Kamasi Washington on fatherhood, music, and authenticity

Kamasi Washington is set to release his highly anticipated new album, “Fearless Movement,” on May 3, 2024. Washington describes the album as his “dance album,” and it promises to be a deeply personal and rhythmic exploration of movement, expression, and the human spirit.

“Fearless Movement” features an impressive lineup of guest artists, including André 3000 on flute, funk legend George Clinton, rising rapper D Smoke, R&B singer BJ the Chicago Kid, and Washington’s own daughter, who wrote the melody for the track “Asha The First” during her first experimentations with the piano. The album also includes contributions from frequent collaborators like Thundercat and Terrace Martin. In a candid conversation, acclaimed saxophonist and composer Kamasi Washington opened up to HYFIN’s music director, Element, about fatherhood, musical evolution, and staying true to oneself.

The birth of Washington’s daughter Asha sparked a profound shift in his approach to music. While parenthood initially caused some insecurity about taking focus away from his craft, Washington found that the unconditional love for his child strengthened his connection to music. “It made my attachment to music, to music even stronger,” he reflects. Witnessing Asha’s pure joy in discovering the piano inspired him to create with the same sense of open possibility. “That spirit of everything is new, everything is perfect, every possibility is worth exploring.”

Washington’s recent album reflects this journey of personal and artistic growth. Collaborating with luminaries like Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, and Dinner Party allowed him to push his sound in new directions. For Washington, the music itself serves as the guiding light in the creative process. “The music is king,” he asserts. “The music is the guiding light. And when you kind of submit to that, and you kind of let the music guide you… most of the time we all come to the same conclusion.”

Reflecting on the pandemic era, Washington’s track “Garden Path” grapples with the prevalence of misinformation and deception. “There just seems to be so much deception happening,” he observes. The song is a call for discernment and authenticity – to not be misled but rather stay true to one’s own path and purpose. “If you’re not true to yourself… then you really like what’s the value of lying to yourself, you know?”

Fatherhood has had a transformative impact on Washington, both as a person and musician. By letting go of ego and expectations and instead embracing curiosity and connection, he has entered an exciting new chapter – one sure to yield more soulful and expansive music. “The whole premise of the record is to be true to yourself,” Washington explains. “It’s okay who you are and it’s okay where you’re going and what you’re going to be, you know, your journey is yours. And you don’t need to be afraid of it.” Through his own example, Washington hopes to inspire his daughter and listeners to approach life with an open heart and, above all else, to fearlessly be themselves.