Gospel music legend Kim Burrell, the vocal mentor for BET’s wildly popular Sunday Best,
has amassed an impressive record of accomplishments that ranks among
the all-time greats in any music genre. With a voice regarded by
many people as being matchless, Ms. Burrell is affectionately known as
“The Voice.” Over the course of Pastor Burrell’s career, she has
collaborated with a diverse constellation of artists, including Harry
Connick, Jr., R. Kelly, George Clinton, Shirley Caesar, Stevie Wonder
and many more.
On September 4, 2015, Burrell will release her sixth album, A Different Place. “Thank You Jesus (That’s What He’s Done),” the lead single from A Different Place, is steadily climbing gospel music charts. The album promises to deliver the classic vocal prowess and power fans of Kim Burrell have come to love.
SoulTrain.com: What was your reason or reasons for naming this album A Different Place?
Kim Burrell: Since I last recorded, so much has happened
in my personal life that I didn’t feel that down through the years so
much of my personal pains, experiences, and issues could be filtered
into my music without offending the listener. But I got a different
perspective when I experienced so many losses—from losing Whitney
Houston to my stepdad and my mother—all within two years. I found out
that you cannot hide truth, especially for a person who is honest like
me. Now, I’m singing from a different place, a revealed place, a much
more transparent place. I’m also not just singing as Kim Burrell, the
artist, but I’m singing from a different place as Kim Burrell, the
pastor. I’m singing as a pastor, from a pastor’s perspective and
heart—even in my projection. So, there are many instances that have
happened that have caused this album to be called A Different Place.
SoulTrain.com: In reviewing A Different Place,
the dominant themes seem to be worship, praise, gratitude, faith, grace,
trust, and patience. Are there any other themes in this album?
Kim Burrell: I think you have covered them for the most
part, and I thank you for being that attentive and sensitive. I would
add believing in God. By adding that to the list, that will make it
complete.
SoulTrain.com: What, if anything, distinguishes this album from your past albums?
Kim Burrell: For one, this one took a total of two years
really. Because of life’s circumstances, I just couldn’t consistently do
this record—that’s one of the biggest differences. My approach to the
songs has been far more intentional. Being a recording artist and
talented, you can just go in and just kinda make it happen. I was so
much more intentional and purpose-filled. A lot of time was spent
talking because I had to detox through conversation and meditation. This
album contains songs that I traveled and sang but never recorded.
SoulTrain.com: What challenges did you experience in developing A Different Place?
Kim Burrell: Outside of adjusting to my own personal pains
and losses, just having to be away from my child. I travel a lot and
he’s an only child and I’m a single parent. Although he is well-taken
care of with great people around him, spiritual people around him, one
of the biggest challenges is being gone away from my baby a lot. Then,
not being able to bare it anymore bringing him along and watching him
pretty much live in the studio for a few days with his mom during the
summer. Other than that, it was pretty much smooth sailing.
SoulTrain.com: In creating this album, where did your inspiration come from?
Kim Burrell: My life, traveling, interacting with
different people, and having life experiences and meeting them head-on.
You know, this album was very intentional from a perspective of wanting
people to really get the message, and the truth of the spirit of this
record.
SoulTrain.com: In your view, how will consumers benefit from listening to A Different Place?
Kim Burrell: Just as you said, “Listen.” If they take time
and just listen to the record—not just for the enjoyment of the groove
or beat—but listen to the heart of what I’m saying. Listen to the
lyrics, listen to the pattern of the music—for the musician—listen to
layout of the music. Listen to the work that was put into this record,
and they will benefit greatly.
SoulTrain.com: What do you hope to accomplish with this album?
Kim Burrell: That all that will have a listening ear will
hear it, and that it will be received in many worlds, many nations. That
it will go into several different countries because of one thing: music
is universal. And then, of course, the interpreter, the master
interpreter, which is the Holy Spirit, will take this record into lives,
homes, ethnicities, and religions and cause there to become a common
thread of enjoyment across the world.
SoulTrain.com: What separates A Different Place from other current gospel music albums?
Kim Burrell: You know, it would have to be happenstance
because I don’t necessarily listen for the sake of taking that approach.
I just think that my way of singing and delivering is just different
from everybody else’s, and that alone stands by itself. I didn’t say I’m
the only artist, but I’m saying I have a distinction in my sound.
SoulTrain.com: In the future, are there any artists you have not worked with that you would like to collaborate with?
Kim Burrell: Yes, I would like to collaborate with Erica
Campbell. I think she has a very unique approach to music. I think her
voice and tone is at a very special nature and I love it. I would also
like to collaborate with Prince. He is one of my biggest feats. I want
to get in that studio with the infamous Prince and create some very
heartfelt music. I think Prince has the ability to worship God because
we all do. But his approach to music is that of a worship form, even his
music itself without the lyrics is a very powerful movement, and I pray
that the Lord will bless me to be able to do that one.
SoulTrain.com: In your view, what is the current state
of gospel music? Are you generally pleased or generally displeased by
the majority of the work currently on the market?
Kim Burrell: I’ll say I’m concerned that gospel music is
losing—those putting it out now—its authenticity of the message of Jesus
Christ. I feel like it’s being compromised in some way. I feel like an
approach is being taken from a very non-traditional perspective, but it
is causing the tradition of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be
compromised, and I’m praying that we won’t get caught up in the sound of
gospel and forget about the message of gospel. I’m not displeased; I am
a bit concerned—and hopeful at the same time. My interest is in making
sure that gospel music artists are governed by God so that we don’t lose
our direction.
SoulTrain.com: What have you not already accomplished professionally that you would like to accomplish?
Kim Burrell: I would like to do a world tour. I’d like to
do Asia, a lot more of Africa than I’ve done before, I’d like to do a
lot of Europe, I’d like to do Brazil, and I’d like to do far more Third
World countries touring with a full band and the singers and all. I
really want to do mission work because I want to touch so many lives.
SoulTrain.com: In your roles as vocal mentor on BET’s Sunday Best, what do you enjoy the most? What is your greatest challenge as a vocal mentor?
Kim Burrell: Watching them develop, watching them mature,
watching them form into a better and strong them. I enjoy watching them
come to rehearsal to the stage—that’s the biggest highlight for me.
After we’ve spent time together and they tell me what their interests
are and then they attack it in rehearsal, and then I see them come on
stage and conquer it, I’m like a mother that cannot hide her happiness.
The greatest challenge is watching people sign-up to become better and
then get there and think they already are without the help. I’m so
eternally grateful for those who have come before me. I respect the
legends. I love Walter Hawkins in his grave today. I love Albertina
Walker, I’m in awe of the Clarks, I’m in awe of Thomas Whitfield, I’m in
awe of James Moore, and I’m in awe of all of these contributors, so
when I see people, especially the younger generation, show up and not
know the legacy of where they come from and not recognize and respect it
by being ornery and uppity and being so caught up in their gifts that
they forget about those who gave them a reason to even be there, that
does kinda rub me the wrong way.
SoulTrain.com: We have numerous hurting people across
the world and people who have suffered and endured great losses and
tragedies. What message do you send them today and what message does A Different Place offer to them?
Kim Burrell: It offers what I feel is the spirit of the Scriptures. Romans 8:28, “For we know all things are working together,” and I explained this when I was on Lift Every Voice’s
taping this past Sunday. We are worried about things working out, but
the most important thing for me is that we know. What makes you know
that it’s going to work out? There’s no way you can know unless you have
confidence in what you’re trusting. My interest is in people knowing
that I sang about a God that I know about—that’s what’s inside of A Different Place.
For I know that all things are working together for me because I know
Him, and I know Him to be a God that never fails. I know Him to be a God
that answers prayer. I know Him to be comforting God. I know God to be
the beginning, middle and end. I know Him to be the protector. I know
Him to be the God of the divine. I know Him to be the God of miracles. I
know Him in many experiences. And so, that’s what I want people to
know—know what the core of knowing is. We are to interact with Him and
reciprocate. We are to give Him as much as we can. He is God—He cannot
be topped. We have a responsibility to interact with Him, and give him
obedience and give Him time. We are to let Him know how much we love
Him, and keep ourselves open to Him. God inhabits our praises—that II
Chronicles 7:14 person.
SoulTrain.com: Any final message you would like to communicate?
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