Lenny Kravitz on His New Song “Road to Freedom”

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CHIEF INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: And next, something to look forward to this year. A soulful superstar Lenny Kravitz releases new music after 35 years in the business and four Grammys to boot. Kravitz is now eyeing Oscar glory as his new song “Road to Freedom” hits the shortlist. It was written for the acclaimed film “Rustin,” which tells a story of pioneering civil rights activist Bayard Rustin. Take a listen.

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AMANPOUR: Now, you could say the song has already earned the presidential seal of approval from Barack and Michelle Obama, whose company, Higher Ground, produced the film. And Lenny Kravitz is joining me now from Los Angeles. Welcome to the program, Lenny Kravitz. Can I start by asking —

LENNY KRAVITZ, MUSICIAN: Good morning. Good morning.

AMANPOUR: Yes. Good morning. It’s evening over here around the world. So, it must be pretty early for you there in California. What did you know about Bayard Rustin when you first, you know, were talked to you about the film and about the score?

KRAVITZ: Well, here’s the thing. I knew his name, but I did not know the story. And I was actually embarrassed by that, because I grew up in a family that was involved in the civil rights movement. And I did not know his story. I did not know his involvement as far as being the architect behind the march on Washington. So, I knew when I got the call that this was something that was very important. If I didn’t know his story, there’s so many that don’t. And it was time that Bayard Rustin was seen and heard and understood.

AMANPOUR: I know. And ever since this film has been out, I guess a lot of people have learned that he was the man behind Martin Luther King’s famous march and really helped to organize it.

KRAVITZ: Yes.

AMANPOUR: What about it? How did you — you wrote the song right? How did you — what did you feel that you had to convey right out of the box?

KRAVITZ: The spirit of the movement, which, you know, the road to freedom is what all of these great people were on and what Bayard Rustin was on, and that road continues today. I mean, we’re still facing so many of the same issues in a different way, in a different time period, but this road is endless. We’re continually moving boundaries and walls and pushing our way through to try to get to a better world. And so, that’s what I wanted to convey.

AMANPOUR: Can I ask you, because reading the research for this interview, I was really stunned by something really important in your life, not just for you, but for culture itself, American culture? You are the son of a white Jewish father and a black mother with Bahamian roots. And not only that —

KRAVITZ: Yes.

AMANPOUR: — she, your mother, went on to portray the first — I think it’s the first biracial couple on American television in the Jeffersons. That’s huge.

KRAVITZ: Yes, yes. Yes. I mean, to think that it was 1975 and that was the first interracial couple on primetime television was quite extraordinary. And the fact that she actually was married to a white man, this is very interesting that that was her lot to play this role, you know. And when Norman Lear, who just passed recently, gave her the role, he said, I want to make sure that you don’t mind playing this role because you’re going to have to be close to this man. He’s going to be, you know, kissing you and being close with you, and she pulled out a picture of my father and he said, I’ll see you on Monday.

AMANPOUR: It is such a good story, but it’s also bittersweet. And I’m going to get into — you know, get into that in a moment. But how did that upbringing and that parentage affect you not just as a person but as a songwriter?

KRAVITZ: Well, I had a very rich childhood because I was able to embrace the different cultures, religions, background. And I felt completely open. The world was open to me. I had no understanding of boundaries, of prejudice. And so — and then, at the same time growing up in New York City in the late ’60s, early ’70s as a young child I was immersed in music and theater and art and — of all kinds. And it was a great education for me. I learned so much about music by just going out with my parents. You know, my parents could have left me at home. You know, I was a child, but they took me out. They wanted me to see all of this art. And I was quite fortunate.