Podcast Episode Summary

Podcast: All Of It
Host: Alison Stewart (WNYC)
Guest: Lalah Hathaway
Episode: Lalah Hathaway on 'VANTABLACK' and Town Hall Show (Listening Party)
Date: September 23, 2024

Overview

This episode of All Of It features acclaimed, Grammy-winning musician Lalah Hathaway, discussing her new album VANTABLACK ahead of her live performance at Town Hall. The conversation centers around the album's inspirations, creative process, key collaborators, Lalah's reflections on her roots, and how recent history shaped her artistry.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Inspiration Behind VANTABLACK

• Lalah Hathaway explains the album’s title draws from the darkest pigment, “vantablack,” and the concept of absorbing light and depth in both literal and metaphorical senses.
  • Quote:

    “Really realizing that the color was just absorbing all this light and everything around it, like this black hole. I thought it would be just such a great, a great calling card for the album.”
    — Lalah Hathaway [03:49]

Writing Affirmative Anthems: “I Am”

• Hathaway wanted to create a song that was “anthemic and something affirmative,” channeling positivity and self-affirmation, inspired in part by the “I Am a Man” poster from the Civil Rights movement.

  • Quote:

    “I wanted to write something that people could kind of get behind and go to war with and…get ready for school…just something affirmative and positive. I feel like there’s such a lack of that in the marketplace right now.”
    — Lalah Hathaway [04:32]

• On reinforcing affirmations in her daily life:

  • Quote:

    “I really like to kind of…make these declarations and affirmations every day…It may seem a little airy fairy…but it’s a great way to remember to be really literal about being positive out loud.”
    — Lalah Hathaway [06:54]

Vocal Arranging and Studio Process

• Lalah describes her instinctive approach to building vocal layers, treating each song individually, often adding and removing layers until the song “feels finished.”
  • Quote:

    “I really try to treat each song separately and really see how it feels…sometimes I add things and then take them away. So it’s really about answering the song mostly.”
    — Lalah Hathaway [07:42]

Artistic Growth Over the Past Seven Years

• Hathaway reflects on the seven-year gap between albums, noting that the pandemic’s forced pause provided much-needed “rest and restoration.” This downtime allowed her to process social and personal upheaval, particularly events around 2020 (e.g., Black Lives Matter, George Floyd).
  • Quote:

    “It was an actual real time of rest and restoration for me…we started writing really detached from the outcome of what might happen with the album. But in the end, I had a full story with an arc, so I was really happy about that.”
    — Lalah Hathaway [08:26]

Song Spotlight: “The Energy”

• “The Energy” is inspired by her Chicago upbringing and the warmth of community—family gathering, singing, sharing meals.
  • Quote:

    “The song was just so reminiscent of my childhood, kind of growing up in Chicago. That was what I was really wishing for during the first part of the quarantine…being able to get together with my friends and have a meal together.”
    — Lalah Hathaway [11:27]

Revisiting Her High School Roots

• Hathaway shares the profound impact of visiting the Chicago Academy for the Arts, her former high school, and the importance of creative mentorship.
  • Quote:

    “It made such a difference when creatives came…at my high school…Oprah Winfrey came, and she brought Michael Peters…So I really love being able to talk to young people…tell them that I’m on the same street as they are. I’m just a few blocks up the road, you know?”
    — Lalah Hathaway [12:05]

Collaborating with Michael McDonald

• The duet “No Lie” features Michael McDonald, a musical icon Hathaway has long admired.

  • Quote:

    “He’s such a part of the fabric of the music that I listened to growing up…So all these records…his voice is such a part of…He’s absolutely at the root of soul music for me.”
    — Lalah Hathaway [13:19]

• Fun studio anecdote: She connected with McDonald through Thundercat, with McDonald quickly agreeing to join the project.

The Live Experience and Audience Connection

• Hathaway addresses the legacy of powerful live performances in her family (Donny Hathaway) and her intention to create a communal, immersive experience for audiences.
  • Quote:

    “The crowd…they are a part of the music when we come to play for them…It’s really my job to make sure that the room is happy…to take care of the audience and give them an experience.”
    — Lalah Hathaway [16:24]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Manifesting Success:

  “You know, I’m working on manifesting my billion dollars as we speak.”
  — Lalah Hathaway [04:32]

• On Pandemic Reflection:

  “There was no traffic in LA…The sky was clear, there was no smog. So it was a real time for me of recharging.”
  — Lalah Hathaway [08:26]

• On Audience Recording Shows:

  “It’s so annoying when someone’s standing there with a full iPad to record your show when you’re just really trying to sing to them.”
  — Lalah Hathaway [16:24]

Important Timestamps

• [02:02] Introduction & album background
• [03:38 – 04:21] Origins of the "vantablack" theme
• [04:21 – 05:08] Writing “I Am”—affirmation and positivity
• [07:42] Studio and vocal arrangements
• [08:26] Reflections on growth, COVID, and inspiration for the album
• [11:27] The meaning of “The Energy” and family memories
• [12:05] Importance of giving back to young creatives
• [13:19] Making “No Lie” with Michael McDonald
• [16:24] On the energy of live performance and audience participation

Episode Flow

• Introduction
  Alison sets the stage, introducing Lalah Hathaway and the new album VANTABLACK, with a brief play of the title track.

• Album Inspiration
  Discussion moves into the meaning of the album’s title, followed by the inspiration for key songs (“I Am,” “The Energy”).

• Song Listening Sessions
  Several tracks from the album are played in full or in part, with Hathaway providing context and personal anecdotes between listens.

• Processes and People
  Detailed conversation about the creative process, vocal arrangements, and the experience collaborating with celebrated musicians like Michael McDonald.

• Personal Growth and Community
  Hathaway shares stories about her growth over the last seven years, pandemic reflections, revisiting her high school, and the joys of mentoring and connecting with young artists.

• Live Performance
  The chat concludes on Hathaway’s anticipation for her live show at Town Hall and the sacred nature of audience connection.

Closing

All Of It with Alison Stewart spotlights Lalah Hathaway’s thoughtful, soulful approach to making VANTABLACK, weaving together affirmations, community memory, and the vitality of live performance. Hathaway’s humor, warmth, and intention shine through—making this episode both an intimate listening party and a reflection on the purpose of creative work in challenging times.