No one is cooler than Lenny Kravitz. Lucky for Jaeger-LeCoultre, the musician-slash-actor-slash-designer has hit the mark and is now the watch brand’s new ambassador. In the interview, Kravitz talks about mentors, songs and watches.
FACES: Where do you get your inspiration from?
Lenny Kravitz: From every aspect of my life. It is life that constantly feeds my creativity.
F: Is creativity something you’re born with or do you have to work at it?
LK: Creativity always comes naturally, everything should flow – creativity only arises when you don’t make any conscious decisions.
F: How long does it take to write a song?
LK: It can take between five minutes and five weeks. I never know what the song will look like, but it usually happens very quickly for me.
F: Have you ever had writer’s block?
LK: I once thought I had writer’s block when I was finishing my first album – in the middle of recording – but it wasn’t a block. It was a time when I simply had to be quiet and lean back in order to be able to think and work clearly again.
F: Who is your mentor?
LK: My grandfather, Albert Roker, was my mentor and he is still in my heart.
F: You are not only a musician, but also a fashion guru. Do you have a favorite?
LK: My favorite is an item of clothing or accessory that doesn’t yet exist.
F: Looking back on your work in music, fashion and film, what are you most proud of?
LK: No one thing is better or worse than another, but of course there are and have been special days. It’s very special to record your first album. For me, it was “Let Love Rule” – my entry into the industry.
F: What’s your favorite song that you’ve written yourself?
LK: “Thinking of You” is one of them. It’s a song I wrote for my mother after she died.
F: What do you find particularly difficult?
LK: I really need to work on my patience, slow down and wait. I like to do so many things at the same time and don’t want to stop, but that just doesn’t work in reality. It is important to find your balance.
F: Do you have any rituals that you do before you go on stage?
LK: Not really. My ritual is to feel myself and to feel ready. When I know that my band has rehearsed and that we’ve done everything together to make the next performance a success, then I’m ready and very calm.
F: How do you describe yourself?
LK: I am an artist.
F: You do so much and are active in so many different sectors. Which of your hidden talents have we not yet seen?
LK: Painting is my next creative outlet. And surfing.
F: What are you most looking forward to in the coming year? New album, new tour?
LK: Definitely. It’s been a few years since I was on tour. I’m looking forward to releasing the new music I’ve recorded over the past three years, going on tour, playing and celebrating music and life.
F: What are the most important values you want to pass on to the next generation?
LK: Love. Love and more love.
F: You collect watches. When and how did this passion begin?
LK: I think this passion started long before I even registered it. It probably started with my father, who owned those cool watches in the seventies that I always held in my hand so reverently. I wasn’t actually allowed to do that, but I grabbed it anyway and played with the buttons.
F: What interests you most about watchmaking?
LK: The precision and the craftsmanship.
F: What do you think is the most important thing about a watch?
LK: Obviously the function. But also the style, the look, the way it sits on the wrist – it’s important that you really identify with it. A watch must become one with you.
F: How and on what occasions do you wear your Reverso?
LK: I wear the Reverso as if it had always been there. She always adapts to me and I turn her around if I want to change her look.
F: On what occasions do you wear them?
LK: Usually when I’m in the city. When I’m on the island, I usually don’t think about the time at all, but if I’m traveling to a city and working there, on tour or have something to do, then I wear them.
F: What does Jaeger-LeCoultre stand for to you?
LK: Jaeger-LeCoultre stands for the best craftsmanship, the best design and the best function.
You can find more information about Jaeger-LeCoultre here.
Find out more about Lenny Kravitz here.
Guillaume Marmin designed a sci-fi installation for Jaeger-LeCoultre. Find out more here.
