Hey all! I just got confirmation for an interview with the lovely Sheila E. for my music website. I am posting here because I know you all can help me come up with some great questions! I need to keep the questions light on Prince and more on her.... anyone have anything they'd like to ask?

(EDIT: Can a moderator move this to the related artists forum?)
[Edited 3/27/09 11:32am]
[Edited 3/27/09 13:46pm]

Are these supposed to be fluff questions or are you willing to risk your interview by asking the tough stuff?

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I kind of want to do a mixture of both. The problem is that I am doing it through email, so she pretty much has the option to answer or not answer whatever she wants..

I've been waiting a long time for a new Sheila E. album. I know she released a gospel album a while back, though that seemed to be a relatively quiet release that was largely under the radar. I'd love to see her do something ambitious, like Wendy & Lisa are doing with their new album. Maybe you could ask her if she ever intends on putting together another big album project?

I know someone else has to have some questions...! Keep 'em coming!

If you wouldn't mind, could you ask her thoughts on the song "Glamorous Life", and what it was like for her getting that song even though it was originally intended for Apollonia 6? I know she came in to Prince's camp just around Vanity's departure and Apollonia's entrance.

Also, when Sheila recorded it, did she have a feeling it was gonna be such a huge hit?

Agree. I'd love to hear more specific background info of songs with or without Prince as writer. Also, Sheila just posted on Twitter "NEW TOUR FOR C.O.E.D coming up" -- I'd be curious to know where and when?

Alright guys... thanks.

Keep them coming! I have until next Friday to prepare all of the questions!

What was it about Raphael Saadiq that made her pick him for her tour back in 86/87? How does she feel about his success now knowing she played a big part? Will they ever work together again?
[Edited 3/28/09 6:09am]

Okay, this is totally superficial, but I'd love to know her beauty regimen/diet because she looks fantastic! Is it just good genes, or is she a vegetarian, etc.

JQuad said:

Good question!

How about something regarding her time on the Gone Country show? She's got to have some good stories about George Clinton! Maybe ask what she learned & how she'll incorporate that in the future?

I love the Madhouse albums, i would like to know how she feels about those albums and how much participation and input she had on them.
thanks

I think it is said Prince made the"Black" album for a party she was having, what are her thoughts on the album.

She sounds better than ever, with drumming being such a physical instrument and her since she wears me out just listening to her solos does she have to work out regularly before going on tour or is it just a natural thing now.

Who are young drummers she enjoys and listens to, male & female.
Besides her dad who were other percussionists she admired growing up.
[Edited 3/28/09 16:45pm]

Favorite Drumkit?


YHWH is Elohim and Yahoshua is King

Other than live playing has she done any electronic drum programming on albums.
on a side note, have she ever tried copying Prince's Linn drumm patterns like that on 777-9311 in concert?

Is there going to be another Family Jamm? People loved it. Why not come out with it on DVD?

Thanks guys! This is really helping me get a good interview ready.

Anxiety said:

When/where was this gospel album available?

Yes, please ask her when she is going to do a Pop/funk album again?

Also... co -sign on some of the questions above:

1. did she ever do any Linn/drumm machine programming (In Krush Groove she's playing the Linndrumm (LM2) when she creates Holly rock)

2. what's the story of her birthday party that was the cause of the Black Album? (In fact, she plays on the album so I'm assuming it wasn't a surprise present? Or did they go back and record the songs later?)

Another question:

I'd like to know more about the other instruments she plays. We know she used to play violin as a kid. She's said she plays " little guitar...James Brown chords". we saw her play keys in the background at Family Jamm during the family jamm set. And we've seen her with a bass. I'd love to know more about the other instruments besides percussion....and waht her songwriting process is. I.e. does she compse on a guitar? on a piano? vocally? etc.

GaryMF said:

Good suggestions, especially in the last paragraph, I'd also like to know about this stuff.

And let her know we think she is HOT in every sense of the word.

Her playing, her personality and of course her inner and outer beauty, how does she manage to be so all-around hot!

Tell her THANKS for being such an inspirational, generous person and for sharing her awesome talents with us all these years!

I was gonna make a separate post to ask this but maybe you can in your interview:

Does she have a Twitter account? Someone posted something in another thread saying they got a Tweet from her..... so I just went to Twitter (I have been trying to NOT join Twitter on purpose!) but couldn't find her.

Also is her Myspace page real? A while back her website said the myspaces/facebooks were fake.

GaryMF said:

Sheila twitters under the name "nanere ." She's sweet but her twit-iquette is a little lacking.

Dred said:

hmmm what is "nanere" mean? Never heard that before.

is it really her? cuz she doesn't really update her website too often so would be weird that she atually uses Twitter.

I will check it out though.

GaryMF said:

I think it's this one

www.amazon.com/Heaven-She...B00005NNP5




Performing the albumtrack "Closer" live, though with another songtitle :

GaryMF said:

yup its her. she's been on for a while. asking for help using, tweets to wendy, lisa, st paul and hammer, and updating on recent flight to japan.

ask her about ESPERANZA SPALDING ! .... What an amazing collaboration that would be !