Gray has got it covered on surprising new disc
Five-time Grammy-nominee Macy Gray returned last week with Covered, a surprising new disc of her tackling tunes by Arcade Fire, Metallica and Sublime. Reached at her home in Los Angeles, Gray, 44, her voice sounding as raspy as it first did on I Try, gives the skinny on her new record.
Q: Why do an album of cover songs?
A: Everybody thought it was a bad idea. Covers have a stigma attached to them; they don’t do very well, they’re for really, really old people, but I was watching Youtube and saw Nina Simone singing Frank Sinatra’s My Way and just thought: I have to do something like that. Q: How come? A: The way she took the song and made it her own. If you’d never heard Frank Sinatra, you’d think that record was her. Plus, it’s a perfect time for me to do it right now. I have nothing to lose. Q: Why’s that? A: I’m getting a little old and everything’s up in the air with music. The big ballads might be back because of Adele and nobody knows what’s next. Whatever anyone does right now is interesting.
Q: How did you pick your tracks?
A: Some songs you have to leave alone. We tried some Fiona Apple, we tried the Black Keys, that’s my favourite band. We tried Kings of Leon, we tried Prince, but some stuff — you can’t make it better. Other stuff didn’t go with my voice.
Q: You’ve collaborated with George Clinton, John Frusciante and Mos Def. What do you like about working with other artists?
A: I’m like, “How did you get so good?” You can’t teach what John Frusciante does. And you definitely can’t teach how to be George Clinton.
Q: Let’s rewind back to 1999. Can you tell us the origin of I Try?
A: I was with my boyfriend, I was much younger and it was about me and him. It was the first song I ever wrote on guitar and I played the only three chords I knew. I played it for him while he was watching the Knicks game. Q: What did he say? A: “Yeah, yeah. It’s cool.” He wanted me to stop so he could watch the game. I didn’t think it was a big deal, but when I went to record it, the label went crazy. I was shocked.
Q: How did your life change when it broke?
A: I thought I was queen. I was seeing places I’d never seen and enjoying myself immensely. I wasn’t popular in high school. I got a taste for a whole different side of things.
Q: Last question: Didn’t I read once that you and George Clinton took mushrooms and went partying together in New York?
A: We were in L.A. on Crenshaw Boulevard on our way to Madonna’s release party. It was crazy, I’m telling you: I enjoyed my little taste of fame.