When Mary Boukouvalas spoke to Freedom Williams from C+C Music Factory, he was in a car in Brooklyn with his daughter, and was eating a falafel. C+C Music Factory, a dance music group (led by Robert Clivilles and David Cole), brought a hybrid form of house music, scoring several massive pop hits all over the world during the early 1990’s. [pullquote]Freedom Williams’ scene is “spending time with my daughter, doing business, writing music and shooting film because it gives you an entire palette to work with.” [/pullquote]Williams was keen to mention his birthday party; a big event held on the 11th of February, where he gives an award and “raises money for charity”. He explained that he decided to do this because he “had some problems with life, and still there are around thirty thousand homeless people in New York City alone.” Williams explained that in New York it’s “cold in winter and there’s really no need for anyone to be homeless because there’s enough space for everybody.” Despite his philanthropic attitude, Williams feels he could “always do more”.
When asked about his music, Williams explained that his lyrics are about the “fun parts of life”. While admitting that “everything is somewhat unintentionally political” he believes that there is “strength in people coming together and having a good time”. [pullquote]“People don’t help as much as they can because they’re scared…Fear keeps us in line.” [/pullquote]Here he points out that when people are having fun they believe they can do something to help, perhaps thinking that there’s safety in numbers and security in being among a group of likeminded individuals.
Williams lists some of his musical influences: Michael Jackson, Billy Squier, Elton John. Run DMC, Stylistics, The Platters, Led Zeppelin, and Metallica. He saves the biggest rap for Stevie Wonder. Some contemporary likes mentioned were Alice Smith, Mortal techniques and Alex Cuba. His eclectic tastes come from a philosophy that rap performers need to appreciate a wide range of music, and certainly he draws his favourites from a spectrum of genres. Maybe because he describes his music as fun, Williams says his music in food form would be a banana split. “I’m not serving the whole three courses, just the dessert.”
What does Williams think of touring? He loves it. He says that it’s easier to tour with a hit record and that he enjoys all aspects of the tour. Soon he will spend two-and-a-half weeks in Australia and that makes him “excited”. “I enjoy the shopping in Australia, and the culture, and I usually spend a lot of time at indigenous radio stations.”
So catch him on tour here soon, as part of the 90s Mania Tour, and look out for his reality T.V. show that’s about parenting. It’s no wonder that Williams’ daughter wants to be an entertainer like her father, for there’s certainly a lot for her to look up to and be proud of.
90s Mania Tour Dates:
Friday 11 March – Metro City, Perth
Buy Tickets: http://bit.ly/1PQePiM
Adult General Admission – $91.80 – Adult VIP – $193.80
Saturday 12 March – Trak Lounge Bar, Melbourne
Buy Tickets: http://bit.ly/1jagh2D
Adult General Admission – $91.68 – Adult VIP – $193.63
Thursday 17 March – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
Buy Tickets:
Adult General Admission – $92.61 – Adult VIP – $195.56
Friday 18 March – Eatons Hill Hotel, Brisbane
Buy Tickets:
Adult General Admission – $86.66 – Adult VIP – $188.61
Saturday 19 March – Luna Park, Sydney
Buy Tickets:
Adult General Admission Standing – $90.63 – Adult Reserved Seating – $100.82
Adult VIP Standing – $192.58
For more information, go to Scene News.
