Pepper MaShay (website, discogs, wikipedia, itunes) makes no bones about where you stand. Her music is big, her voice even bigger. If you look under the organizations she is affiliated with, you get the feeling that her voice is that big so those who can't speak for themselves get their chance to be heard. Her work with Thunderpuss is legendary, but it's her political views and social consciousness that makes her so multifaceted.

With her rendition of Aretha Franklin's "Freeway of Love" climbing the music charts, this very busy diva took some time to chat with me.

 

 

Have you always been politically aware?
My activism came because of not being able to participate in the civil rights movement in the '60s. I was too young and lived on an army base because my dad was in the army.

I refuse now to sit back and watch people being discriminated against. I have the gay community to thank for that. It's terrible seeing the hate that is thrown against the community just because of their sexuality.

And now, to have that hatred hurled against the first black president of the USA is distressing. I guess this is how the Republicans felt after we called Bush a liar about the Iraq War. Situations do repeat themselves in this country. I never dreamed I would be living in a time where there would be a biracial president. Wow!! But I've called out a lot of people trying to put a target on the back of Obama. If a person doesn't see the racism in this country now, they are blind to the truth. Black folks have had to live with this mess forever, and now everybody knows what we've been saying.

 

What are your thoughts on how the president's been doing so far?
President Obama is trying to do a good job. He knows he has to do it in a bi-partisan way, but the Republicans aren't going to let him. And the libbers like myself don't want to give in to them. They are some evil people. I feel fortunate to be living in the "Time Of Obama" and I refuse to let this one get away! I'll tell you more after he's in for a year.

 

Of all songs to remake, why did you decide on "Freeway of Love?"
I felt I needed to make an impact on my next song after "Does Your Mamma Know (You're A Freak)". I won The USA Songwriting Competition for '08 with "Mamma". That was a pleasure because I did the song with my partner, DJ Corey D at pridenation.com. So I chose a song that I really liked and that nobody had done before, dancewise. I grew up listening to "The Queen of Soul" and I wanted to do it justice. It's fun, and the lyrical content is definitely something I would write.

 

Was Aretha in your head when you were in the studio?
You bet she was. As a kid in junior high, she was the one I listened to, and I had visions of being in the music business because of her. Everything she sang was right on the money!! I figured I had better nail the vocal feel at least. But I didn't want to copy her. I pretended I was singing the song on stage and in front of a band. I didn't want it to be clean.

 

What are you thoughts on the music scene as it stands today?
Baby, I'm real excited about the music I've been doing since the summer. I pretty much worked with everyone from Eddie Amador, to having a hit with "Freeway of Love" on Capp Records this year. I made a promise to myself I would never go through a year without putting a new song out to everyone.

Overall in the business though, I think it sucks!! I grew up in a time where you had entertainers you could see and touch. Now, you have some DJ spinning behind a deck of CD players and computers.

I also have a release after "Freeway" that will be great. Its called "Love And Understanding" on Fatal Music out of The Netherlands. I'll keep everyone up on the release. Its one of my best vocal arrangements ever. Thank ya baby!

 

No, thank YOU Pepper for your time and for the music! I look forward to your new release!

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:: posted dec 14 by chitown ronnie in features, october 2009 issue