Tuesday, November 05, 2024

It's About Time

February 15, 2015


CHIC is BACK! Pre-order the new single "I'll Be There" on iTunes today. Single drops March 20th! GET IT »


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The music snippet that's playing was supposed to never be heard. That's the reason why it's crossed out with a red x on the track sheet (image on the right).

When I listened to that track, I liked the fact that it was never heard by the public before. As you can see on the track sheet we replayed that song, and it became a song for Sister Sledge called "Love Somebody Today."

The outtake became a new song called, "I'll Be There," so named because when I discovered my band's co-founder Bernard Edwards' body a few hours after he'd passed away, I said, "Now, I can be there for you in death, the way you were there for me in life."

Back in the day 'Nard always looked out for me. I was the reckless one. We had lots of fun and good times. So on the song's surface it's really happy. It's about the origin of CHIC, and how dance music changed our lives forever.

We've just shot the video for "I'll Be There" with Inez & Vinoodh, on the first day of Fashion Week NYC. Perfect timing for a group called CHIC.

It's also perfect that we've got one of the hottest and coolest supermodels in the world to star in the video. Karlie Kloss. The first thing she said when we met was, "Diana Ross' album Diana is my favorite record in the world." I knew we'd found our R&B loving disco girl.

As with all CHIC albums, this one's based on a concept. Four years ago I was stricken with very aggressive cancer and I wasn't sure how much time I had left. I decided the album's concept would be about time and I'd feature as many people from the lifespan of CHIC that I could on it.

The first single drops on March 20, 2015. It's the vernal equinox - when day and night are of equal length. But in parts of the Northern Hemisphere, there will also be a total solar eclipse... so I'll be releasing the record at the exact start of that celestial event, in the country and city where they set Greenwich Mean Time - London, England.

We'll then do a series of concerts in England, and premier the video too.

The album's title is: It's About Time... because It's About Time.

 


Ralph Rolle, Nile Rodgers & guitar tech Martin Yee sound checking at Pacha


Original CHIC Org member Fonzi Thornton (we've worked together since Sesame Street) getting ready to rehearse "I'll Be There"


Karlie Kloss checking out her vinyl collection


Folami, glammed out for video shoot


Newest CHIC Org member, Russell Graham, getting ready to rehearse "I'll Be There"


Kim Davis, glammed out for CHIC "I'll Be There" video shoot by Inez+Vinoohd


Karlie Kloss heading down to the dance floor to check out the live CHIC show


The only shot where I've got a little bit of all ten of us, including Jerry Barnes, Rich Hilton and Curt Ramm


Get tix to the I'll Be There Tour, UK 2015 HERE »