NEW ORLEANS (AP) â transformed the stage into a symphony of creativity, debuting new music, reimagining âThe Star-Spangled Banner" and shining a global spotlight on his wife's creative vision.
As Batiste performed the national anthem Sunday, the multi-talented musician played a piano adorned with a colorful butterfly painting by his wife, Suleika Jaouad, who came up with the idea while making their documentary âAmerican Symphony.â Her artwork, the cityâs resilience after the New Yearâs attack, and the memory of his late veteran grandfather all fueled his performance.
âThis was powerful. The spirit came over me,â Batiste told The Associated Press after his performance at the Caesars Superdome. On Monday he unveiled âMy United State,â a two-track project featuring âStar-Spangled Bluesâ and âNotes from My Future Self."
âItâs the first time in the history of the anthem that had samples included in it,â said Batiste, a Louisiana native who is a Grammy and Oscar winner and former bandleader for the âThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert.â âWe almost couldnât clear the main sample that I wanted until the night before.â
Batiste, 38, said his reinvented national anthem draws from âDrag Rapâ by The Showboys â better known as the Triggerman beat â a staple of New Orleans bounce and hip-hop culture. He aimed to showcase the city's rich culture and heritage while putting his own stamp on a song that was first echoed at the Super Bowl in 1967, performed by The Pride of Arizona, the Michigan Marching Band and the UCLA Choir.
Over the years, the anthem has been reimagined by music legends like Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, Billy Joel, Beyoncé and Lady Gaga.
âItâs a lot of pieces to the puzzle,â he said. âThey all come in different tempos and melodies. Itâs a whole lot of things that wouldnât never work together unless it was framed by the American ideal. I wanted to capture it in an arrangement. Just in the sound.â
In an AP interview, Batiste reflected on his wifeâs resilience, new songs, an upcoming tour and his festival this weekend that will leave a lasting musical impact on New Orleans.
Batiste's wife's resilience shown through her painting
During the filming of âAmerican Symphony,â inspiration struck â not just in the documentary, but on canvas. As Jaouad painted, one creation that took flight was a vivid butterfly, embodying what he calls the âpower of resilience, delicate beauty, and grace.â
Jaouad's painting was on the piano and bench Sunday.
âIt's the balance of this duality,â he said about watching his wife creatively express herself during âAmerican Symphony,â which won a Grammy for best music film. âIt Never Went Awayâ from the documentary also won best song written for visual media. He's thankful for the collaboration and proud of Jaouad, a writer who is battling cancer for a third time.
In December, she revealed her diagnosis on social media.
âShe's a one of a kind human being, like a person who has so much light from within,â Batiste said. âYou look into her eyes and you see the work. I'm very glad that she was able to not only survive, but have this alchemizing process of it all to lift it into something that's even more than just a way of making lemonade out of lemons.â
He added: âThis is more than just taking a bad thing and making it good. It's almost a blessing, as wild as it is to think about it like that.â
Batisteâs anthem of growth and homecoming
While crafting âNotes from My Future Self,â Batiste had three things on his mind: returning home, the national anthem and the wide-eyed wonder of him at 6 years old.
âIt really brought together so many things in my subconscious,â said the seven-time Grammy winner. "It brought them together, like all these stories, notes. What would the young me think about whatâs happening now and how to really connect to this moment from their inner child plays in this song? It just came out of that.â
Batiste called the upbeat song an anthem that represents self-empowerment for himself and others too. He said making the song was a profound journey of artistic realization.
âWhen you hear the song and youâre listening, itâs me talking to my younger me,â he said. âBut it could also be you, talking to young you. In a moment like this, itâs important for us to heal, to really thrive and be rooted in who we are. We have to go back to that kid.â
Batiste said the musical foundation came while talking to director Alan Ferguson, his frequent collaborator. He said they had a vision of using spoken word, poetry and hip-hop within the context of âradical cause, positivity and openness.â
âItâs a celebration of life,â he said. âIt's a natural intuition and the visual possibility and the evolution of me as an artist is just me going into this new zone. ... When it aligns like that, that's how I know it's the right direction."
What's next for Batiste
After Batiste's Super Bowl performance, his next goal is creating visuals for âNotes from My Future Self" and hitting the road for a concert tour.
Full details have to yet been released, but he's looking to perform new music and songs from ,â which reimagined the iconic German pianistâs work.
âYou really get a twofer on this next run,â Batiste said.
Batiste spreads love and music before big game performance
Before delivering the national anthem, Jon Batiste brought his signature energy to New Orleansâ 9th Ward, turning a neighborhood into a stage for joy and community.
His He Gets Us Presents Jon Batisteâs Love Riot Festival transformed the grounds of George Washington Carver High School into a celebration of music, hope, and action. The event also highlighted plans for a future sports field to serve local schools.
âI wanted to make something where we go to the places that are forgotten but are the foundation,â Batiste said. âThey are the foundation of why we want to come to New Orleans in the first place and go to those communities.â
Batiste, alongside Sing for Hope, led 10 New Orleans artists in creating hand-painted pianos, scattered throughout the 9th Ward as an open invitation to the festival. After the event, these vibrant instruments will find permanent homes in schools and community centers, keeping the music alive long after the final note.
âThey greatest thing we can do is serve and not take it,â he said. âItâs a holistic view. ... Yes, Iâm honored to sing at the Super Bowl. I also want to leave something that impacts the community, my hometown.â
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Jonathan Landrum Jr., The Associated Press