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Here are some of the people and words that provided inspiration and were eventually sampled on “Be Yourself.” 

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Grace Jones: She’s just a delightfully enigmatic presence and ahead of her time on the view on gender and gender roles in this interview from 1984. She talks about growing up in a masculine household and how that influenced her personality. Seeing that made me reflect on my experiences with growing up as an only child and then living with my grandma, Mema, later on and how that impacted my personality as a person. It also made me reflect on the women in my life who may be misperceived, because they choose to dance to their own rhythm. 

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Niles Rogers: In this clip, Niles Rogers is talking about how in the 70’s, all these people from various backgrounds and political interests formed a coalition through their love of music. It just reminded me of the power of music, and how we share and build community through it. This excerpt was taken from the wonderful documentary, I Was There When House Took Over the World. 

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Charles Barkley: Watching Inside the NBA after the games on Thursday night has been a staple for me like many other basketball fans. Growing up, Manu Ginobili was one of my favorite players – a team first mentality, a flashy offensive skill set, and someone who did whatever it took to win. Charles shouting his name in this incredible way is iconic, and I miss hearing it on a regular basis. 

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MAESTRO Dance Documentary: These are a group of dancers who danced regularly at Paradise Garage. For those who don’t know, Paradise Garage was a nightclub that existed from 1977 to 1987, that was massively influential to dance clubs and culture. In contrast to the flashy, glammed, celebrity-fueled extravaganza of Studio 54, “The Garage,” or “Gay-rage,” was an egalitarian environment. Entry was for members and their guests only, making The Garage a safe space for the LGBTQ community and other outsiders. With no dress code and no alcohol served, people could really get down, and dance in their sweats, and sneakers until sunrise, as resident DJ, Larry Levan played eclectic and innovative sets. Continuing and celebrating, the culture, community, and spirit of Paradise Garage is a core part of the ethos of Always Elsewhere, but especially on “Be Yourself.”