Now, here at Loverboy, we may be die-hard lambs, but when an interview with TLC’s T-Boz cropped up, there’s was only one person qualified enough to do it – our resident TLC fanatic, Daniel S. Bahrami.
The pair discussed requesting Mathu Andersen for make-up on the ‘No Scrubs’ video, how the music industry turned its back on the group and her favourite Left-Eye rap…if she can just remember the song’s name.
T-Boz, it really feels like a great time to be in TLC, right now. Ed Sheeran’s sampling you, the judges on The Voice covered ‘Waterfalls’, you appeared on Dancing With The Stars and there’s your new Netflix special….how are you feeling?!
It’s a blessing really. You work so hard and you really don’t get to see how it affects people. So when people pay homage like that it’s an honour! You’re like ‘Awww, people really were paying attention!’ All our hard work wasn’t in vain.
It’s hard to believe TLC’s been around 28 years! If you had to choose your #1 highlight what would it be?
Being in TLC period. We’ve been through so many good and bad times. The industry basically turned their back on us after Lisa died. Not our fans of course – they’ve always supported us. But being able to still thrive and survive in this industry, especially after people counted us out. Coming back with a second wind – still being able to sell out shows, 28 years later, even a third of the group down!
You did your first ever show in London this summer last year and it sold out. Then you headlined The Mighty Hoopla festival as well, and a concert in Paris as well. Do you have plans for any more European shows?
Yes, the European fans definitely will get to see more of us. I don’t know why we didn’t go there before. I know some plans were postponed. We’re rescheduling that now.
As well as The Mighty Hoopla, you also headlined San Diego Pride this summer. Are festivals high on the priority list?
Heck yeah! I don’t know why the hell it has taken us so long. For years I’ve been saying ‘Hello? Why aren’t we doing festivals?’ Finally someone got some sense. I also think some people just assumed we weren’t performing anymore, but we aren’t planning on stopping anytime soon!
Both those festivals had an LGBTQ focus. How do you feel about your LGBTQ fanbase?
Honestly, I’ve never separated people like that. I love our LGBTQ fans, but I don’t look at it like, ‘We have two different fan groups. Those are my gay fans, and those are my straight fans.’ If I can touch people with my music, then that makes me happy. From the get-go I’ve always told people to be themselves and stand up for themselves. I guess that resonates more with the LGBTQ community and I’m all for that. People need to be cool in their own skin.
The Atlanta LGBTQ scene feels like it’s blossoming right now.
It’s a hot spot! The community has grown so much. I think it’s really cool!
Speaking of the LGBTQ scene – you must have seen Tatiana and her homage to you on Drag Race…
Everybody sent it to me! I thought she did an amazing job. She wore the hell out of my haircut. I was screaming at the screen like ‘Yaaaaaaassss.’ You know nobody does my sideburns justice and she really did. I loved it and felt really flattered! Not only to pick TLC but to totally nail it too. I was like ‘OMG!’
RuPaul is from Atlanta and I know you guys go way back. Why haven’t we seen you guys on Drag Race yet? It would be a perfect match!
That’s totally up to them. I would definitely come! Helloooo! I would love to be a judge and I personally love RuPaul. We worked with his make-up artist, Mathu Andersen, on the ‘No Scrubs’ video. I specifically asked for someone who knew how to do drag make-up, because I’ve always been so mesmerised by it.
So you are the reason for that iconic make-up on ‘No Scrubs’?
Yeah, I requested it. I wanted that kind of make-up and Mathu was perfect.
Right from the beginning, safe sex has always been an important subject for the group. Is that something that has affected you personally?
We’ve always talked about real life. That’s why our lyrical content was so strong, because it’s stuff that really happened in people’s lives. At that time I did have people in my life who had HIV. It was such a big epidemic at the time. But how do you get such an important message across without either offending people or feeling like you are preaching? ‘Waterfalls’ was the type of song that was needed at that time. I wanted to send out a strong message.
The song was different to the rest of the R&B scene back then. It’s not a song you are automatically going to bump in the car to. ‘Waterfalls’ needed a strong video too to make it come alive. The video is what brought the song and message to life. It made people understand what we were really talking about. To this day it’s an amazing video and still relevant!
I only have a handful of questions left. I know you are pressed for time…
Don’t worry about it, I’m having a great time.
Which female artists do you admire today?
I don’t really know! Haha…The thing is the music industry is different. I grew up listening to Michael, Prince and Madonna. For me, personally, nobody will ever reach those standards. I feel lyrical content is really missing. But there is a lot of talent out there. I love Cardi B. She really is herself no matter what – be it good or bad. ‘I’m me, I’m doing me, I’m living my life the way I want to.’ That’s hard to do, especially in this time of social media. You don’t find a lot of that authenticity these days. People are more preoccupied with being what they think others want them to be. She’s so refreshing.
She actually reminds me of old school TLC.
Yeah, I think if there’s one thing TLC are known for, it’s being ourselves, You ain’t gotta like me, but as long as you respect me that’s all I ask.
Speaking of old school TLC, I wanted to talk about Lisa. I know her rap in ‘Waterfalls’ is both yours and Chilli’s favourite. If you had to choose one other, which would it be?
‘Hat 2 Da Back’. You know where she’s like ‘Or can it be I am a little too friendly, so to speak…’. That keeps me bumping HARD!
I’m pretty sure that’s ‘What About Your Friends?’
Oh for real? Haha…Dammit, I always get confused. Which one is ‘Hat 2 Da Back’ then? Heck I don’t even know my own songs anymore!
That’s because you’ve had so many hits!
You ain’t even lying! Let me tell you, when they are counting off the set list, me and Chilli are sometimes like ‘What do you mean? We’re already doing nineteen songs! You want to put in more?!’ Haha…
Some hardcore TLC fans begged me to ask you this one. Right before the last album dropped, you said you were supposed to have a guest rapper on there. Can you tell us who?
Oh that was Missy Elliott! I love her dearly, but it was just a matter of politics taking too long. We needed to put the album out for the fans. I want to make it clear – it had nothing to do with her! I’m glad we are free from all that industry stuff now. I don’t have the patience.
I know you aren’t doing any more albums but is there new material coming?
Well you know what? You can do Christmas songs, soundtracks, singles…I didn’t say I was done doing music – I just don’t see another studio album happening.
Anything else coming up?
One thing we are working on is a Las Vegas residency. We are also doing ‘T-Boz Unplugged’ on 14th October in L.A. It raises awareness and funds for kids growing up with sickle cell. It’s at Avalon. You can find out more and make donations at www.tbozunplugged.com. It’s awesome because the foundation teaches kids about holistic remedies and acupuncture, not just being on all that medication which keeps us in a weakened state. Also how to build your up body, in an organic way.
Great! Now Loverboy is named after the iconic Mariah Carey song. I know that Mariah is a big fan of you guys – I saw her tweet the link to your Kickstarter!
I didn’t know that! That’s so cool. Thank you Mariah!
What is your favourite Mariah song?
Back in the day when my ex-boyfriend and I were together, I used to sing ‘We Belong Together’ for him. He lived out of state six months of the year so I used to sing, ‘Who’s gonna talk to me on the phone till the sun comes up?’ I love that song!
Find out more about T-Boz Unplugged at www.tbozunplugged.com & follow TLC on Instagram / Facebook.
