Q: “Madonna’s Luv Song” has a very interesting name and fascinating soundscape. Can you tell more about the storytelling of this song?
MARSALIS DAVIS: So it’s 3 in the morning, if I remember right it was in the summer. Possibly in June I want to say. I’m up sipping some Carlo Rossi, a cheap sweet red wine that tends to get my head juices flowing. Little did I know I was going to be all in my feelings. I have just recently broken up with an ex around that time so that was pretty much the spark to create this audio porn I guess you can say when you listen to this record haha. Madonna’s Luv Song basis is a man being in love with a woman who he knows is toxic for him, but he’s blindsided by love. He notices the potential she carries within herself, yet she doesn’t. Being a man from that lifestyle, it all becomes built up adrenaline. When I quote in the song “Rockstar living like I’m Danzig” meaning we both have rebellious auras and attitudes. We do what we want, whenever we want, and don’t care how you feel about it. (Also Danzig is one of the greatest bands from New Jersey just to throw that in there.) Both madly in love but extremely incompatible. Getting mesmerized by the short-lived moments trying to convince one another that this is forever. We both got lost in our vices we couldn’t escape but the turmoil was too thick in the end. I wanted a home, she wanted a sweet lie.
Q: ‘Tonight We Feast” is such a unique album. Could you tell me more about it?
DAVIS: My album Tonight, We Feast is more of a dark love story. The plot takes place with me ending up in hell not even knowing how I got there. I’m soon introduced to Damian, the devil’s son, who later tells me my name was part of sacrifice or swapped out for someone else’s death. So in order for me to escape, I had to make the dopest album for him to release me back to earth. As the album progress the darker it gets and ironically Damian ends being the one going through the love relationship. My records on the album are the stem from each relationship or moment I’ve had with women in my life. Towards the end of the album, it’s more of a reflection on who I am as a person and what I’m destined for.
Q: What’s the inspiration behind this album?
DAVIS: The inspiration was a sporadic thought to be honest. I didn’t even know I was going to create this. The track itself “Tonight, We Feast” was already on that dark eerie scape so I just continued with it and one song led to another. At the time I was listening to a ton of Travis Scott, Saint Jhn, Metallica, Anders, Bullet For My Valentine, Tory Lanez
Q: What do you love most about this album?
DAVIS: What I love about this album is that the fact it was so random, it still makes sense and is still true to my sound as the artist I am. I listen to it every day which is rare. Each and every song still gives me the chills, bringing me back to when I was creating them. Tonight We Feast also pushes that lost alternative sound which made me fall in love with becoming an artist.
Q: Are you working on something currently?
DAVIS: Yes I am actually. Right now I have an Alternative/Pop record on standby called “Butterflies” it’s very upbeat to the point you just want to dance no matter who is watching. This record is for everybody. Created to make whoever is listening feel good about themselves. The release date is coming so be on the lookout for that.
Interviewed by Katrina Yang
FOLLOW MARSALIS DAVIS
