Singer Charles Perry recently released “The Soul Superhero.”
Charles Perry (Verve), the self-described “Soul Superhero” is, according to Verve Music Group Chairman and 16x Grammy Award-winning producer David Foster, “exactly what you dream of when you find an artist. His EP remains constantly his own sound which he doesn’t deviate from.” Executive Produced by Freddy Wexler (Lil Wayne, Steve Aoki, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato), The Soul Superhero finds Perry exactly where he wants to be—on stage and at home on a label whose artists are some of his musical heroes. Read our exclusive interview below:
Congratulations on your EP The Soul Superhero, how excited were you to reveal this project?
You know what I was very excited. You know, it’s a good time for me – it’s an amazing time, it felt like Christmas. That’s what it felt like to me, it felt like Christmas to be honest.
What is your favorite song from the EP?
Wow! To be honest that is such a hard question but if I had to choose one I would have to say ‘Panty Dropper’ for me.
We were at your listening party last week and really enjoyed that song!
Yes, thank you. It’s so fun and it’s energetic and it reminds me of my youth, and it takes me back to when music was music.
When you were younger who was your favorite superhero and still today who is your favorite superhero?
My favorite superhero I would have to say, it would be my grandfather. My grandfather I always compared to Superman because anybody that can work ten jobs and take care of his grandchildren and his children and his wife was deemed a superhero, so I would have to say my grandfather Beatrius Best … Yes and then in those days he did everything, so definitely I would have to say Beatrius Best, hands down my grandfather, he was everything. And I wish I could choose two cause I would say him and my grandmother Rose Perry. I’ve never seen people that gave as much as they did and contributed to the community and I watched them, literally kick drug dealers off the block. I watched my grandmother go up to drug dealers and chase them away with a cane, I mean that was deemed heroic, it gets no better than that.
So, we recently saw your video for ‘Stranger to Love,’ was an emotional song for you?
Yes it was. I was going through a lot as you can hear from the writing, I was going through some serious heartbreak and instead of crying about it we decided to write something that made sense to us.
In the video there was a scene when a woman broke down crying and her head was against a wall then out of nowhere she started dancing. Is it safe to say that symbolized you in a way?
I would have to say it symbolizes the pain and then the victory after the pain, because, after the pain, the pain births purpose. So after you finish crying you give birth to purpose, so that symbolizes me rising from the dust that scene there.
In your interview with Billboard you said your music comes from “raw energy”, does that point back to your superhero aesthetic?
Yes, it comes from raw energy and it comes from soul, and anything that comes from the soul is undeniable. You can’t deny it, it’s pure, it’s genuine. So that’s why I try to give my all, that’s what my grandmother, Rose Perry, taught me. Rest her soul! She used to say to me, “Go out there and give it your all!” That’s the best you’ve got and the only thing you can do, give it your all. They can’t deny it when it’s your all!
That’s some great advice! So how’d you get your big shot in music?
Singing, growing up singing in the church and from then I would say after the BET Awards my life changed. You know, performing on the BET Awards my life changed, doors began to open up and next thing I know I’m in David Foster’s house singing and stomping on his carpet and then I’m signed to Verve, and everything changes from there. Life began to pick up so, that’s how.
That’s a blessing! So, that brings me to my next question. How excited were you when David Foster asked you to sing on ‘Everybody Wants to be a Cat’? That’s a great song and your voice sounds so amazing and so fun!
Thank you, thank you! That was an honor. I went to see that movie, I remember when it came out as a kid and to be a part of the movie – I’m telling you it’s unreal. Words can’t convey the feeling of being on that song cause I remember watching it as a child and saying to my mother and father “One day I’m going to sing on a Disney soundtrack.” I didn’t know it would be that movie, but that movie inspired me to do so much great music and the underscore was so amazing to me. It’s a lot jazz and stuff on the movie so that was an honor.
Right, it’s such a classic movie. So, what artists would you like to work with in the future?
Good question! Who knows, I told people I don’t do good ideas, I do bad ideas. I like stuff that doesn’t make sense, you wouldn’t expect it. So who knows, maybe if Tina Turner, Billy Joel you know maybe a Tori Kelly. I don’t like predictable stuff, I like real singing and I like real artistry. So, it would have to be whatever is unexpected.
I like that! So, my last question for you is: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
The ability to remove hatred from the planet, to remove every negative piece in the world and bring peace, that’s what I would do. I would bring love to the world, this would be a world built full of love. There would be no racism, there would be no ignorance, there would be no hate. I’m so sorry to go on but yesterday when I looked at those children being murdered, if I could have any superpower it would be to remove hatred off of this planet forever! That’s what I would do!
Man, that is a great superpower and you sound like you’re already on the right track.
Thank you, thank you! I must say to those families we are praying for them and we have to make mention to them because it’s important we acknowledge what’s going on in the world today. What a remarkable question, thank you for that! Thank you!
Thank you so much for that answer! That answer was motivation for me, I’m going to think about that later on and make some changes to my life as well.
Yeah, we need to be a part of the difference in this world and everyone of us contribute to the difference when we do something heroic. So thank you so much, thank you!
Make sure you check out his video for ‘Stranger to love’ and download his EP ‘The Soul Superhero’ on iTunes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2CVd2Yqnfg
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