Fantastic Negrito - The raging river of blues-rock

Ahead of his return to Italy expected for late July, we spoke with Xavier Amin Dphrepaulezz, aka Fantastic Negrito, about his latest studio work “White Jesus Black Problems”, an ambitious, high-impact album written in one go after learning the story of his seventh-generation grandparents. Constantly evolving, Xavier is very focused on the present and on his projects beyond music, which also see him engaged on a social level.

Love and hope for the future are at the heart of “White Jesus Black Problems”. Can you tell us about the genesis of the album? Is there a new approach and vision compared to your previous work?

This album was very different, mainly because it was a story with a huge impact. Discovering this information about my family tree really changed my life. The album and a film came together out of pure inspiration. The whole thing took off on its own; I basically stepped out of the way and let it happen.

How did the writing and recording process unfold?

The writing was purely organic, it was a runaway train and I just hopped on board. As I said before, I kept my distance and let the writing, the sounds happen, let the songs tell the story of the incredible lives of my seventh-generation grandparents. Every song was a chapter of their story. I think the best things happen when you stop chasing them.

Beyond blues rock and funk, you can hear plenty of other influences, like gospel, country and psychedelic soul, with a great wealth of detail and sound. Musically, which artists inspired you the most while making the album?

On this album I drew inspiration from all the artists of the '70s who pushed beyond the boundaries. David Bowie, George Clinton, Sly Stone… All artists who carried ideas and thought. It's a concept album.

In the creative process behind “White Jesus Black Problems” a lot of importance was given to the visual side, how did that idea take shape? And which aspects did you focus on most?

The album didn't start out visually, but it came together really quickly. I felt a strong obligation to tell my grandparents' story through the most powerful means I could. So the cinematic side came naturally. I felt it was very important to narrate, so the interstitial parts were perhaps the most important.

We know you currently have a lot of projects going on, like the Revolution Plantation urban farm, where the visual part of the record was set, and the independent label Storefront Records. Could you tell us about them?

I see Revolution Plantation and Storefront Records as integral parts of what I aspire to do and be. Philosophically, what kind of tangible impact can I have on the world, but first on the community I live in. All in positive, productive ways.

In “You Better Have A Gun” you tackle the gun issue in America; recently there have been some “conflicting” developments on the matter, with an expansion of individual citizens' right to bear arms, and at the same time slight restrictions on access and funding for school safety and mental health, what do you think about this?

In America we have a very, very serious problem with guns, and we have a very serious problem with violence. We need to take a long, hard look in the mirror and decide who and what we want to be. The course we're on now is extremely destructive. We're speeding down a road to nowhere.

An album and a book you consider important to you.

“The Complete Recordings” by Robert Johnson and the Autobiography of Malcolm X.

Is there an artist or band you'd like to work with?

Sturgill Simpson.

Shortly before the pandemic you were working on a collaborative project with other artists, including Sting, will you pick up from there, or should we expect something completely new in the future?

I don't know what I'll do with that collaborative project. I'm sure I'll pick the pieces back up. Right now my mind, my heart and my soul are all focused on “White Jesus Black Problems”.

Today, with an incredible past behind you and everything you've discovered about your origins, who is Xavier Dphrepaulezz?

I think Xavier Dphrepaulezz is exactly what he needs to be. Constantly evolving. Sometimes struggling, but always willing to do the work. He never gives up.

Ride the wave of great music

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