Ain’t nobody quite like Chaka Khan

SINGAPORE — Having a career that spans four decades is a feat few can emulate. For Chaka Khan, who will perform at the coming Singapore International Jazz Festival (SingJazz) on March 5 with British jazz-funk group Incognito, the secret to her longevity (she is 61 years old) and success (Khan has won 10 Grammys and sold an estimated 70 million records worldwide) can be attributed to a very good night’s rest.

“Sleep!” the Queen of Funk said over the phone. “As much as possible. In order to do a show, maybe eight to 10 hours.”

Khan also expressed annoyance about how people would remark that she looked good “for her age”. However, she was typically candid about how she deals with this issue. “Sleep,” she repeated as we both giggled like little girls.

“Don’t think about my age,” she added. “My grandchildren always have to remind me! (But I’ve) seen some pretty messed-up 20-year-olds. This world is so conscious about how people look — it’s focused only on the physical aspects (and) ruining our kids and their body image. It’s a sign of the times.”

When Khan makes a social comment, one tends to listen. She has endured the challenge of fickle-minded music audiences to keep her reputation intact, not to mention several personal issues: A few years ago, for example, she was involved in a legal tussle to attain custody of her granddaughter, after reporting that the child’s mother, the girlfriend of her son Damien Holland, was unable to raise her because of her drug addiction. It was reported that he had also been addicted to drugs. However, Khan characterised herself as a “glass-half-full girl” and prescribed her philosophy of life. “You just have to develop a sense of humour — laugh at yourself,” she stressed. “Think of other people who have it worse than I do. What am I complaining about?”

With respect to music matters, Khan has never strayed too far from the principles of life that she shared. For example, she likes her older hits (“because I wrote them”) and when deciding which style best fits a song, Khan said there is no real methodology. “It’s more of a feel — take a feel and run with it. No plan, no talk when the band is playing. It’s a feeling in your gut and soul. It has got to be in your blood.”

Khan has been to Singapore a few times and described it as a beautiful place, so she is looking forward to playing at SingJazz. Promising that “it’ll be a good show”, she added: “Damn good show — gonna have fun.”

And how does she maintain that remarkable voice after all these years? “Sleep!”

The Singapore International Jazz Festival will take place at Marina Bay Sands from March 5 to 8. Tickets are available at SISTIC.