Interview w/ Bobby Sparks: Why Imagination Matters in Music
Author: Cynthia Giles
Did you watch the Grammy Awards this week? This is the perfect week to share my reflections from my in-person interview with 9-Time Grammy Award Winning Artist, Bobby Sparks. Bobby Sparks sat down with me in New York City for an interview on music and the entertainment industry. Bobby Sparks is a musician and producer whose worked with diverse musical artists: Prince, Ray Charles, Natalie Grant, Lauryn Hill, CeCe Winans, and more! He’s provided music for radio and television commercials, like Tyra Banks Top Model reality show. As Bobby answered my questions, he was respectful, kind, chill, and overall a laid-back person. I kicked off the interview with questions that would help me learn more about his career in its beginning stages.
Bobby said, “I began my music career with the Trinity Temple Full Gospel Recording Choir, a choir that was directed by Kirk Franklin. We would hang out together, throw parties, and watch football. By the end of the night, we ended up in front of the piano jammin’ to our favorite songs, songs directed by songwriter Kirk Franklin. Over time, Kirk decided that some of those songs should be recorded and that led to the release of Kirk’s 1st album and the beginning of Kirk’s career taking off. ” Bobby Sparks was Kirk’s music director from 1992-2005. Since Bobby has been a professional musician for over 20 years, I wanted to know what advice Bobby would give to a young musician who has a passion for music.
He told me, “music was good till the mid 80’s and it went downhill after that. MTV changed music forever because it became about the look of the artist instead of the quality of the music. If Ray Charles or Stevie Wonder were around today, they never would have made it. Music shifted from the focus being talent, to the focus being image. If you want to be in the music industry, you’ll regurgitate the same hits over and over again. In the music industry, every song has the same chords with different lyrics (this includes gospel music). So, if a young musician wants to do something creative, maybe they explore that artistic passion at the top of the week…. From Thursday-Sunday, they should create something mainstream or popular to pay their bills. Artists need to balance a love for music with business sense.”
Bobby enjoys working with artists who give him the freedom to be less of a “machine,” and embrace his creativity.
Bobby Sparks reflects: “Every time I play with an artist it’s a different experience. One of the bands that is blowing up right now is Snarky Puppy. Snarky Puppy is a cool fusion band and I loved playing with them. Even when we played the same songs, we played them differently each night. That’s the fun of the process. I also enjoyed playing with Phillip Phillips, who won American Idol in 2012 or 2013…that was a cool rock gig and an incredible band.”
Although Bobby Sparks has had a lot of success, every successful person goes through hard times. I wondered what Bobby would say to a musician or artist who is overcoming difficult times.
He said: “you have to have a love for what you do. It’s the love for it that keeps you going. You also have to have an imagination if you want to create something new.”
After reflecting on his words, I believe that much of the music we hear today is void of imagination and creative expression. The music industry has shifted: prioritizing the image of the musician over the quality of the work. My prayer is that musicians (young and old), will produce music that resonates from their spirit. My prayer is that musicians will release creative sounds that are a reflection of heaven.
Instead of glorifying the images that we see, will this be the day that we glorify the unseen? Faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen and that’s what imagination is all about too. Imagination is all about leaning into what we cannot see and creating something new that’s never been developed before. Imagination is innovation on fire!
When it comes to the entertainment industry, what’s the point of having a following if we sound like everyone else? Many have “followers…” but, few have a message that accompanies that following. Let your art have a message that develops out of your imagination and inspires the world around you.
Here is a Video Clip from the Interview:
To learn more about Bobby Sparks or to follow his upcoming projects, visit bobbysparks.com.
With Love,
Cynthia
Director of Creative Activation cynthiasinspirations.com