by SCOTT C

Looking at Reggie Watts on the cover of his most recent LP Simplified, his white suit and huge afro go hand in hand with the neo-soul vibe on the disc. But with strange, stream-of- consciousness rambling that moves at a mile a minute, he constantly juggles music and comedy, with the two sometimes overlapping. Born in Germany to a French mother and African-American father, this soul crooner has performed on stages worldwide, with his many musical incarnations and also as a leftfield comic. The Mirror spoke to Watts, on tour as guest vocalist with Soulive, over the phone from New York City.

Mirror: I was very pleased to find out that under that shiny nu-soul exterior, you’re completely cracked!

Reggie Watts: (laughs hard)

M: I haven’t met many people on the seriously soulful tip who can truly say they nurture their twisted side. So explain to me how this works. Is this the two sides of your brain at work, do you have multiple personalities, or what?

RW: I have no idea, really. I mean, I studied music at a very young age, so I was always into music, but I was also the class clown. I think I just find life to be a humorous place, and have always seen life through the lens of absurdity in many ways. I like to mimic things in pop culture, things that a lot of people can identify with, but kind of twist it in a way that renders it meaningless or powerless. That just got me into being a good listener, so when it comes to music, I love to listen. I take comedy and music seriously, and need to feel it all the way.

M: As far as music is concerned, when does it stop being mimicry and start being you?

RW: That’s an awesome question. If you’re doing something in life that’s very personal or passionate, there are times that you feel like someone, or feel like you’ve been in this situation before. There’s that mimicry that happens in the beginning where you use structures that have been laid out by other people to get started, and then somewhere along the line is the moment when you’re creating, you realize it’s just you. You’ve been using pieces of influences, and then you just move beyond that and realize that you’re doing it on your own.

M: Do you keep the comedy and music separate?

RW: Not really. I used to do shows in Seattle every week and say random things in between playing really cool songs. Then after a song, I’d say something absurd so that people wouldn’t know if I was joking or not. It was cool trying to find out how far I could go without making the guys in my band uncomfortable on stage. Even with Soulive, I get a little goofy on stage, but I want to respect the guys I’m playing with. After all, it’s really not my show.

With Soulive, and guests Stone Groove Trio, at Café Campus on Friday, Nov. 11, 7:30 p.m., $15.50

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