Darius Rucker

Darius Rucker

HOOT AND HOLLER
Darius Rucker of Hootie & the Blowfish Explores His Classic Soul Roots
Taking a break from his successful rock band, Hootie & the Blowfish, vocalist Darius Rucker has released a solo disc that's raised more than a few eyebrows. Skeptics, including Barnes & Noble's R&B and Hip-Hop editor Tracy E. Hopkins, scoffed -- Hootie singing R&B? That's gonna be wack! But armed with his richly soulful baritone and a bevy of melodic hooks, Rucker has silenced naysayers with Back to Then, a blues, funk, hip-hop, and gospel-inspired set that features soon-to-be classic collaborations with his Hidden Beach labelmate Jill Scott and G-funk rap all-star Snoop Dogg. After two steamy shows in New York City, the noticeably weary Rucker talked to us about his solo project.

Barnes & Noble.com: At your show the other night, there was an interesting mix of Hootie & the Blowfish fans and neo-soul fans in the crowd. How do you think each group has received your new music?

Darius Rucker: I think [each group] has accepted it well. They seem to be people who just listen to the music and don't have any preconceived notions.

B&N.com: Have your fellow Hootie bandmates given you feedback on your album?

DR: Oh yeah, they like it and listen to it. We talked about it.

B&N.com: Were they surprised at your new musical direction as a soul man?

DR: They [Mark Bryan, Dean Felber, and Jim "Soni" Sonefeld] knew I was always into R&B, so I don't think they were surprised. I think it was cool for them to see me doing something that we don't do with Hootie.

B&N.com: You've also undergone an image change with your new album. Goodbye jeans and baseball caps; hello dress shirts and slacks. You're giving the ladies something to look at, huh?

DR: I guess. [laughs] It's been fun. I think [my change in style] is more of a product of just growing older. I discovered that I like clothes. [laughs]

B&N.com: What attracted you to record Back to Then on Hidden Beach?

DR: Hidden Beach is becoming known for great music, and I wanted a label that was going to stick by the project and be there through the whole thing. I really liked Steve McKeever [one of the disc's executive producers] when I met him, and from talking to Jill [Scott] about how much she loves [the label], I thought it was the place for me.

B&N.com: Did you know Jill Scott before you did the album?

DR: We recorded our song, "Sometimes I Wonder," like a year and a half before I signed with Hidden Beach. I met her through some guys who had worked with her, and we called her. She was in town, and she came down and wrote the song with me.

B&N.com: In a press release about the disc, you say that in Jill you've found your Tammi Terrell.

DR: She's someone I can sing with anytime. She's such an angel and a wonderful person to be around. I look forward to working with her again.

B&N.com: Are you a fan of any other neo-soul artists?

DR: I like a lot of it. I like Musiq and India [Arie]. I love Jill and that whole scene that's going on right now. I'm really into it.

B&N.com: With Back to Then, were you inspired more by contemporary or classic soul?

DR: Definitely the classic, old-school soul has influenced me the most.

B&N.com: You've said that this is the kind of music you thought you'd do before you formed Hootie & the Blowfish. What turned you on to rock?

DR: That was during my early years in college when I met Mark [Ryan]. We started jamming and that's when I really got into rock 'n' roll.

B&N.com: You do a great collaboration with Snoop on "Sleeping in My Bed." How did that come about?

DR: I've always been a Snoop fan. He was one of the few people I said I had to work with when I started this [solo project], just 'cause I love him. He's so cool and so talented. That one was a no-brainer for me.

B&N.com: I've also read that you were a big fan of the Notorious B.I.G.

DR: I thought the Ready to Die record was genius. I still think it's genius. I still listen to it all the time. That record really floored me and changed the way I was looking at music at the time.

B&N.com: What other hip-hop are you listening to?

DR: There's a lot of stuff out there I listen to right now. I think Ja Rule's voice is amazing. I'm with anything [Dr.] Dre's on. Eminem's new record [The Eminem Show] is off the chain.

B&N.com: When are you planning to do a new Hootie record?

DR: We've already finished it, and we plan to put it out in 2003, when I'm finished [promoting] my record.

B&N.com: Any surprises in store for the new Hootie record?

DR: It's rock 'n' roll. We've found that no matter what we do, we still sound like us.

B&N.com: What makes a Darius Rucker song?

DR: The hooks. But I guess it's mostly the voice. That's how you can tell.

B&N.com: Vocally, who were you inspired by?

DR: Al Green was a big influence, as well as Sam Cooke and Luther Vandross. I'd love to work with Luther.

B&N.com: You do a rendition of "Amazing Grace," and that leads into the gospel-like song "Somewhere." Have you ever thought of doing a gospel album?

DR: I think that would probably be too much of a stretch right now. [laughs] I grew up in church. "Amazing Grace" was a staple. Every week someone was singing it.

B&N.com: You're still touring and promoting your solo album. Are you still touring with Hootie as well?

DR: We play shows all the time. We played last night [August 6, 2002], actually, and we're going to be going on tour next year.

B&N.com: Is it hard for you to switch gears?

DR: Nah, it's actually pretty cool. I get to express both sides of who I am as an artist.

August 7, 2002