Culture
Fantastic Negrito reflects on winning inaugural NPR Tiny Desk Contest, upcycling and Bay Area greats
By: Ian Saint
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WOUB) – Roughly 7,000 artists submit NPR Tiny Desk Contest applications every year.
Fantastic Negrito was the first contest winner and he’s won three Grammys since his electrifying 2015 set, but his musical career prior to playing Tiny Desk at age 47 was not so lucky, and he almost didn’t live to see it.
The artist, born Xavier Amin Dphrerepaulezz, examines the tumultuous journey before his Tiny Desk breakthrough with his latest album, Son of a Broken Man.
“Fantastic Negrito” was a midlife rebrand, two decades after one album on Interscope Records (1996’s The X Factor, released as Xavier).
A near-fatal accident in 1999 left him in a coma for weeks and partially paralyzed his right hand. He eventually woke up to learn that the record label dropped him.
Fantastic Negrito’s Alive! Tour is a nod to his miraculous survival and resurgence. It plays Rumba Café in Columbus (2507 Summit St.) tonight and Mahall’s in Lakewood (13200 Madison Ave.) tomorrow.
WOUB’s Ian Saint spoke with Fantastic Negrito on the red carpet at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium before PBS’ taping of ACL Presents: 23rd Annual Americana Honors in September of 2024, where he performed “Samson and Delilah” in tribute to Reverend Gary Davis.
A transcript of their conversation, edited for length and clarity, follows.
IAN SAINT: Tell us about your extraordinary Americana Honors outfit.
FANTASTIC NEGRITO: Well, they do call me Fantastic Negrito — I better be fantastic every time. I believe in reuse and upcycle; take the bulls*** and turn it into good s***. All the things that aren’t working, make ’em work for you. I’m an upcycled artist; I was once discarded, thrown away (after) I lost my hand in a car accident.
But I just kept believing, and turned that into something amazing. So that’s my fashion: anything that’s negative, lean into that s*** and turn it into amazing energy. That’s what my entire wardrobe is about: don’t buy anything new, except socks and underwear — that can get messy.
You just reminded me of Sly & The Family Stone saxophone player Jerry Martini recalling that Sly Stone was dissatisfied with his outfit for a shoot, so he picked up a cow-skin rug and cut it into a poncho.
FANTASTIC NEGRITO: We love Sly. We’re from the same area, the Bay Area — land of giants, musically. Sly, Green Day, Metallica, Too Short, E-40, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Santana. We can keep going down the list…
Pointer Sisters, Jefferson Airplane…
FANTASTIC NEGRITO: Yeah. Grateful Dead, Dead Kennedys, Taj Mahal, so many great artists; I feel the standard there is really high — we really strive to be original and fearless. The Bay Area is this fearless, very open tribe. I want to continue that tradition.
Given there were nearly 7,000 entries, it’s incredible that you were the inaugural winner of NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest.
FANTASTIC NEGRITO: It’s like being the first Black president. I’m celebrating my 10th year as the inaugural Tiny Desk Contest winner with an album called Son of a Broken Man. I didn’t even know what Tiny Desk was… I’m (busking) at the train station, and a kid goes, “You sound really different. You should try out for the Tiny Desk Contest.” I said, “What the hell is that?” You never know with blessings — sometimes when you’re not looking, that’s when it happens.
It’s fortuitous that you were receptive to a stranger’s approach. Many people keep to themselves at the train station.
FANTASTIC NEGRITO: I’m the eighth of 15 children, man. I talk too much, and I’m receptive to anything.
There’s intense discourse about what constitutes the “Americana” genre. How do you feel about being associated with the Americana moniker?
FANTASTIC NEGRITO: You want my honest opinion?
Yes. We love authenticity.
FANTASTIC NEGRITO: Shut up and just write the songs. Stop complaining, write the damn song. Connect with people, because that’s what art and music is (about) — whatever people want to call it, let ’em have a field day and picnic with it. I’m a storyteller; I won Tiny Desk because I was telling a very compelling story, looking at what was going on in America at the time. Write great songs that come from your heart, and tell the truth. Share some love with people; stop putting each other down, and listen to each other. I don’t care what you call it — I just want to be affiliated with things that are inclusive, loving, and have a very high standard.
What song has surprised you in how audiences react to it?
FANTASTIC NEGRITO: There’s a song I wrote that I’ve been playing throughout Europe called “I Hope Somebody’s Loving You.” I’m surprised people are reacting to that song the way they are — that’s this little simple thing I threw together. With new songs, it’s always (unclear how audiences will react) but as soon as I play that, they’re like, “ohhh!” Either it’s a great song, or I’ve (inadvertently) ripped someone off, I don’t know.”
For Fantastic Negrito tour dates and tickets, visit his official website.