SXSW.COM | F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 | SXS W O R L D 1 5
Nile Rodgers, photos by The1point8
On tap for 2017 is Chic's first album of new mate-
rial in more than a quarter-century, It's About Time.
The album was originally set to be released in 2016,
until last year's wave of high-profile deaths (including
Bowie and Prince) convinced Rodgers he should wait.
"When 2016 rolled around, Bowie passed in the
very first month, and then Glenn Frey, Paul Kantner,"
Rodgers says. "Those felt like very powerful signs to
me, especially after Prince died. 'This is just not the
year for it,' I thought. Chic records are so celebratory,
fun, tension-releasing, and all this just felt so dark and
anti-Chic.
"So 2017 is the year for it," he concludes. "One thing
I've always believed in is 'next.' I always want to do
the next thing. When I did Diana, Berry Gordy called
up to complain that, 'It doesn't sound like a Diana Ross
album.' And I had to correct him, 'It doesn't sound like
an old Diana Ross album.' That wound up being the
biggest record of her career. So I'm always thinking
about what's next, even if it might fail."
Nile Rodgers is a 2017 SXSW Conference Key-
note (Music).
"One thing I've always
believed in is 'next'. I always
want to do the next thing."
