Sometimes one thinks you got what an artist is about, even if his oeuvre only was only on the periphery of your radar, then upon further inspection and stripping away the superficial mainstream appeal, it becomes apparent that there is much more to it than meets the eye, which prompts one to revisit the respective oeuvre.
Case in point: Lenny Kravitz, whose memoir Let Love Rule chronicles the first twenty-five years of his life up until the release of his first full length at the end of the eighties.
In essence, this autobiographical tome sheds light on the evolution not only of the artist Lenny Kravitz but the person behind it and sheds light on how he literally and figuratively found his voice that was to shape his public persona and the message that to this day anchors and serves as the foundation for his endeavours.
Starting with his childhood, specifically his trials and tribulations during his teenage years allow insights into what contributed to his idiosyncratic outlook and style as well as his spiritual growth, which was going to become a major component not only to his music but to all facets of his life.
Devoid of what make run-off-the-mill celebrity memoirs usually sell copies these days, it is interesting to read one that goes beyond the realms of the fame and stardom bits – Let Love Rule is a book that highlights how experiences and the conclusions Kravitz draws from them become an integral part of his approach to how he channels his art; be it racism, having both a Jewish and a Christian background, patchwork families or political themes of the respective day and age.
Given that the book focuses on the first third of his life, one cannot help but wonder if there is a going to be a sequel that will then delve into the aspects of stardom and the pitfalls of fame.
