Promotionals

3/24/2006 - Delta Bluhe Interviews Lafayette Charles

Since its release in January 2006, sales of the Merry-Go-Round of Life have been increasing. People have heard about the artist, Lafayette Charles, but know very little about the CD and the stories behind some of the songs. So, I sat down with Lafayette to chat a while.

DB: How would you describe The Merry-Go-Round of Life?

LC: It's a smooth R&B album with lots of singing and two instrumentals. The songs are about the things that we encounter in life, which I refer to as 'the merry-go-round of life', such as love, consequences for our actions, and spiritual awakenings.

DB: When did this project kick off? How long did it take to complete this project?

LC: This project started about seven years ago. It has taken so long for me to complete, primarily because my home was burglarized about six years ago. All of my studio equipment was stolen along with all of my work on this project. At that time, it was 90% complete. This whole ordeal was very traumatic. So, I didn't work on this project for about two years. Luckily, I had cassettes of the material, which is what I used to recreated this music. It was very challenging to work on the material for the second time around.

DB: On this CD, you show us just how talented you really are, where you did everything from composing, singing, arranging and playing all the music. Which do you enjoy the most? Why?

LC: Each phase of this project had its moments of mixed fun, revelation, joy and frustration. While working on this CD, it is difficult for me to reflect and say which aspect I enjoyed the most. Because of the music that’s in me, I felt compelled to do this project, especially my first CD, my way. I felt added pressures, because of the many setbacks (i.e. two burglaries, divorce, spiritual dilemmas) impacting the project along the way. All of these things caused me to loose faith at times. So, I look at this project as something I had to do for my soul. I know that I will have more fun with my next project.

DB: Which songs would you say are your favorites on this CD?

LC: Love Wait and Calling Your Name are my favorites.

DB: Why are they your favorites?

LC: Each song has a story behind it. Love Wait was inspired by those times in my life when I allowed very important relationships to suffer for various reasons. The song actually brought me to tears at times as I thought about how I will never get the opportunity on this side of glory again to share with those that have passed. Calling Your Name is about my decision to get back into a relationship after meeting someone who really made me look at love with a new perspective. It was the last song to be completed lyrically.

DB: Okay, Lafayette, I have one last question. For this CD, how will you measure its success?

LC: I'll measure its success by getting out and allowing the public to decide if it's something that they like. Hopefully, they won't like it. They will love it!