Sir Mix-A-Lot hit gets the Seattle Symphony treatment
Apr 10, 2014, 7:48 AM | Updated: 10:17 am
Sir Mix-A-Lot said he couldn't pass up the chance to work with the renowned composer, who has also added symphonic sounds to the works of Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix and Alice in Chains. (AP Photo/File)
(AP Photo/File)
The Seattle Symphony’s 2014 schedule will include performances of some of the world’s most beloved composers: Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, and Sir Mix-A-Lot.
On June 6, he will perform one of his hits with an orchestral arrangement.
The collaboration is the brainchild of London Based producer Gabriel Prokofiev.
“(Prokofiev) had the idea, he’s putting this thing together. Initially I thought he was joking.”
But when they had a meeting downtown, Mix realized just how serious Prokofiev was.
Mix said he couldn’t pass up the chance to work with the renowned composer, who has also added symphonic sounds to the works of Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix and Alice in Chains.
“He knows his stuff, and he knows my music well, and hopefully before June 6, we’ll be able to get just a taste of it.”
It’s been widely reported that the song will be his iconic “Baby Got Back.” Instead, said Mix, they’ll be doing one of a song more iconic to the city of Seattle itself.
“We’re doing “Posse On Broadway,” so it’s going to be interesting. (I’ve) never done this before, so it’s either going to be really, really horrible, or really great. Not in between.”
And when he said he’s never done it before, he means it. “I wish they would hurry up and send me an example of what they have, because I haven’t rehearsed or anything.”
“I think I’m going to be so in awe of the sound of that orchestra initially,” Mix said. “I think it’s going to take me a couple of go-throughs just to get used to that part of it.”
Mix said he still enjoys making music, purely for the love of it. He is bothered by the perception of hip hop artists as they age, and the double standards they face compared to artists in other genres.
“Once you past 35 (in hip hop,) you can’t do the ‘Mick Jagger.’ If you want to do music because you love doing music, it seems to be looked down upon on the rap game. They say it seems like a desperate attempt to remain relevant. But no one says that about Mick Jagger.”
That’s why he said he’s trying to figure out a way to release his next record so that it’s obvious it’s not about trying to remain relevant. “I don’t need that dynamic.”
It doesn’t mean Mix is all grown up. After all, when we asked what he planned to wear for his performance with the Seattle Symphony, he said, “I’ll probably be the only guy up there in an all red sweatsuit. I have to make my rebellious statement at some point.”
MyNorthwest.com’s Alyssa Kleven contributed to this report.
