At 50,Nabil Ayersdecided it was time to reflect.
The result is his new memoir,My Life in the Sunshine(out June 7).
(Roy and Ayers' mother Louise mutually agreed that she would raise Nabil alone.)
Viking; Gabriela Bhaskar
My Life in the Sunshineis also an entertaining journey through the eras of music that punctuate Ayers' life.
“That was a huge pivot.
I’ve been a rock guy ever since,” he says.
Ayer shares the books and music that inspired him during the writing of his memoir and beyond.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What book inspires you as a writer?
NABIL AYERS:There’s a book calledThe Art of MemoirbyMary Karr.
It’s not totally a how-to book, but it served as one for me.
What artist did you listen to while writing?
I listened to so muchKraftwerkwhile writing this book.
We used to listen to them while playing Monopoly when I was a kid.
It was my focus music.
If you added one more chapter to your book, what album would you title it?
“Cult of Personality” byLiving Colour.
I’ve had these amazing conversations with him.
Is there an underrated musician you keep in your rotation?
Who is a Black writer whose work excites you?
There’s this book calledOreo by Fran Rossthat I discovered.
It was a republished book from the 70s that was re-released a couple years ago.
I absolutely loved it.
She takes the bus to New York on her own and has some scary, some funny adventures.
What do you love about writing?
Being able to take myself back to a certain time or place.
Some parts of this book were really fun and had me laughing out loud.
I was having so much fun remembering things and texting friends that were there.
What artist do you listen to when you need a break?
What are you reading right now?
Energy Never Diesby Ayana Contreras.
The subtitle is Afro-Optimism and Creativity in Chicago.
I’m not done with it, but I’m in.
It connects artists I know well with artists I’ve never heard of.
Who is a musician from the past whose story deserves to be told?
What little I do know is very interesting and it’s not really out there.
