So you've evolved from being just a rare-grooves funk DJ to actually performing your own live funk music. There's three prongs: one of them is DJing, which I do sometimes strictly wax and some [popular DJ software] Serato of other other people's material that I like to try to turn people on to. Music from the boogie era of the like early '80s, late '70s to the mid-'80s, with a dash of house , like Mr. Fingers /Larry Heard, and Moodyman, and Theo Parrish.

The second prong is the solo live, where I do DJing and sometimes have my keyboard with me and perform live songs. And then the third, which I enjoy more nowadays -- well, I wouldn't say enjoy, it's the next phase, the band. And that's what we've been doing a lot in the last couple of years. A three-piece.

By doing music with a live band, you're going for a funk jam-band vibe, I take it. But isn't that something that D'Angelo seems to capture on his new album? Thank god for D'Angelo. I'm rooting for everybody that has taken a liking to music now instead of just the club stuff or the Nicki Minaj clown show and stuff like that going on. I hope that when 2015 begins I hope that they don't run with the neo-soul thing actually being funk. Because it's a slightly different thing.

Black Messiah dropped as a response to the social situation around the country. You went on a Twitter rant calling out people who write about gunplay in their music. But musically speaking, is funk still music good for addressing social concerns. Definitely. That's what it's lacking. Sly tried to do it with There's a Riot Goin' On. And a lot of people would do it, even Prince would slip it in. A lot of cats. That's the whole message that I'm trying to convey to people that funk shouldn't be just looked at as booty-shaking party music.

It's got so much potential and that's what I've been incorporating with my new record. My record is called Invite the Light. It's more about positivity but some of the things on there is incredible, all the stuff that's happening right now.

Dam-Funk kicks off his Texas tour tonight with special guests Dayta and Flash Gordon Parks at Boondocks, 1417 Westheimer. Needle drops at 8 p.m.

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