Until now, it’s been easy to separate Aaron Neville’s career into two separate but equal strains: the funky stuff he’s favored when working with his esteemed band of brothers, and the angelic balladry you associate with him when he’s punching his own time card as a solo artist. Casual fans might admit they don’t know much — to borrow a phrase — about Neville’s musical center, but they’ve perceived a certain split in his career.
An education is about to be provided, then, in the form of Apache, a solo album that makes the case for Aaron Neville as the most holistic of soul men. Its hard R&B side matches anything the Neville Brothers ever recorded for true grit, while still allowing plenty of space for a singer who’s arguably the most distinctive vocal stylist on the planet to tell it like it is.
Almost 60 years of singing, how have you maintained your voice?
Aaron Neville: I have definitely given my vocal cords a workout over the years. Singing soft every day helps and I rest them as much as possible. The best exercise is really to keep them warmed up and never strain them.
If you hadn’t become a musician, what you would be doing?
AN: If I was not singing, I would probably be dead by now. I have had lots of jobs. I worked as a longshoreman, drove trucks, and painted houses to name a few. Singing was my savior and main purpose. Singing saved my life.
I love the cross tattoo on your left cheek. What is the meaning of it?
AN: It’s actually a dagger [laughs]. I got it when I was 16 years old. I really wanted a skull and cross, but ended up with the dagger. When my dad saw it, he made me try and scrub it off with a Brillo pad.
Your new album, “Apache,” is the first time in your career you’ve written all the lyrics. What was that like for you?
AN: I write poetry and have used some of it in the past as lyrics. For this album, I loved having the creative control. For me, putting my poetry to music is an amazing thing.
What motivates you to continue to perform and tour?
AN: It’s the fans! I still get excited when I see the crowds. I am not a fan of airports, traveling or delays, but it’s the fans that keep me going. The gig is my high and I really appreciate the fans that keep coming back.
