Kamasi Washington Plotting The Epic Follow-Up and Graphic Novel

Photo by Miikka Skaffari via Getty Images

Kamasi Washington recently sat down for an interview with Rolling Stone, in which he revealed that he’s already begun plotting a follow-up to last year’s excellent album The Epic. Asked by the magazine if he’s come up with a timeline for the new record, Washington responded, “You know, I’m trying to get to the studio in the next couple of months,” adding that he hopes to get in some studio time either before or following his upcoming tour stops in Hawaii and Australia/New Zealand, slated for later this month.

Washington filled Rolling Stone in on the musical concepts and recording techniques he’s pursuing for his latest project:

In my mind, I have plans for more large-ensemble stuff: doing some brass ensembles and not just things with the choir. … It’s hard to say exactly; it’s all in my head right now. … I’ve been messing around with recording myself over and over again. Like a 32-piece saxophone thing. Just for a demo, for a song. And I’m like, “Hey, that sounds cool. Maybe it’s something I want to do for real.”

A follow-up to The Epic isn’t the only thing Washington’s got planned: he also revealed to Rolling Stone plans to write a graphic novel, based on a narrative that came to him in a dream, and which informed The Epic. (He previously incorporated visual storytelling into last October’s vinyl reissue of the album, which came packaged with graphic poster inserts, as well as a “story adaptation” by artist Kenturah Davis.) He’s also working on an expanded live show with the full band, choir, and orchestra who performed on the album, and hopes to have a hand in helping his collaborators put out albums of their own.

Elsewhere in the Rolling Stone interview, Washington discussed winning the inaugural American Music Prize for Best Debut Album:a $25,000 prize awarded by a panel of journalists, musicians, producers, and other professionals that honors an exemplary debut from an American artist. (He beat out Azealia Banks, Leon Bridges, Tweedy, and Ex Hex, among other shortlisted artists.) Additionally, he raved about Kendrick Lamar’s recent Grammy performance (“It was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen in my life,”) and expressed concern over Donald Trump’s run for president. 

Read the full Rolling Stone interview here and check out our interview with Washington from last year.

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