The Edinburgh International Book Festival's author logistics officer Emma Hay and me

Though there was a slight drizzle of rain, it was unseasonably warm when I landed around 10 A.M. in Edinburgh, Scotland. I was met by the Edinburgh International Book Festival's author logistics officer Emma Hay. She told me my room wouldn't be ready until noon. We dropped my bags at the hotel, then we killed a couple hours eating breakfast and touring the festival grounds.

As we approached the entrance I said to myself, "I'm at the largest book festival in the world." It actually felt a little awkward when my laminated pass said "Author" instead of musician, talent, or access-all-areas, which is typical in the music business.

There's something exciting about being a new person, in a new field, in a new place. My overactive imagination fired up. I always hear music soundtracks in my head but today I was thinking about words and pictures too. I saw a statue and thought of a scene from the film Jason and the Argonauts where a statue comes to life. Near the base of the statue was a large rubberized area covered with puddles of rain and colorful squares with phrases designed to make one think. I named it Pick Your Rain Soaked Truth and heard Teddy Pendergrass singing Harold Melvin's "Wake Everybody" in my head.

I walked into the large bookstore. I was overwhelmed. So many people and so many books - could this really be my new world? Then I entered the tent where I'll give my first performance, it reminded me of the film The Greatest Show on Earth. As my eyes scanned the room I started hearing the film's score in my head. I looked on the stage and noticed the same image that was on the rubberized area outside near the statue. In the center it simply said, The World, In Words (& Music).

 

The Edinburgh International Book Festival is the largest book festival in the world

My laminated pass said "Author" instead of musician, talent, or access-all-areas

I love when statues come to life in films - I was waiting for him to suddenly ride off the festival grounds

As I walked the festival grounds I happened upon this large rubberized area - I don't know what it's called but I named it Pick Your Rainsoaked Truth

Customers and curious browsers at the Edinburgh Int. Book Festival - I was overwhelmed

The Guardian Spiegeltent where I'll give my 1st performance

The Greatest Show on Earth movie poster

I looked on the stage and noticed the same image that was on the rubberized area outside near the statue

Le Freak - My World, In Words (& Music)

 

United Airlines FL #108 - NYC to Edinburgh, Scotland UK

Headed to the Edinburgh International Book Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, to talk about my memoir "Le Freak." My engagement is on Sunday the 19th.

The event will be held at the RBS Main Theatre, and tickets can be purchased here: TIX

Here's the info on this trip from NYC > Edinburgh.

 

 

Songwriters Hall of Fame - Master Sessions at NYU with Nile Rodgers

On April 10, 2012, NYU Steinhardt songwriter-in-residence, Phil Galdston, interviewed me at the Frederick Loewe Theatre for a Songwriter's Hall Of Fame event. We talked about many different aspects of songwriting. Phil is a 1st class songwriter with with a long list of hit recordings to his credit. He and I have written together in the past and are collaborating on a project currently.

Here is the entire interview. I'm sorry I can't provide subtitles for all the languages the blog gets translated to - but if you don't speak English at least you can see how much fun I had at The Songwriter's Master Class.

 

 

Daft Art's Paul Hahn and me at Michael Jordan's restaurant (shot by a dude at the bar)

Over the last few days I've had tons of meetings to plan for the rest of what's already been an exciting year. Just when I thought I couldn't get more hyped up about the future, I got a call from Daft Art's Paul Hahn. He was in New York and so was I - we figured out a way to meet between our other meetings. We linked up at the bar at Michael Jordan's restaurant in Grand Central Terminal. We talked about as many things as we could fit into our quick meeting.

Suddenly, I remembered I had to make a few calls because I was late for my next meeting since my earlier ones had gone overtime. Paul was cool with my frenetic situation. As soon as I hung up we jumped back into our conversation without dropping a beat. We marveled about some new technology, some visual concepts, and how many things had come together over the last few months. We talked about my Fender Stratocaster nicknamed "The Hitmaker," my plexiglass Guitarman nicknamed "The CHIC-ocaster," and of course the current state of the mixes for the next Daft Punk Album. I'm Hyped.

 

Me playing my Fender stratocaster nicknamed "The Hitmaker"

My plexiglass Guitarman nicknamed "The CHIC-ocaster"

Officially, I'm Hyped!

Nile Daft Funk

Daft Punk animation by @CatnipSoup

 

Today I did a TV special called Unsung

Today I did a TV show called Unsung. It's a really exceptional music series and I've watched several of them on YouTube. During one of the breaks between shooting, I checked my email and I'd gotten a letter that made my heart jump for joy. It was from Luci Martin, who was in the second incarnation of the CHIC Organization (from C'est CHIC to Believer). She talked about how much we used to laugh, the true love we have for one another, and how that love will never go away. She didn't have to say that because I've always known that, but it was nice to read. I have deep unending love for her and every CHIC alumni.

My dearest Lulu, your email was perfectly timed. It hyped me up better than a Starbucks Double Espresso Macchiato. I ran back down to my basement where the camera crew was set up and finished the four-hour long interview about the history of disco with clarity, gusto, and a big smile on my face.

I'm grateful for a life where I've been able to work with some extraordinarily talented people which continues To This Very Day.

 

The entire early CHIC Organization at dinner in San Remo. Karen Milne (violinist) front left, and Luci Martin with wine bottle

C'est CHIC album cover

CHIC album cover Believer

The two cameras that recorded my four-hour Unsung disco diatribe

I'm grateful for a life where I've been able to work with some extraordinarily talented people which continues To This Very Day

 

A t-shirt a fan gave me in Ireland after one of our shows

After I finished my last show I had one hour to pack. I then had to travel all night and day before I finally got home to my own bed. The show had taken place in Liss Ard, Cork County Ireland. It was near the town of Skibbereen and it wasn't exactly easy to get to or from.

When I finally arrived home I checked my email. The very first message was a clip that someone had shot of me during a book signing event in Belfast, Ireland shot a few days ago.

The clip starts in the middle of me answering a question about what it was like to work with Stevie Ray Vaughan and it continued with the story of the song "Let's Dance" by David Bowie. It was the first song Stevie Ray had heard from what would be The Then Next Bowie Album.

 

Irish fans waiting for autographs

On the street with fans in the town of Skibbereen

People from our last show at Liss Ard

Some of the Liss Ard crowd

After our last show I had just one hour to pack

 

Aer Lingus FL #3720 - Cork to Manchester

American Airlines FL #211 - Manchester to NYC

Thank you for another amazing week! And now, home. Cork > Manchester > NYC.

 

 

Aer Lingus FL #883 - Malaga to Cork

The final stop this week is Cork, Ireland for the Liss Ard Festival. En route - Malaga, Spain to Cork, Ireland

 

 

Thus far I've only gigged in the Republic of Ireland

Thus far I've only gigged in the Republic of Ireland, Galway, Cork, Dublin, and our first gig at the Electric Picnic. They've all been amazing. I'm so looking forward to coming back there to play the Button Factory in Dublin, but also performing in Northern Ireland for the first time. We have a large group from Belfast that show up at CHIC shows in England. I did a keynote speech in Belfast for Music Week that kicked off the MTV Awards, but there is nothing like connecting with the people through performing our songs for me.

Our set list will most likely include not only music by my group CHIC, but a number of records I've written and produced for others that CHIC played on originally: David Bowie, Sister Sledge, INXS, Madonna, Diana Ross, Sheila and B Devotion (He's a "Spacer"), and maybe a few others depending on the vibe of the crowd.

I'm guessing Belfast is going to be as breathtaking as our gigs in the Republic. The power of music supersedes economics and politics. When I was younger I'd save my pennies to hear the music that moved me because the experience enriched my spirit. The sole purpose of our music is to move your hearts, feet, and your A$$es.

When we arrive on the largest island in Europe, We're Coming to FREAKOUT!

 

THE GALWAY SHOW WAS JUST ABOUT PERFECT!

Don Harris and Bill Holloman in perfect sync in Galway

We always invite the audience up on stage at the end

Irish fans getting their groove on

Getting a kiss in sheer pandemonium. The Irish crowd was FANTASTIC! We played things we'd never played before

Backstage with three Irish sisters. Love the dark hair and blue eyes

Jerry Barnes killing it on "We Are Family" -Kim, Nile, & Folami in bkg

We're coming to Ireland to FREAKOUT!

 

American Airlines FL #210 - JFK > MAN

Next stop Yorkshire, UK (via Manchester) for the Magic Loungeabout! Then Camp Bestival, Belfast, Dublin and more. It's Back to Europe!