Willis Wonderland is the setting of the (professional) life of Allee Willis. The colorful eclectic style and decor of the house where Willis lives and works is part of who she is and what she wants to achieve. “It’s about how the stuff inspires you to show your true character. You become more yourself. That’s my goal as an artist: ‘get the most out of yourself’ and inspire others to do the same.”
Pointer Sisters
She approaches her work as a songwriter in the same idiosyncratic way. The artist insists that she is allowed to do her own thing during her work. “If I’m writing for others and they have to approve every word, God knows what songs they’ll be.”
A song in which Willis’ own sound is very clear? “Neutron Dance by the Pointer Sisters. That song is my style.” Willis writes the song about taking matters into your own hands. “Life can get too much, especially in this day and age. You can’t pay the rent, you’ve been dumped, you’ve lost your job and your car and all that stuff,” she says. According to the songwriter, it’s about not giving in to all those negative events in your life. “Push the button and start a new life. Before someone pushes the button and we all go up in the air. So you better make the most of it.”
Bonnie Raitt, Patti LaBelle en Herbie Hancock
When the songwriter starts her professional existence, she cannot read music. But that doesn’t stop her. One of the first great artists for whom she writes is Bonnie Raitt. But it’s Patti LaBelle who really discovers Willis and pushes her to keep developing. “She gave me money to make demos because I was broke.” And Little Girls eventually rolls out of those encouragements.
When LaBelle asks Willis to help write lyrics for a friend who records in the same studio in early 1978, the songwriter isn’t keen. “I thought: I’m not going to write with an unknown writer.” But when she is in the big studio and has to go to the toilet, the unknown artist proves to be persistent. “He came into the bathroom too. I closed the cubicle and saw two male feet under the door. He said, ‘Patti says you’re very good. I’ll wait for you in the hallway. Please come to my studio.”” Then Willis really can’t refuse anymore. Arriving in the studio, she is impressed by the number of keyboards there. But without asking any questions, she immediately starts writing. “Honestly, it took at least half an hour. I looked around. I saw the keyboards and he looked familiar. Suddenly I thought, oh my God, I’m writing with Herbie Hancock!”
Earth, Wind & Fire
In the end, Willig writes much of the album Feets, Don’t Fail Me Now. “From that moment on I could enter into a collaboration completely blind. Whatever music was made, I could do it.”
Thanks to her connections to Hancock, LaBelle and a friend who is dating the Earth, Wind & Fire bassist, she receives a call one night from none other than Earth, Wind & Fire lead singer Maurice White asking if she wants the new album. to write. “After that conversation I said to myself: this can’t be true. I was in shock.”
Watch the entire episode below:
2023-07-30 07:01:19
#impressive #career #songwriter #Allee #Willis
