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Interview: Nhojj
by Ernest Barteldes
For Guyana-born Nhojj, these past few years have been quite remarkable. In 2009, he became the first black male to receive an OutMusic award (the category was 
Outstanding R&B song for his ballad “Love”). He also relocated to Chicago, from where he recorded his reggae anthem “Gay Warrior,” a tune destined to become an anthem for the struggle of the gay community in America today.
Since his 2003 self-released Someday Peace Love and Freedom, the openly gay artist has released several CDs and singles. Though mostly a neo-soul artist, his music has strong influence from the sounds of his native country – the only English-speaking nation in South America.
We caught up with him over a phone interview conducted early in December, when he talked about his career, the Outmusic award and also on the question of Civil Rights for homosexuals in America.
So you were the first black male to win an Out Music award last year – how do you feel about this?
It was really cool – in fact it was quite amazing, because I’ve been a member for a long time, and it hadn’t dawned on me that I would be the first black male to win until my manager brought it up to me. It’s a really great feeling, but to me what it really represents is that the LGBT music community is getting bigger, and I am really proud to be a part of it.
You recently moved to the Chicago area – why was that?
I’ve been here since the beginning of 2010. I’m not actually in Chicago but an hour outside of Chicago. It’s very quiet and great to exercise my creativity. I wanted a change, and this fit perfectly.
Have you performed in Chicago yet?
No, I haven’t
You’ve grown a lot musically since your debut album seven years ago. Back then you used a lot of samples and electronics, but your current sound is much more organic….
Thank you! I have always valued getting better, and that was something in my mind… I always wondered, ‘how can I get better?’ I think once you have that goal, doors open up, you meet people get opportunities that allow you to grow musically.
How do you approach your songwriting these days?
I start out with the melody. Usually I start with a track, and then I develop the melody and the words that belongs to the song – if it feels sad, happy, encouraging or a like a love songs. I feel like songs are alive. I think I’m more in tune with this stage of music – I’m listening more to what the music tells me instead of trying to force things. To me, that has changed a bit [from six years ago].
What about the arrangements – do you work out everything yourself or do you collaborate with other musicians?
It depends. Soul Comfort was produced by John Evans (released in 2008) and that one I collaborated. We had actually worked together on my previous CD Coming Home
(2006) – he was the mixing engineer for that, so I decided to work on Soul Comfort with him – let him co-produce that, so I really listened to his input. Later songs like the” Gay Warrior” song or “Things Will Get Better” were recorded here in Chicago, so there was no collaboration.
Speaking of the Gay Warrior song – a lot of your songs speaks of love and peace, but this one is quite confrontational, very activist.
It actually started at the time of Someday Peace and Freedom (2003) as “Fighting for Love”. At that time the song wasn’t finished, but I didn’t know how to finish it – so I always knew I would come back to it and finish it. “The Gay Warrior song is actually the finished version of “Fighting for Love.”
When I first heard it I felt it had to do with the current climate – the (now successful) repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and the gay marriage issues…
Absolutely – it’s been inspired by everything that is going on – you know, DADT, Prop 8, Gay Marriage – it’s just the idea that if I had been born a heterosexual person , being able to marry, being able to walk down the street holding hands with the person that I love would be such a non-issue. Being born homosexual, it then becomes a huge issue – you have to worry about peoples’ feelings, if they are comfortable. The simple act of loving becomes an act of courage and act of strength , so that is what the idea of “Warrior,” just wanting to live my life and wanting to love, which is such a basic human need, I have to be strong and have the courage of a warrior – it definitely feels like that.
On our last interview on the now-defunct Gay Today in 2003, you mentioned you couldn’t believe that issues like gay marriage weren’t resolved… things have been quite slow in that department.
It definitely is disappointing, but I think that is how change happens. It’s always slow, it’s always painful and difficult, and it always feels like it’s not moving, but is. Even if it’s very slowly, things are getting better in peoples’ heads – people have to think about it. The first time you think of an idea, you can push it aside, you can reject it, but if the idea keeps insisting, it changes the way people think. The long, long struggle is keeping the dialogue going, and that is slowly changing the nation.
Being mostly an openly gay R&B singer, do you feel any form of discrimination considering the sort of macho culture within the genre?
I haven’t felt it directly in part because I am an indie artist. I’m not part of the major industry, where there is a lot more pressure against those who can’t conform. Being an indie artist makes it a little easier.
Some of the songs on Soul Comfort retain a heavy Caribbean influence into your music – you are an R&B soul artist, but your heritage is very present
It is part of who I am – it’s actually difficult to take it out, so I just let it be, so it’s cool.
For more on Nhojj visit
Nhojj’s Official Website
2003 Interview conducted by Ernest Barteldes for GayToday
http://www.gaytoday.com/entertain/062804en.asp
Listen to the OutMusic-awarded song “Love” here
