Published by Cel Manero from Global One Media Inc.
In a rare interview with The New York Times, 61-year-old Chapman mentioned that she’s recently been enjoying music by artists such as Chappell Roan and Charli XCX.
Tracy Chapman has shared that she prefers to purchase music in physical formats rather than stream it—and she’s explained why.
In a rare interview with The New York Times on April 4, the four-time Grammy Award winner, who has kept a low profile in recent years, opened up about her music-listening habits. Although she enjoys discovering new music from artists like Charli XCX and Chappell Roan, Chapman revealed that she avoids streaming platforms altogether.
“I don’t listen to as much music as I used to,” the 61-year-old said. “This might make me sound old-fashioned or like a Luddite, but I don’t stream. I prefer to buy CDs or vinyl because that way, artists actually get paid. That matters to me.”
Chapman went on to acknowledge that her preference for physical music does come with some limitations, noting that it requires the effort of actively seeking out albums in the real world. Still, she embraces the process.
“It can be limiting because you have to physically go out and find what you’re looking for,” she said. “But I still make the effort.”
Reflecting on today’s music scene, Chapman praised the range of talent she saw during the most recent Grammy Awards. “I don’t have any specific names to highlight, but I thought the last Grammys were great — seeing so many young women expressing themselves in different ways,” she said, before giving a nod to artists like Chappell Roan and Charli XCX.
“It’s not the kind of music I would create, but I respect that we’re living in a time where artists like them have a space and can find real success.”
In another part of the conversation—centered around the vinyl reissue of her 1988 self-titled debut album—Tracy Chapman shared that she continues to write music, even though her last studio release, Our Bright Future, came out back in 2008.
“I’m still writing songs that tell stories,” she explained, while addressing the way her work is often categorized. “People have called me a protest singer, and while I don’t necessarily agree with that label, I’m not offended by it. It just doesn’t capture the full scope of what I do or how I see myself. I’ve been fortunate to make a career out of creativity—following where my imagination leads and developing characters like the ones in ‘Fast Car.’”
She laughed and added, “I hope it’s clear that the character in that song isn’t me. At 24, I wasn’t married with kids. That part’s fiction. But the emotional core of the song—the longing for connection and a place to belong—that’s absolutely real, and that part is me.”
In a separate conversation with Billboard celebrating the 35th anniversary of her debut album’s vinyl reissue, Chapman revealed that she doesn’t intend to return to live performances, having last toured in 2009.
Her recent appearance at the 2024 Grammy Awards, where she delivered a rare live rendition of “Fast Car” with country star Luke Combs, marked a notable exception to her usual low profile.
