Shemekia Copeland – An Xperience Interview

Interview: Shemekia Copeland

By: Rob Smittix 

Phot By: Janet Mami Takayama

Photo By: by Janet Mami Takayama

RRX: I’m excited to be talking with you today. I saw that you’re playing the America’s 250th Birthday at the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music at Monmouth University, which I didn’t even know existed until now.

Shemekia Copeland: It’s just opening.

RRX: Oh! The more you know. That’s cool, that’s gonna be something.

SC: Yes, there are so many amazing artists performing on that, so I feel like it’s gonna be a great hang. So, I’m definitely looking forward to that. 

RRX: I don’t know if it’s sold out yet, but I’m sure it will.

SC: Oh, it sold out within an hour, I think. 

RRX: That’s pretty cool, I thought that was the case. People were pretty quick to get those tickets, and I don’t blame them.

SC:  Mhm, yeah.

RRX: So, music-wise, we have a blues show on our radio station, and I mentioned to the host today that I was gonna be talking to you, and he was like … oh man, Shemekia’s a legend. You’ve been called that, I’m sure, quite a few times, but how does that make you feel?

SC: It’s hilarious to me to be called that. I’m only 47, you know? To me, that word’s for older people, but I appreciate people.

RRX: Right.

SC: But I really do appreciate people thinking of me in that way because I certainly and definitely want to make it there at some point, you know what I mean?

RRX: Well, I appreciate the humbleness, but it looks like you earned it pretty quickly. But yes, you are still a very young woman. I was just 47 myself, just turned 48, and I don’t know about you, but I’m definitely not rounding up to 50.

SC: You know? I’m looking forward to it, it’s so funny to me because age is not a thing for me. But I’ll tell you, a weird thing happened … last November, my brother turned 50, my older brother, and it was a weird experience because I was just like … oh my God, we’re grown-ups now, you know?

(Both Laugh)

SC: And it was just like … we’re grown-ups. Oh my God, you know? But I didn’t think that at 30, I didn’t think that at 40, but we got right there at 50 and I’m like holy s***, we’re grown-ups. We done grew up. And it was just a weird feeling, but not like old, not sad about it, but just like, wow! We’re adults.

RRX: I get that. Being 48, I’m a very young grandfather. I got three grandkids because I started early. It’s kind of cool, but I still never really felt like I was a man until I was 30. And then I’m like … alright, well I’m a man now but definitely hadn’t felt old yet. Yeah, let’s just embrace this thing!

SC: We gotta embrace it. Look, it’s a good thing. I actually have a grandbaby too, because of my husband. I have two stepdaughters; I adopted them. They’re my babies now, too, but I have a little grandbaby because of them. I’m so excited about that too. So, yeah, it’s fun. But I also have a 9-year-old, so …

RRX: Oh, okay, so you’re still doing it. Yeah, my youngest is 18, and he’s giving us a run for our money.

SC: Yeah, they do that, they do that. 

RRX: He’s a senior, and he’s been skipping school almost every day. My mom literally said I will give him $1000 if he doesn’t skip for the rest of the year and he blew it already. Like, you can’t even offer the kid $1000 to do the bare minimum.

SC:  Oh my gosh, he’s just like, I don’t wanna do this. I don’t wanna be bothered with this school thing.

RRX: It’s like bribery is not even working anymore. But having grandkids, though, is awesome. I didn’t know it was gonna be so cool. People told me they’re like … you’re gonna love them more than your own kids, and I’m like, nah. Now I’m like, maybe I do.

SC: Yeah, how is that possible? But it’s like, you know? You get to do all the cool stuff without any responsibility. That’s awesome, you know what I mean?

RRX: I do, and when it gets tiring, well, now you can have ’em back.

SC: Yeah, exactly.

RRX: Well, that’s awesome, Shemekia. I just wanted a chance to talk to you. I appreciate your time. Anything else you’d like to say to the people?

SC: If you wanna have a great time, come on out and hang out with us.

RRX: Amen to that.