I’ve got an interesting story about this brother. A few years ago (2021), we were contacted by one of our PR friends about speaking with Mr. Garrett, who was then promoting his project, “The Lightness of Love”. That was during the pandemic so we never got finalized scheduling. However, I was sent “My Gift To You”, which is one of the singles from that album. I love that record, still have it in my phone, and I listen to it from time to time, especially when I am driving.
Present day, we were contacted by another PR friend who was helping Mr. Garrett promote a new project titled, “Talk To Her Like This” and while covering an event for one of their other clients, I introduced myself to Mr. Garrett (who was also in attendance) and I briefly explained the previous occurrences. I was excited that we had an interview date on the books as well as a date for his virtual listening session that would take place the day prior to our interview.
During the listening session, we received an email from our PR friend from 2021 who saw me in his chat and reached out. I hadn’t spoken to her in awhile but learned that she was still supporting Mr. Garrett in his endeavors. That is amazing to me. It is funny how life works. I still have the original set of interview questions I had prepared back then and those questions, along with current topics made for a great conversation, overall. I guess the moral of the story is that things happen when they are supposed to. Let’s get it!
When I was young, I lived in Huntsville, AL for a few years due to being a military brat. Being an Alabama native, what is your take on the legacy of talent coming from your state?
I am proud to be from Alabama, born and raised. I was born and raised in Tuscaloosa, graduated from high school, and then went to Birmingham, Alabama. I realize how rich the history is. I know we’ve had our challenges historically in Alabama, but there is still something rich about coming from a place where if you make it, you really made it. You didn’t halfway make it, you earned it. “Roll Tide Roll”, which is in the spirit of my song, “Roll Slide Roll” goes back to that winning mindset that we don’t expect to lose. You might beat us, but you’re going to earn it, lol. You’re not going to walk up and just beat us down. So, that comes out in the music, especially from so many artists who have roots in Alabama and in the South. Historic acts like, The Temptations, the Levert family, etc. You can go on and on with people who have become legends in music that trace back to where we were born and raised and where you lived temporarily.
Explain your music journey.
Well, my first start was in church at age 11 when my dad bought me a bass guitar for my birthday because he saw how interested I was in music. He also prayed for me to learn how to play. That was my first introduction into the world of music and actually having an instrument in my hands. I learned to play by ear, which pretty much carried me through high school and college. I was playing on Gospel and R&B recordings, in churches, and was traveling as well and then I just went from there into production. I started making my own music and then went into songwriting. So, I’ve been around a long time but it became official in 2002 when I left Corporate America and went full time into being a musical entrepreneur. I just made the big leap and realized that I was in the music industry from that point forward, meaning that my health insurance, rent or mortgage, and children’s future was going to be paid for by my music business. It has been a very diverse journey from being a performing musician to being a performing artist, and a writer for other artists. I’ve touched a little bit of all of it, so I’m really excited that I’m still in the game and still able to be a musical entrepreneur.
Yesterday, during your virtual listening session for your latest project, “Talk To Her Like This”, you said that you were in a band at first and then went solo. How did that process go?
That was interesting, to be honest with you because as a bass guitarist and musical director, I was pretty good at what I did and so oftentimes when you’re trying to grow and evolve and you’re telling people that you support from a certain position that you’re about to do what they do it’s like, “Why you want to go and do that? You’re so good at this.”, you know? So ironically, it wasn’t the smoothest transition. Plus, being a vocalist was not something that I grew up wanting to be and honestly I just kind of stepped out on it just because my parents were like, “You keep writing these songs for everybody else. When are you going to sing your own songs?” so, I just gave it a shot and fell in love with it, being out in front, and actually connecting with the people. I hired a vocal coach and took being a vocalist and artist seriously, investing in myself from every aspect of artist development. I put myself on that track to become the person I am today.
That’s awesome, man. Over the years, we have interviewed a lot of artists from each genre, but I’ve rarely heard anyone mention actually taking lessons in vocal coaching and things of that nature. Break that down for us.
Well, it was my new instrument, you know? I knew how to work my hands as well as the technology and all of those other things, but I didn’t know that my vocal cords needed to be treated as an instrument and that there was a new training that I needed. Training from my eating habits to how hydration affected my vocals, how to expand my range, get the runs out, how to breathe, etc. These were all things I didn’t know how to do. I’m a student of the game and I love to learn so that was one of the things that I invested in at the beginning of my career. I had natural talent but I didn’t have the training. I needed the training so I could become more aware of what it means to be a professional vocalist, not just a talented singer. I would encourage anybody to do this as it is a part of their career development.
Aside from playing instruments, we have the vocal side of things and also the songwriting side. What have been the biggest differences between those two when it comes to writing music for yourself versus writing for other artists?
When I go in the studio and I’m working with other artists for the first time, I give them this example: I say, “Hey, we are going to make some Kool-Aid”. Some people know what I mean and some people don’t, depending on where they are from, lol. “This song is the jug of water and you are the Kool-Aid packet. You might be strawberry and I might be grape but I am going to be the sugar for this song. We are going to see you, but you are going to taste me, right? I am here to make you sweeter. I’m not here to change your color.”
I tell other artist that I’m not going to produce their vocals to sound like me to where people can tell that is an Alvin Garrett record. That approach makes other singers comfortable with me and it’s a certain humility and empathy that I establish before we even get started. I’m here to enhance everything they do, not change them. I take the back seat and let them go sing the song as if it was their own. I’ve seen other artists tour and win awards singing my songs and not feel like they have abandoned their own craft. I take that into my collaborations to kind of de-escalate any type of potential tension when they see that I am also an artist.
That is interesting, especially when you were talking about Kool-Aid and different flavors. You’ve worked with Fantasia, Joe, Kelly Rowland, and artists of that ilk, but one name that stood out to me was Jordan Knight (originally from “New Kids on the Block”). I was looking at some of your credits back when I was preparing for your interview in 2021 and at the time, I hadn’t heard that name in so long because he was on the Pop side. What was your experience working with him?
That was interesting and great all together, you know what I mean? I actually had a chance to get in the studio with him, so that was pretty cool. Of course, being a southern boy and being able to write a song for pop star who wanted that sort of R&B flavor with their pop, and who was drawn to my music made a great experience and a challenging one as well as I was able to make a record that could translate with someone like him. I worked on his projects, “Unfinished” (2011) and “Nick & Knight” (2014).
I have one of your records in my phone till this day that your PR team sent to me in 2021. When I was listening to it as part of the interview prep, I thought, “This song is actually dope” and I’ve kept it and still listen to it from time to time. The record is, “My Gift To You”. Tell me about that record.
Aw, man. That song was on the project that I wrote during the pandemic, called The Lightness of Love and some of it was sort of the space I was in at the time, a really relaxed space. I know that is interesting when you say during the pandemic, but I was just really chill and I was just appreciating life from a different perspective. When you hear the song, the vocals are really smooth and chill, but it has that message of love that’s consistent with my music and my writing. Also, it kind of fits into the holiday spirit, just based on some of the lyrics and the way it feels, you know? It’s like a kid’s excitement on December 25th. Of course, that is an evergreen line and people are like, “Is that a holiday song? A gift?” No, I’m saying that I am the gift. I am giving you myself. It is that kind of record that is indicative of my writing style and romantic lyrics, shall I say.
Right. During the listening session, you played one of your older music videos and said that you were going through some dark times during the creation of that particular song. So, I’m hearing that your music is based on different themes and you’re sticking with those themes throughout.
Yes, sir. Absolutely. I definitely pull from what’s going on in society, what’s on people’s minds, and what I feel people need. So, there is a certain level of connectivity. I call it, “The Musical DNA”. I try to keep that DNA in the record and not bounce all over the place, so you’re absolutely right. When people that are just now discovering me go back and listen to my other records, they will have independent experiences when they listen to each record because it encompasses a mode I was in at the time. I’m proud of the fact that none of my albums sound the same, but you can hear the growth and progression over time.
So with that being said, your latest project, “Talk To Her Like This” is a whole theme in itself. Break that down for us.
“Talk To Her Like This”! Number 1 and on a personal level, I’m paying tribute to the person who taught me how to talk to a woman and that’s my dad, Alvin Garrett, Sr. I grew up watching him love on my mama around the house all the time and I figured I wanted to get in the game. Who is better to show you while growing up, how you should treat a woman? So, when I would have those conversations with him, he would say, “Hey son, talk to her like this!” He would tell me about the poetry he’d written my mom. That is the spirit of it, on a personal level. Paying tribute to that direct conversation from man to young man.
Even when you listen to the title song on this project, I’m talking to the brothers. It’s a really cool record but overall and broadly, the message is that I believe our R&B music should still speak to women in a way that makes them feel loved and adored, not objectified, and not that they are the problem all the time, right? This is the type of R&B that you can play when you’re feeling like you want to be close to somebody and to let them know how you feel about them. The music speaks for you, where there’s a song that can capture that emotion or that experience and you play it. Overall, I want this to be that modern day project, I’m standing 10 toes down on that mission, and it is working so far.
I happened to be in my car when you were playing it yesterday and it sounds great. I couldn’t pick a song in particular that I liked over any of the other ones because it is one of those albums that seems like you just have to press play and let it go. I would hear a song with a catchy hook and begin singing along with it, but then the very next record would be dope too. Then, the one after that was dope. It just kept going. I didn’t get an opportunity to choose a favorite at all. You also kept the project at 10 records and it is cohesive. What is your personal favorite? I believe I heard you say one of them was your favorite.
Lol, I have to say, “Babies” is probably my favorite on any given day. It’s strong, “baby making music”. If you listen to the lyrics, is still deep in a sense, you know? It is romantic music about making love but on a deeper, more intimate level. Not just physically, but about creating dreams together so when you listen to that particular song and pay attention, what I’m saying is super dope, to me. I believe it can be hard to pick a favorite and to dive a little into my creative process with this particular album, I didn’t record a lot of extra songs. I took my time with each record, lived with them, and actually wrote the songs and learned them before I went in the studio. Sometimes, that goes differently when people are trying to rush projects. They want to get it done so they’ll go in the studio and explore each record on the mic. I’ve also done that but for this project, I’d sing the song until I loved how it sounded live and then I would get on the mic. I captured a different type of conviction once I knew the song. I believe that method really paid off for me.
Oh, absolutely! Once we hit track 3 and 4, I felt like there were no misses at that point. I recall the women in the chat chiming in on “Babies” in particular but they really felt appreciated throughout all of the records. What made you go with 10 records instead of a full LP like 12 or 13?
I just wanted the right story. When it felt like the project was done, it was done. I started another record, but I felt like I was forcing it onto the project. Keep in mind, I tested myself and I am my harshest critic, so I listened over and over again and was done when I felt at peace. Each song rolls into the next and I didn’t want to press anything. I may press “repeat”, depending on what mood I am in but I am not skipping anything. I wanted to give my audience a smooth experience that doesn’t take too long to get to the end because I want them to go back to the beginning and do it again.
I don’t want to call it “anxiety”, but you mentioned that you were awaiting feedback from us about the project and you just talked about being your harshest critic. How do you go about letting things go the way they need to go without stressing yourself out by possibly overthinking?
Lol, first you have to have good people on your team that can slap you upside the head and say, “Calm down! Everything is going to be alright!” I have a good team of people who stop me from overthinking and getting into analysis paralysis. I do believe that a certain level of butterflies should always remain, a certain level of humble nervousness. It’s like a humility that even if you love something, don’t just come in the room thinking everybody else is going to feel the exact same way. I know this may be totally unrelated, but when I was a young man taking Taekwondo, my instructor said, “The moment you don’t have butterflies, you are already beaten because you are going in too cocky”. So, you need to have butterflies when you are going into a fight because that means that you are respecting your opponent. You see what I mean? So, I embrace that as a part of my personality, but also a part of the discovery process.
What are your plans for this project release in regard to promotion? I know you are in Mississippi at the moment and are doing listening sessions.
I want to touch the people with this one, you know? Of course, we are going to do digital and social media. Everyone is doing that but I am going and retracing my roots. I have been to a lot of cities as a musician and I have a lot of friends all over the place. I am going to call and let them know I want to come to their cities and shake hands with their people before we even worry about selling concert tickets or getting on the stage because that is coming. This first phase is just promotion, man. I want to let them hear the music, talk to them, and build close relationships with them. I call it “Musical Town Halls”. As an R&B artist, I feel that is necessary because people feel like they know you and not just you from behind a screen. We’ve got a great publicity team that is pulling so many great opportunities together to talk to people like you, FINALLY and so many other media outlets that are opening up their platforms for me to share my story and my music.
Last question. Being that you want to get out and meet people, shake hands, and kiss babies, tell us something about yourself that most don’t know.
I am a girl dad and I am a bit of a softie, ok? When I’m not traveling, I wake up every morning, I get my exercise on, and I go take my girls to school so I can get that daddy-daughter time before I get on the grind. Lol, they don’t let me record all the wonderful moments we have so people may not see the magic but as they have gotten older, they are really brutal with me about recording and posting them. But, I am just a very happy girl dad, man. So, that may not be something people get to see all the time through my promotions and platform but that is something that is really dear to me.
For more on Alvin Garrett, visit @thealvingarrett on Instagram.
To download and stream, “Talk To Her Like This”, click the album cover below.
Photos by Nathan Pearcy.
Words + Interview By: Tyrone Davis
