A true original, Lenny Kravitz’s genre-agnosticism, trendsetting fashion, and understated, yet effusive charisma predicted the fluidity of 21st century popular culture.
Baptized by the energy of New York in the sixties and catalyzed by the maverick spirit of Los Angeles in the seventies, he pioneered a hybrid of rock ‘n’ roll, funk, blues, soul, and psychedelia never heard prior or exactly replicated after—yielding sales of 40 million albums worldwide, selling out arenas on multiple continents, garnering four consecutive GRAMMY® Awards, and making history for “most GRAMMY® wins in the ‘Best Male Rock Vocal Performance’ category.” Honored by the CFDA with the 2022 “Fashion Icon Award” and chosen as the face for YSL Beauty’s Y Cologne, his influence as a style icon has coursed through generations, redefining possibilities for black artists and entertainers across rock, hip-hop, and pop as well as culture at large. His creative firm Kravitz Design Inc. touts an impressive portfolio of noteworthy ventures, including hotel properties, condominium projects, private residences, and high-end legendary brands like Rolex, Leica and Dom Perignon. In 2022, he launched his own ultra-premium spirits brand, Nocheluna Sotol—a distillate from Chihuahua, Mexico derived from the sotol plant.
Kravitz’s presence has not only persisted, but magnified, whether it be on stages including The Kennedy Center Honors to the Oscars, at the White House (where former President Barack Obama cited him as “one of the great rock stars of all time”), and with an upcoming 2023 Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Pharrell once told The FADER, “He’s been doing it for years, and everything that he did, it was just always the best shit,” while Steve Lacy cited him as a “role model” in a recent Billboard cover story. In fact, you’d be hard pressed to find a corner of culture Lenny hasn’t impacted. He has shined in films and throughout the worlds of architecture and design, as well as authoring multiple books including his New York Times’ Bestsellers List memoir Let Love Rule.
Now, this relentless creative force, musician, writer, producer, actor, author, and designer fearlessly embarks on his next chapter with his 12th full-length offering, Blue Electric Light [Roxie Records/BMG]. The release will feature 12 tracks and a double LP.
For Lenny, the introspection of an extended reprieve incited the inventiveness of the music itself.
“I spent two years at my home in the Bahamas recording,” he recalls. “It gave me time to reflect and go deeper.”
At the same time, Lenny opened himself up to access channels of sound, emotion, and fire as transformative as his most seminal fare.
“Nothing is more personal to me than my music, and it’s my music that allows me to channel feelings that otherwise might never surface,” he adds. “The channeling process is mystical. I don’t feel like these songs have been written by me as much as they have been offered to me. My purpose is to pass on the offering by expressing raw feelings that sometimes make sense but other times remain mysterious…even to me.”
At the same time, he still plugs in and kicks ass on rockers like the cheekily titled “TK421.”
“I call it rock ‘n roll fantasy,” he elaborates. “In this case, it’s a double reference: a catch phrase from one of my favorite films, Boogie Nights, that itself refers to Star Wars. It’s also a distant cousin to Bowie’s TVC15. I love songs that don’t necessarily mean anything yet mean everything. If I’m not having fun in the studio, something is wrong.”
In the studio, he once again uncovered more about himself as evidenced by the likes of “Human” where he sings, “When all of my days are done from pleasing everyone, I’ll finally have begun.”
“The most vital connection is with spirit,” he says. “To keep that correction strong, I can’t stop looking at what might undermine spirit. As someone raised to be a people-pleaser, I’m continually realizing how depending on outside validation keeps us from accessing natural spirit. I see the song as a declaration that says to be wholly human we need to embrace all of ourselves, especially our imperfections. I find joy in that embrace and try my best to put that joy into the music.”
“Joy” connects directly to the sensation of light at the heart of this body of work on standouts a la “Spirit in My Heart” and “Heaven.”
“The Blue Electric Light never goes dark,” exclaims Lenny. “Not if we’re plugged into the endless source of energy fueled by pure creative power.”
Then, there’s the album centerpiece “Love Is My Religion.” From the man who once proclaimed Let Love Rule on his classic 1989 debut, it’s both a full circle moment and a harbinger of the future.
Cast across culture, art, and the world, Lenny’s light may very well be brighter than ever now.
