Aloe Blacc works the crowd

Where does the inspiration for your diverse range of music come from?

It varies, but it is all driven by my curiosity. I’ve always loved Barry White, Lionel Richie and Stevie Wonder, as well as songs that have very personal elements to them, often related directly to my personal events and experiences — similar to the folk songs sung by the field workers (chain-gangs). I’m also influenced by local sounds and rhythms. 

What was your aim with your concert here?

To get the audience involved through the delivery of high-energy music and to get the audience dancing. My goal was for people to leave with their expectations fulfilled.

Tell us about your love of language

I have a big interest in linguistic psychology. Basically, language is a key to how we relate to the world, how we are perceived and often how we see ourselves. Language helps us all to work through our misconceptions, especially of ourselves, and towards other more positive possibilities.

Tell us about your charity work

I use my music, my celebrity and sometimes my money to enact positive social change. I also work hard to make my actions as effective as possible. 

My work with Malaria No More first came when I released ‘I Need a Dollar’ and the link between this song and the charity positively impacted on the campaign of Malaria No More. Due to my link with the charity, each hit song afterwards has also had more impact on their campaigns. 

How important is education to you?

It is very important. As a child my father made a PC [computer] available to us children as a tool to enable us to be better prepared to be effective members of the global community.

Tell us about your big interest in nutritional education

I would love to see large food organisations be less profit focused and make a greater investment in nutritional education and healthy food. A healthy body equals a healthy brain. Then we have to use language (communication) to amplify and facilitate the education of people about nutrition, such as fighting obesity in children. 

The connected world is, in fact, less connected than we think, leading to many people suffering from malnutrition and a lack of food and clean water, while others are wasting food and water.

Education and language (communication) are the key to helping us all to become more aware. I am investing in ways this can be improved.