Nine-time Grammy Award winner André 3000 recently captivated an intimate audience at the Grammy Museum’s Clive Davis Theater during an exclusive evening of conversation and performance centered on his latest album, “New Blue Sun.”
Released in November 2023, the wind-focused instrumental project marks André’s first solo album in two decades and has garnered critical acclaim, including three Grammy nominations—among them, Album of the Year.
The event began with a transformative sound bath performance that set the tone for the evening. Following the performance, André joined Michael Wood, Pop Music Critic at the Los Angeles Times, for an in-depth fireside chat about his career, creative process, and the serendipity behind “New Blue Sun.”
“We are kind of hanging on moment by moment,” André said of his creative approach.
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“Sometimes it’s super beautiful. Sometimes it’s very, very scary. Sometimes it’s jubilation blowing through the roof.”
André credited his move to Venice Beach and a chance meeting with musician Carlos Niño for inspiring the album.
“None of this was planned,” he revealed. “It’s like following breadcrumbs — that’s how I’ve always done it. If I hadn’t moved to Venice Beach or met this group of musicians, none of this would exist.”
The album’s opening track, “I Swear, I Really Wanted to Make a ‘Rap’ Album, But This Is Literally the Way the Wind Blew Me This Time,” has made history by breaking the record for the longest song to debut on the Billboard Hot 100. The project’s improvisational essence also shone through in André’s live performance.
“We start with silence,” he explained. “The only cue is how we’re going to board the plane, and then we just go free. It’s about flying free and letting the music guide us.”
When asked about the emotional depth of instrumental music, André reflected, “I’ve always admired instrumentalists who don’t say words but can make me feel something profound. Instrumental music is like a universal language — you can feel it no matter where you’re from.”
Previous concerts concluded with audience members visibly moved, some shedding tears. André recounted a moment when Tyler, The Creator, after hearing the album, shared how it helped him process long-held thoughts.
“It’s like a score for your brain,” André said, encapsulating the album’s introspective and transformative power.
