PART TWO of our insightful interview with the incredible Tamarie T. & Thee Elektra Kumpany! Tamarie takes us even deeper behind the scenes, sharing unforgettable moments from opening up for Parliament-Funkadelic, the inspiration behind his bold and unique stage fits, and his exciting plans for 2025 and beyond. Learn more about how he channels his creativity to inspire others to be fearless, innovative, and unapologetically themselves through music!
SOULTAUREAN: I’ve been singing your song “Awoogah” outloud for the past few days! I’ve never heard anything like it before! I also really love “In Your Dreams”. How did you experiment on those songs specifically?
TAMARIE: You know what’s funny.. the song “Awoogah” was one of the first songs where I felt like I had found my sound. I was thinking of a horn that makes that sound.. And two different women that I was talking to at the same time (laughs). I can’t really provide an explanation on what happens. I just know it’s something that comes from my soul. I’m hearing this music from somewhere outside of this physical realm.
The song “In Your Dreams” was originally for a side project that I was working on. It’s a little on the feminine side of Exotik Funk. I was going through singers trying to find the right one for this song, until I met one of my students and background singers named Kat Karasi. When I heard her voice, I knew she was the perfect person to sing this song. I also had another singer who wasn’t working out, so I went ahead and jumped on the song and made it a duet. Our voices and energy really meshed well together. The song is about when you have all these people that want you and are chasing after you, and you’re being snobby about it (laughs). Basically, “you can only funk me in yo dreams, waking up in a pool of sweat”, because you’re that deep in your dreams about me. I like to do wordplay like that, similar to what Prince did with “Erotic City.” It’s one of my favorite songs to do live.
(watch their live performance of “Awoogah” below!)
SOULTAUREAN: I remember Marvin Gaye saying something so similar! He always said that it wasn’t him writing those amazing songs, and that it was all from God.. Let’s talk more about your incredible band. Y’all are always on point and in the pocket, so I know there has to be a technique to what you all do. What is your process for picking the musicians for your band? What are the qualities you look for and how do you ensure they align with your vision for the band?
TAMARIE: I love Marvin Gaye. Your love for Marvin definitely surpasses mine (laughs), but I grew up listening to him with my mom and grandma. He’s definitely an inspiration to what I do. Anyway, I’ve been through so many band members. Some musicians have stuck with me, some were impatient with the process, and some I’ve weeded out. Usually, I can just feel it and know when a band member is supposed to be working with me. Sometimes I even have dreams about it. The main thing is to have people who innerstand (understand) what I have going on. People who know the music and know where I’m coming from as far as knowing the greats, having similar interests, and feeling like family. I’m not really about “hiring help”. I’m about coming together as a family and as a team.
People like to joke and call me “Lil James Brown” because I really don’t play and I keep a tight structure with the band. I just keep it simple: If you’re here to do this, then do it. If you’re not, then get from around me. We can still be cool, but this is my business. This is my mission on this Earth. I don’t have time for egos, people playing, or having power struggles. Some musicians may not want to work with me because I’m like that, but I don’t care. The ones who understand it and know, I feel their heart and their spirit. It’s not about the money. We have a big band, so sometimes we have gigs where we get paid good and sometimes we don’t. But we’re doing it from our heart space and for the love. We know the bigger picture. I always say a prayer that if a person doesn’t need to be around me, then let them go on about their way. I’m very protective over what I do, so I make sure I have the right people, those masterminds.
The band I have now is one big family. Some people have other things that they have to do, but I always hold space for them to come back and do their thing. The door is always open. Like Sly and the Family Stone, we have so much diversity. Different types of people with different sexualities. It’s a no judgment zone. We all come together and we make one sound. That’s sending a powerful message to the people when they see all of these different energies coming together to make music. I’m grateful to have those teammates and even the back of the house team, like the managers and so on, that help keep this thing moving and going. If there’s any team that wants to work with us, whether it’s social media or whatever, I’m always open. I’m looking at people’s hearts and if I feel like their intentions with me are well and from love. I also use a lot of discernment when I’m choosing people to work with. I pay attention to how they are, their lifestyle, and who they are. I practically take people through an orientation before they get in the band. I let them know my goals and what I expect from them.
SOULTAUREAN: Not lil James Brown! (laughs) Well you have to be like that when you have a band as tight as you do. Y’all are known for putting on an electrifying performance every time you all touch the stage— from the unorthodox vocals, the eccentric stage fits, to the Exotik tribal dancers. You not only have musicians on stage, you also have dancers, painters, and other types of artists. What is the creative process behind your live performances?
TAMARIE: That’s my favorite part! With this music we call Exotik Funk, I need to have that physical representation of what that looks like. At first, me and my first dancer came up with all the choreo. My lead dancer now, Mocha Mocha 2.0, she comes up with a lot of the choreography and we also partner up on it. I let her stay in the realm of the dancing, but I come in and add to it. The dancers I have now are Mocha Mocha 2.0, Mz. Mighty, StarGurl, and KazMo. Sometimes the dancing is choreographed and sometimes it’s freestyled. We try to have a balance of flow and structure at the same time, even with the band. I even tell the band members, “y’all don’t have to go all out dancing, but you need to be moving so that we can all come together as a whole to be that vessel for Exotik Funk.”
I look at groups like Morris Day & The Time, Heat Wave — which is one of my favorite bands because their stage performance was on another level. I look at Prince, Parliament-Funkadelic, and a lot of other bands to get inspired and to make sure we embody what that sound is. Exotik Funk is about dancing, sensuality, and freedom and we’re going to bring all of that. We even have two versions of our live shows. If we’re doing a family friendly show, we’re not going to be as wild. We’re still going to be us, but we make sure we do things in moderation and make sure we are aware of what we’re doing. I avoid overly sensual songs at family events. I choose more empowering, dance songs at those shows. When we’re performing at clubs or adult shows, that’s when you really see that Exotik part of the show. Some of my dancers are burlesque dancers, so there’s a lot of skin showing. It’s really just about showing that freedom. We want people to look, see, feel, and smell what Exotik Funk is (laughs).
I’m very unconventional and unorthodox with how I do things. People always ask if our music is on Spotify or other streaming platforms. I may release a few songs on streaming platforms, but I’m not really into that. Like I said, it’s like church. You have to come here and experience what we have going on. You don’t go to the UniverSoul Circus and say “I want to listen to their album.” You’re going to see the show. I’m still in the process of balancing that because we are a show band with original music. The music will be available, but we want to keep that balance of having exclusivity with what we do and being well-known at the same time.
When I was in Chicago, I used to say that I was the king of the underground because, while I was doing something unorthodox and different, I was still doing big shows like the House of Blues. I was being a voice for the people who are called weirdos. The people who gravitated towards my music were looking for something different and I was the ambassador for that and I still am. It’s magical, spiritual, and a great thing to experience. Sometimes I wish I was in the audience to see what other people see and feel. I can’t even express how I feel when I’m on stage because it’s like an energy takes over me. That’s the best way I can explain it.
SOULTAUREAN: Your stage presence and energy is out of this world. You’re right, it is weird, but in a good way. It’s intriguing and makes you want to see more. It’s new, but also has something so familiar. You also have a very powerful and confident energy while performing. Do you have a ritual before you go out on stage to get into that confident, bad*** mode?
TAMARIE: I approach the stage the same way I approach life. I feel that my soul is bigger than this skinny body I’m here in (laughs). I never felt the need to fit in with everyone. I don’t care if someone laughs at me. I’m still going to be me no matter what. When I get on stage, I keep that same attitude. The stage is a very powerful place. Any stage that you get on, it’s like you’re ministering to people with the music. I’m like a preacher up there, so I have to come with the confidence to know that what I’m about to sing to you or show you is going to be something that touches your heart. I’m doing this from my heart, so I’m going to be me and be fearless. I make sure to honor my ancestors and the greats that came before me. I ask for their guidance and to use me as a vessel. I’m usually alone for majority of the time before we get on stage, so that I can clear my mind, stretch, and prepare for the show. I make sure to set intentions to touch somebody’s heart in some way. Then when it’s time to hit the stage, it’s show time! I never really had stage fright. Sometimes my body shakes, but it’s not from fear. It’s from the process of opening up my vessel and hearing the people screaming. It’s the excitement and the buildup before stepping out on stage. When I’m on stage, it goes by so fast. It’s like I’m up there doing all of these things and then the time just flies by. Sometimes I feel like I haven’t done anything (laughs). But it’s always a good time though!
SOULTAUREAN: You have the perfect style to match your confident stage presence. Where do you shop for your stage fits and how do you come up with those unique, eccentric looks for every show?
TAMARIE: I do my best to resemble what Exotik Funk looks like to me. I attempt to present that even when I’m off stage on a regular day. Sometimes fashion designers send me things. I find things at thrift stores and costume shops. Some things I cut up and make it into my own style. For example, I take button-up shirts and cut the sleeves off of them. I make jewelry too. I just like to experiment with different things. It’s really fun. I’m always doing some wild stuff, but people say I pull it off. Sometimes I may even have something on that looks a little feminine, but I’m still able to balance my divine masculine and feminine energy. I can still be me and hang out with the brothas and have a good time and I can still get the sistas and lay my little mack down (laughs). It’s just about the confidence. I like being myself. I don’t even own a pair of jeans or gym shoes. I feel more confident in wearing whatever I wear and I don’t really discriminate when it comes to fashion. I might see a woman’s blouse and I’m like, “let me cut this up and make it into something else.” If it looks good, I’m going to wear it and be me.
On stage, sometimes I wild out and have some crazy stuff on. I remember one time in Chicago, I came out with this trench coat on. When I took it off, I had on these gold daisy dukes with some lace leggings and tall boots. I only had body paint on at the top. People were like, “I can’t believe this dude did that!” It’s all for creation. I’m not telling people that they have to do what I do, but I want to motivate them to be innovative, authentic, and to do THEIR thing. I noticed even in Chicago that I was one of the torch barriers of having a different style as an artist and I inspired a lot of people even then. Even on social media today, people tell me that I’ve inspired them so much from all around the world, just by them seeing my style and how I dress alone. Fashion is definitely a big part of it. I even had to get rid of band members who couldn’t get it together when it came to the fashion. I don’t care how good you play. If you can’t at least look the part and attempt to be what we’re presenting, it is what it is. Usually me and the band will throw out a color like, “the color is gold y’all!” I tell them to come Exotik, looking good, looking futuristic, and looking like the music! One thing I like that Prince and his band did is that they had contests. Who ever looked the best got paid more. As more money comes, we’re going to start doing more stuff like that to get people motivated to look the part. If you’re apart of Tamarie T. & Thee Elektra Kumpany, then you need to look like you’re apart of this.
SOULTAUREAN: Y’all recently opened up for Parliament-Funkadelic in New Orleans! What was that experience like and what advice or words of wisdom did George Clinton share with you? Give us the tea behind that exciting milestone!
TAMARIE: Opening up for Parliament-Funkadelic was definitely an experience! I met George at an art show. I heard that he had an art gallery event and I thought it was just going to be a viewing of his paintings. My plan was just to go in and take some pictures of the art. When I got there, I saw his wife and I was like, “wow they’re really here!” The security guard at the door was like, “who are you? I know you’re a musician! You gotta meet George!” He just kept insisting and I was like, “let me look at the art first, brotha!” (Laughs). I walked in the back and George was sitting by one of his paintings. I walked up to him and he was like, “you sho is funky, ain’t you?” And I was like “I got it from you!” I told him I was honored to meet him in person because he has been one of the biggest inspirations in my life and what I do with my band. I showed him my band shirt, we shook hands and took a couple of pictures.
After that, I went back and started looking at the art. Then I saw this patio and was curious to see what was out there. That’s where I met this DJ named Funké that was spinning some house music. I had been away from Chicago for a while, so I was really missing my house music. I just had to go back to my car to grab my drums! Me and the DJ just started jamming with nobody else out there, then George and his wife came! He started jamming with me and playing with his hands on the table. We didn’t even have to speak. It’s like we already knew what it was. We were just jamming and having a good time. As the night went on, more people started coming back there. After we stopped, George asked me where I was from and passed me a joint. I was just laughing to myself like, “damn, I’m over here smoking with George Clinton!” As I was leaving, his wife came up to me and told me that he asked for my card. Luckily, I had 1 last card in my pocket! That was May 2023 when I first met him.
After that, I saw that P-Funk was going to be in town in New Orleans and I was wondering if they had an opener. I did everything in my power with social media and reaching out to people to get us that spot. I was praying and going in about it. I was even reaching out to his instagram page and tagging them; whatever I needed to do to reach them. My homie and tribe brother, Fungshway Duce, even connected me with the booking agent for the show, which I was very grateful for. We didn’t hear anything back for a while, so I said I wasn’t going to stress it anymore. A couple of days before they actually played in New Orleans, we were on the way back from Chicago. We were in the car talking like, “I guess it’s not happening.. but we still gon’ be us even if we don’t get the chance to open up for them!” Then we got this call and the agent was like, “George wants y’all to open up for them at the show!” and I was like, “okay! We ready!” After that, I paused and looked at the band and told them “yea y’all! We bout to open up for George Clinton!!” and we all started laughing.
That was just an amazing experience. We were just kicking it backstage and it was a good vibe. Before that, I actually encountered one of George’s band members, Thurtdelic. He was already following the band, so it was cool for us to meet in person. He’s been very supportive of what we do. I have a video of us dapping each other up before I got on stage. I’m very supportive of what he’s doing as well because he’s keeping the P-Funk legacy alive. Just the other day again, I found out that George has another show, this time in Chicago, on February 4th! I knew I had to jump on that one too because that’s our hometown! Plus, I’ve done the House of Blues like 4 times now. The last time I did the House of Blues was February 2020 before they shut everything down. It’s funny to come back again 5 years later and have the opportunity to open up for them AGAIN in my hometown on a big stage that I love. We’re all really grateful for the opportunity. I respect everything P-Funk does. There wouldn’t be an Elektra Kumpany if it wasn’t for P-Funk planting that seed. I’m not trying to be P-Funk, George Clinton, or Rick James. I’m my own thing, but you gotta sprout from somewhere. I’m always going to honor P-Funk and George Clinton. I’m grateful to have crossed paths with George Clinton and his family and to just be able to vibe with them. I ain’t got nothin but love for everything they do.
I also have a great relationship with Cyril Neville of the Neville Brothers. I gotta mention them because they are another one of my favorite bands and inspirations. When I moved to New Orleans, people kept telling me I reminded them of Cyril. When we finally met, he told me that he supported everything we do and he continuously supports us on social media by sharing our stuff. That’s a great thing for me to be able to call him anytime I need help or advice about something. With Cyril, it’s like I’m looking at the older version of myself, and I know he looks at me like a younger version of him. Being able to meet these great artists that inspire me, it’s a very deep sign to know that I’m on the right path. Cyril once told me, “us being the elder musicians, we love to see people that’s innovative, that take what we did to the next level.” He sees the work that’s going into it.
SOULTAUREAN: You are definitely an inspiration for me. You have shown me that it’s actually possible for us to make moves even though we’re different and we’re not going along with what everybody else is doing today. We have this old school, nostalgic thing to us, but we also have a futuristic approach and outlook that may confuse people. But you inspire me to not care and to just keep going with music and know that I can actually do this, so thank you! Here is my last question to close things out. What are your plans for 2025 and even beyond? Any upcoming projects or shows?
TAMARIE: Thank you again for this. That’s good to hear. That keeps me motivated to keep going and lets me know there’s people who need it. For 2025, I just plan on having fun. Building everything up and taking us to the next level. We’re excited and preparing to work with P-Funk again soon on February 4th. We look forward to traveling and doing more shows and festivals all over the world. We want to keep our thing tight and keep inspiring the children and the people. We want to continue giving the people life and the power to keep moving in their authenticity. I keep saying that because we live in a world that’s thriving on fake energy. Everybody is trying to be a model of who somebody behind the scenes is telling us a musician or rockstar should be or look like. I always tell people “you create your own model of what a rockstar looks like.” Don’t follow something that was already set for you because everybody else is doing it. My band is in the past, the present, and in the future at the same time. An older person can look at our band and relate and a younger person can look at our show and say “this reminds me of back then, but this is right now.” They get to experience what their grandparents experienced back in the day. They feel that it’s nostalgic, but progressive at the same time.
*** Thanks for tuning in to Part Two of our interview with Tamarie T.! If you missed Part One, check it out here 🙂 Be sure to catch his captivating, live show band in a city near you soon!
Want to connect with and support Tamarie T. & Thee Elektra Kumpany?
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🎶 Donate to support their live music journey & travels to open up for P-Funk on February 4, 2025 at Chicago’s House of Blues!
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Thank you for keeping Funk alive! ⚡⚡️⚡️
