Van Hunt Fun Facts
Favorite food: Cereal and sushi (but not together)
Sign: Pisces
Van Hunt has made a name for himself as an eclectic
force to be reckoned with. His critically lauded, Grammy-nominated 2004
self-titled debut introduced us to a multi-talented artist making it on
his own musical terms. Unfortunately, although critics and European
audiences embrace the Dayton, OH native's alternative flavor, the US
recording industry's marketing machine erroneously labeled him as
"neo-soul." Despite the marketer's cluelessness, Hunt knows exactly
where he came from and who he creates tunes for.
"One
day I heard music - maybe it was 'When Doves Cry' or 'Mary Jane,'
something I really loved - and it opened a whole other world for me,"
he shared. "As a kid, the road is wide open, and that excitement is
what I want from a record. That's who I make music for, that same kid
in me."
His latest, On The Jungle Floor, finds him embracing a slew of genres such as rock, R&B, punk, blues and pop.
"Some of it sounds like the Isley Brothers," said Hunt, "and some of it sounds like the Smiths."
In an exclusive interview with HiphopRnbSoul.com, Hunt took the time to shout out and shed more light
on his music as well as his inspirations, favorite American Idol (Randy Jackson's his manager) and
how boxing fits with his creative process.
Audio Interview (Quicktime)
- Who, living or dead, inspires you?
"I feel like the spirit of Theolonius Monk runs through me."
- You've
taken your mom to big events like the Grammys. What role did she play
in shaping you into the man and artist you are today?
- How does spirituality manifest in and as your music?
- What do you think you're bringing to the table with this album that you may not have with the first one? How have you grown?
"I'm a big boxing fan. What they say in boxing is at some point you
have to learn that you can't depend on emotion to get you through you
gotta depend on your skill. And that's what I did with this album."
- Who's your favorite American Idol so far?
- Are you in love right now? If so, how does uplift you?
- Favorite designer? Where's your sense of style come from?
"I get into clothes and sometimes I don't. If I lived near a beach I
probably wouldn't wear any clothes." I could function very well in a
nudist colony."
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