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Twenty-nine years after releasing his debut album, Lenny Kravitz is still letting love rule, but with an eye towards societal strife that continues to go unchecked. The multi-Grammy Award-winning musician brings forth a conscious body of work with Raise Vibration, his eleventh studio album, out September 7th. The first single off the Raise Vibration album, "It's Enough", is a battle cry against corporate greed, political corruption, and racism. Lenny switches gears with his follow- up single, "Low", exploring the perils of his near-mythical sensuality with intonations alluding to his past intimate relationships. For Lenny, the art of the story is paramount, while pop music trends are immaterial. He tells stories through his writing, vocals, and the multitude of instruments he has mastered over the years. Musically, Raise Vibration is an eclectic blend of the kind of stylistic rock 'n' roll-funk sound that Lenny is known for, with subtle nods to vintage R&B and choruses that sway towards pop appeal. His music puts you in a trance-like groove and defies all genre. Lenny is a veritable roadmap of his past experiences. From making his way in an industr y that doesn't always value individualit y, to making his way in a world that begged to define and categorize him by race and ethnicit y in his formative years, he wears his memories on his sleeve and they inform much of his ar tistic expression. Our conversation surprised me as it took a more intimate turn. He and I delved into mat ters of spiritualit y, racial identit y, family and the rituals that aide him in creating his eclec tic sound. We were ver y much on the same page as he shared his feelings about ever y thing from racism and societal injustice to his personal spiritual journey, his family and his music. You've said you were born to make music. Can you share your earliest memory where you became aware that music was going to be your life? Lenny Kravitz: "For me, the pivotal moment was going to see The Jackson 5 live at Madison Square Garden, when I was six years old. I was in the first grade. I had already been intently listening to their record. But I went to the show, and the next morning that was it! I was completely sold. I knew that's what I wanted to do." What was it about The Jackson 5 that resonated with you? LK: "Number one was the music. The music was incredible. The music that was made by these kids was not elementary, it wasn't bubble gum as they used to say back then about young artists. This was very sophisticated, high-level music with the best musicians, the best producers, and [Michael] was one of the best singers who ever lived and who ever will live. The level of interpretation and feeling and vocal range… it was a perfect storm for me, the way everything came together. On top of the music, the presentation and the showmanship were top level and soulful, and these were people that I could identify with. They looked like me. I had the same hair… there were so many things that came together in my mind." It's interesting to hear you say that. My son is half Jewish and half Jamaican, and he does the same thing. He tends to gravitate towards people he sees on television, in film, and with music, who have his skin tone and his hair. LK: "Yup! I have the same background, except I'm Jewish and Bahamian." When and where do you feel most creative and musical? LK: "It could be anywhere, but it's in the studio, so wherever that may be. My studio is in the Bahamas. It's my favorite place to work; it's my workshop. When I'm in the studio and I've got all my equipment and all my instruments, and everything is set up, that's the magical place for me. It's where I'm comfortable and where I can flow. When I'm inspired and in that flow, I can move. I jump around from instrument to instrument, and it's wonderful." You are such a true musician in every sense of the word. Aside from singing, you play several instruments, and you write and produce. When you record your music, is it all you doing everything in the studio? Are you recording all of the instrumentals, in addition to doing your vocals and producing? LK: "Yes, I start on drums normally and then I go to a guitar, a bass, another guitar, keyboard, percussion… I keep layering as though I was painting, until my picture is complete." Your upcoming album is called Raise Vibration and the first single, "It's Enough", is a call-to-action anthem about political corruption and social and racial injustice. Was writing "It's Enough" a form of therapy for you, and a way of turning hopelessness into Photo credit: Mathieu Bitton