Utah Pride Festival: Meshell Ndegeocello
Singer is 'free like a bird'
By David Burger
The Salt Lake Tribune
Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated:06/02/2008 06:13:09 PM MDT

Born Michelle Johnson, she changed her name as a teenager to Meshell
Ndegeocello, which means "free like a bird."
Freedom is important to 10-time Grammy nominee Ndegeocello
(pronounced n-deh-gay-o-chel-o), who will headline the Utah Pride
Festival Saturday. The festival, sponsored by the Utah Pride Center,
is the largest Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender community event in
Utah.

Ndegeocello, noted for "Wild Night," her 1994 chart-topping duet
with John Mellencamp, is an openly bisexual singer, rapper,
songwriter, virtuoso bassist and multi-instrumentalist who is
a "good fit" for the festival, said Yana Walton, director of
communications for the Utah Pride Center.

"We always look for a world-renowned and well-known musician,"
Walton said. "A lot of her lyrics deal with sexuality and race and
gender and politics."

Ndegeocello, who prefers e-mail interviews because of a "general
shyness," her publicist said, answered questions about her latest
album, her hit duet "Wild Night," and her recollections of the Utah
sky.

Q: What did you set out to do with your latest album, "The World
Has Made Me the Man of My Dreams"? What do reviews - in this case
universally positive - mean to you?
A: The record was just an _expression of a time and place,
struggle and love. I'm glad if people feel it.

Q: Although it was a long time ago, people still seem surprised
that you linked up with John Mellencamp for your biggest hit, a
cover of Van Morrison's "Wild Night." Did he come to you, and how
has that experience affected your career since then?
A: It was a label thing, I think. I liked him. People always ask
about it and that's honestly probably the biggest effect.

Q: Any trepidation about turning 40 on Aug. 29?
A: Mmm. Trying not to. Trying hard.

Q: What kind of advice would you give to a person who was trying
to start a music career at this point now?
A: It's all so different now. I'd just tell anyone to own as
much of their careers as they can.

Q: Your last Utah visit was at the Gallivan Center's Twilight
Concert Series in July 2006. Any memories of that performance, or
any other in Utah?
A: I had a good time that visit and remember that the sky and
air were clear and big. I've always liked Salt lake City.

Q: Why do you believe you were asked to headline the Utah Pride
Festival this summer?
A: It can be pretty uncomfortable to be a non-heterosexual
person in the public eye. There aren't many. I hope it's because
people know I don't care what they do, I just hope they feel good.
---
* DAVID BURGER can be reached at dburger@sltrib.com or 801-257-
8620. Send comments about this story to livingeditor@sltrib.com.

A festive night out
Meshell Ndegeocello performs Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Washington
Square, 400 S. State St., Salt Lake City. Tickets are $10 and
include admission to the festival. They are available at
www.utahpride.org.

thanks for the interview, cool stuff..

Thanks for posting this! And Matthew, thanks for keeping the site alive.

Waterbabyv aka Aminah V

I'm doing my best. Thanks to those who still visit