One of the most recognizable rock stars on the planet, Kravitz has already succeeded on countless levels -- including 15 million albums sold since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking sales data in 1991. But with a new label partnership, a burgeoning acting career, an upcoming album and world tour, major brand deals, numerous TV/film synchs and other entrepreneurial projects -- the four-time Grammy Award winner is at the top of his game. Indeed, judging by the aggressive promotional campaign for his ninth album on Atlantic Records/Roadrunner Records, Kravitz has his work cut out for him."There's a lot going on at once," says Kravitz, who will be seen in movie theatres in "The Hunger Games," the anticipated film adaptation of Suzanne Collins' best-selling trilogy. The musician/actor was tapped to play the role of fashion stylist Cinna after "Pleasantville" director Gary Ross was dazzled by his appearance in 2009's critically acclaimed "Precious." "I have to organize," Kravitz says. "There are a lot of deadlines coming from a lot of different places."
In addition to "Games" and promoting "Black and White America," Kravitz is working on various hotel and condominium design projects in Miami through his company Kravitz Design. And in his spare moments, he's also an avid photographer. Kravitz may note that he's "got enough jobs right now," but he says he's always open to more creative work. And the artist's camp isn't worried that his outside endeavors will interfere with the intense promo cycle of "Black and White."
"From the first day we met Lenny, he told us how important this album was to him and how hungry he is to expose it," Roadrunner president Jonas Nachsin says. "We have no question of his commitment to that."
Kravitz arrives at Atlantic/Roadrunner after a long-standing relationship with Virgin, which released 1989's classic “Let Love Rule” and, most recently, 2008's “It Is Time for a Love Revolution”. The latter has sold 240,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Despite leaving Virgin with one album left on his contract, the artist says he and the label parted on friendly terms.
"It was just time for a change," he says. "It was not the place I'd signed to. It had gone through many versions... it was time for new blood."
The son of filmmaker/TV producer Sy Kravitz (of Ukrainian/Jewish descent) and Florida-born African-American actress Roxie Roker (Helen on CBS TV’s 70s "The Jeffersons"), the theme of Kravitz's new album is the dynamic(s) of growing up in an interracial environment. "This is what I know and how I had to live," he says. "It's where we are in America with a lot of people having to deal with the fact that it's not just white America--it's black and white America, and everything in between."
The 16-song set's title track was written in response to a documentary about white supremacists in post-Obama America. Kravitz doesn't recall the title of the film, but says he randomly found it while flipping through channels. "It was people talking about how they wanted America to be like it was 100 years ago," he says. "To hear people as hardcore as they were -- in 2011 -- kind of blew my mind. Like, 'These people still exist? Wow.'"
"Black and White America" was recorded in the Bahamas and Paris beginning in mid-2009. The contrasting city environments played a significant role in shaping the set's overall vibe. "The Bahamas enabled me to be away from mainstream society," Kravitz says. "It gave me time to reflect and think about my life--and to feel. The music that came out was extremely pure. When I took it to Paris and was driving around the car in the middle of all this electricity, the music sounded different. It influenced me as far as what overdubs were going to go in, that would bring this electricity."
Kravitz produced and played most of the instruments on “Black and White America”, bringing in regular guitarist Craig Ross and Trombone Shorty for the horn section. In addition to guest appearances by Jay-Z ("Boongie Drop") and Drake ("Sunflower"), the album includes a song co-written with Swizz Beatz ("Sunflower"). Touching on rock, funk, pop, R&B, jazz and blues, the collection contains some of the most musically diverse songs of Kravitz's 20-year career. He riffs hard on "Rock Star City Life" and "Come On Get It," displays old-school R&B on "Superlove," delves into some reggae on "Boongie Drop" and reveals a softer side on the ballad "Dream."
"I never stick to one thing on an album," Kravitz says. "But this one, with 16 tracks, really gives a good music history of where I come from and who I am."
Lenny Kravitz will be at The Fillmore at the Jackie Gleason Theatre in Miami Beach, Florida on Saturday February 25, 2012.
