS’ is how I would describe Africa in two words. No one pays any attention to any rules – it’s the most hectic place in the world, but I love it. I’ve been to Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, and several cities in South Africa.
TRILBY HAT
I’m really big on hats and am often wearing a Trilby hat. I really like ones from the Goorin Bros. £64.95; hatsandcaps.co.uk
LEATHER JACKET
I like a good leather jacket, like the ones from Sand Copenhagen which are among my favourites. £675; sandcopenhagen.com THE MOST RELAXING PLACE for me is Maui in Hawaii. My wife and I are heading back there to celebrate our 40th birthdays.
I DON’T DO SOUVENIRS because I am a super-light traveller, but I used to collect football jerseys. They’re similar to flags in that they represent the country, but you can wear them.
I PREFER TO PAY A LITTLE MORE for better service. If you fly with Emirates or Etihad you see what real luxury air travel is like.
I CAN LIVE WITH ECONOMY flights if it means I will get back home by midnight so I can be home when the kids are awake the next morning. narrated by Morgan Freeman, is out in selected UK cinemas this month; see americasmusicaljourney.com. Learn more about visiting the US at visittheusa.co.uk.