I didn’t have “interview Lenny Kravitz” on my life bingo card. So you know I didn’t have “interview Lenny Kravitz twice” in my plans either! I love talking to people – period. Strangers at the bar have a great time with me. Everyone has a story and I love to let my curiosity take over so I can fall down the rabbit hole of another human’s life, lessons, and delights. But having the opportunity to speak with people who have inspired and influenced parts of my own journey is a true gift and I never take it for granted. Lenny Kravitz has not only created music that I hold dear, he has also modeled things about love and family that I absorbed as part of how I wanted to operate after getting divorced. His example has showed me ways of being that made way for more authenticity, peace, and joy in my life.
There are so many topics I would have loved to cover with Lenny, but both of our conversations were about stories from his early life. Before he became a genre-surfing musical legend, philanthropist, interior designer and now New York times best-selling author, Lenny Kravitz was simply a young man in search of his authentic voice. In the interview below, he sat with me during the Miami Book Fair to discuss his memoir, Let Love Rule, which chronicles the first 25 years of his life culminating in the release of his first album.
Our first conversation (which is not publicly available – sorry!) was truly beautiful. We covered a lot of ground because his life is like a kaleidoscope of wonder. Topics included staying true to yourself, people who encouraged him in his journey, his musical soulmate, and his appreciation for the influence of Black women in his life. Since I can’t share that video, I will share the word of advice on which we ended the conversation. In discussing his experience turning down several record deals as a very young man, Lenny said “you don’t have to walk through every door presented to you. You have to listen to your true self so you can walk through YOUR door.”
I’m going for MY door everyday, Lenny!
Interviewing Lenny Kravitz in October 2020 for the Microsoft Employee learning show Outside In.
ABOUT KIESHA GARRISON
Kiesha Garrison is a professional emcee and public speaker whose work focuses on personal discovery and courageous conversations that connect us to our true selves and community.
