Exclusive: André 3000 reveals why his new solo album has no bars — and no boundaries

NPR Music

NPR

Music

4.3 • 3.3K Ratings

🗓️ 14 November 2023

⏱️ 72 minutes

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Summary

For the first time in nearly two decades, André 3000 is releasing an album of new music. New Blue Sun, set to be released this Friday, Nov. 17, is a stunning 87-minute mind-bender, minimalist and experimental, tribal and transcendent.

One thing it is not, however, is a rap record. In a conversation with NPR Music's Rodney Carmichael, the legendary musician talks about creativity, grief and inspiration, about finding his voice in a new instrument, and explains why he took his music in a wildly unexpected direction.

You can read the full interview with André 3000 at NPR.org/music.

Transcript

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0:00.0	This message comes from an PR sponsor, Mass Mutual.
0:03.5	Don't let the day-to-day of running your business keep you from planning for tomorrow.
0:07.8	Start preparing for the future.
0:09.6	Talk to a Mass Mutual financial professional today today feel comfortable about tomorrow.
0:14.3	Rodney.
0:15.7	Yes sir, what's going on man?
0:17.5	How you doing?
0:18.8	Good, good, good.
0:19.8	Cannot complain.
0:21.2	I hear you.
0:22.3	I hear you brought your flute today. Yeah I mean I kind of always have it with me.
0:26.0	No doubt. No doubt. You know good time saver. Yeah yeah I hear you.
0:31.2	Andre 3,000 has arrived and the man is come bearing gifts y'all.
0:37.1	The enigmatic half of our cast is dropping his first album of new music in nearly two decades.
0:44.0	And even from an artist known for defined expectation,
0:47.0	man, this one right here, it sounds totally out of the blue.
0:51.0	New Blue Sun is the title, and it's the first album of his career that comes with
0:55.6	this kind of advisory sticker warning no bars in other words this ain't a
1:01.7	rap album it's Andre's instrumental debut.
1:05.0	He made it in collaboration with some heavy experimental jazz cats in LA,
1:10.0	like Carlos Nino, Surry Bo de Focna, and Nate Mercero.
1:15.0	Now the album drops this Friday, November 17.
	...

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