If there’s someone who’s always known how to push boundaries in a passionate way, it’s Lenny Kravitz. 2024 finds him celebrating 35 years of career, with a new album under his belt, a tour coming up, and the promotion of the film Rustin (for which he composed the original song “Road to Freedom”) already finished after several red carpets and nominations. In an exclusive chat with L’Officiel he spoke about the creative phase of his new album Blue Electric Light : “I don’t tell the music what to do, the music speaks to me and tells me. I wait for inspiration, I don’t know what I’m going to do before entering the studio; I wait until I hear something in my head, which comes from within and that’s where the process begins. Each album has its own journey, I’m the one in charge of bringing it to life, nothing more. I love being on stage and sharing music with the people who bring it to life.”
With a unique and inimitable style, daring and sexy, the New York musician who gained popularity in the early 90s that he never lost and transcended music, is now the protagonist of an exclusive launch. After his collaboration for the Y perfume, the global ambassador of YSL Beauty becomes the face of Y L’Elixir. “I like its shades, its aroma, its natural intensity and the audacity of balancing the different elements such as woody and spicy.”
The author of hits such as “Are You Gonna Go My Way”, “Fly Away”, “American Woman” or “Again” and an actor in films such as The Hunger Games and Precious, who knew how to reinvent himself over the years, feels that the collaboration that arose in 2020 came about in a natural way. “My relationship with YSL began as a child. My mother used to wear their clothes, their perfumes. When I was old enough to choose clothes and perfumes, I started to like the brand. I am an admirer of their creativity.”
L’OFFICIEL: What are your earliest memories of fragrances?
LENNY KRAVITZ: As a child, my mother’s smell, I found it powerful. I remember my mother getting dressed up, putting on perfume, and really smelling beautiful. It was a feeling that made me feel safe.
L’O: What message would you like to convey from your role as brand ambassador?
LK: Always be yourself. Live your life, express yourself, be authentic, be who you really are.
L’O: Where do you find the strength to always go for more?
LK: I am inspired by life. I am hungry for life. I am always looking to continue learning, moving forward, trying different things. Every moment, every person I meet, every situation are experiences that have shaped me.
The son of actress Roxie Roker and producer Sy Kravitz, Lenny was exposed to the entertainment industry from an early age, a stage he wrote about in his memoir Let Love Rule . Today he shares fame with Zöe Kravitz, daughter of his marriage to Lisa Bonet, also the face of YSL Beauty, in his case, since 2017 and known mostly for her roles in films and series. Without a doubt, the Kravitz legacy is here to stay.
L’O: What did you want to convey to your daughter as a father and at the same time as a public figure?
LK: I tried to teach her that she had to build a solid foundation, work hard, find herself, be authentic; discover what her purpose was on this earth and cultivate it.