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Although
you’re a new artist, you’ve actually
opened up for some big named acts.
Carl
Henry:
My first show I opened up for
Mary J. Blige. That was interesting and
exciting. It was my home crowd. The bug
kind of big me then. We’ve been stepping
it up ever since. Since then I opened up
for like Black Eye Peas. I’ve toured
with Ashanti. I’ve done numerous shows
for Lucy Pearl so definitely I’m honing
my skills and working on my craft.
One of
the best things about this industry is
traveling the world. All artists want to
do that. But when you get to play in
front of your home crowd its pretty
phenomenal compared to some far off
place.
Carl
Henry:
I think the pressure magnifies
because it is your home crowd. When you
perform in front of your home crowd you
have to prove yourself 10x’s over.
Nothing beats that feeling.
How did
you get started in music?
Carl
Henry:
I started singing in church back
in Jamaica. My grandmother was kind of
the first person to encourage me. And
when I moved to Canada my mother kind
took over the reigns of that. There was
always a gear towards music. Although it
was gospel music cause that was their
thing. I managed to discover other forms
of music, different styles. Music has
always been as important as the food I
eat and life in itself.
What
established artist in music has had a
huge impact in your life?
Carl
Henry:
A variety of artists. Gospel
music in the early stages was the muse
of my main source. The likes of The
Clark Sisters. And the list goes on. As
I got older and discovered other forms
of music; old soul classics like Marvin
Gaye, Stevie Wonder; his album, ‘In the
Key of Light’…it’s timeless. Hopefully I
can make music like that. Not only
people can jam through but 30, 40 years
down the line, their like yeah, it’s
still hot.
What
does your music bring to R&B?
Carl
Henry:
Well, I’m not trying to re-invent the
wheel. I’m just doing what Carl Henry
does. The reaction I get from people is
that it’s real familiar but it’s not
competitive but certainly expressive. I
think that the tone of my voice and what
I’m trying to bring…that’s R&B music at
its core. That’s another element that I
try to bring in. That hip hop feel, the
hype of Dancehall. It’s vocal and I’m
one of those artists that want to sing
for people.
Are you
interested at all in returning to
gospel?
Carl
Henry:
Oh yeah. That’s were my
foundation. That is something that will
always be with me. Stay with me.
As a new
artist you want to work with so many.
Who would you like to work with?
Carl
Henry:
There is
a long list of artists that I really
enjoy listening to. The likes of Mary.
She’s one of those artists that
exemplifies getting better with time. If
you listen to her from ‘what’s the 411?’
till now, she definitely matured
musically. She just evolved into this
icon. So definitely I could be 1/10th
of that.
What
would you say your style of music is?
Carl
Henry:
It’s basically a new urban
experience. When it’s in the club, you
not only hear hip hop, you not only hear
R&B, and you hear some reggae tone. You
get different hybrids of what different
types of music are. So I think my music
is that. I try to bring certain elements
to that. Being Jamaican, Reggae music
has always been a part of my musical
life. I try to find a certain balance
that people relate to. It’s still radio
friendly.
How do
you, yourself, stay balanced?
Carl
Henry:
I try to stay focused. At the end of the
day these are the people who buy my
records and come to my concerts. So it’s
being constantly appreciative. Also, the
people that I’m surrounded with; my
friends, my management; their very close
to me. They tell me if I’m ok or Carl
you’re trippin’. I try to find that
balance by not taking it all too
seriously, you know?
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