The distinctively voiced Macy Gray talks to SoulCulture TV in London about how she chose her stage name, her desire to record jazz and rock albums, being a jazz vocalist and her new album, The Sellout.

“This was a very liberating record for me. On my last album [Big, 2007] I was a bit guided – everybody was in my ear telling me what I should do next and who I should work with,” she admits of her previous release. “Suddenly I was kinda lost in opinion-land and I ended up making a record that is OK but it wouldn’t have been the record that I would have made on my own.

“So this time I did exactly what I wanted and I worked with all the people I wanted and when I wanted and I used my own money so nobody could say anything. It’s as close to honest as I am right now, in my my music. I hope it’s pure.”

WATCH:

“How I failed at conformity and how I failed at fitting in
- like I have my whole life.”

Featuring Bobby Brown, The Bodyrockers, Kaz James and Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum formerly of Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver, The Sellout is available from June 21st via Universal Records.

Macy Gray performs live in London next month at Live from Leicester Square on July 13th and July 14th.

Photography by Steve Rutherford for SoulCulture