I was thrilled that K'naan agreed to do this. I know that he rarely does interviews these days and certainly not for an hour. I went into it having a sense of what I wanted to ask but not knowing exactly where it would go. K'naan is a genuine soul and a poetic speaker, but I did not anticipate the depth and personal level of conversation that would ensue.

He really gave, and much of what he said was a revelation (including tidbits that he's never mentioned to the press before). His candour around the partnership with Coca-Cola and his business side was refreshing. But it was his open discussion about struggling with depression and trying to find a balance in his life now that he is enjoying international success that was the most moving. I hope people will listen to the whole chat. And let us know what you think.
-Jian

 

If you're a K'Naan fan, let us know what it is about his music that speaks to you. If you're just being introduced to K'Naan now, what are your first impressions? And do you see any conflict between K'Naan's very personal music and his song "Wavin' Flag" being used by Coca-Cola as a FIFA anthem?

By the way, you'll be able to check out the video soon on the player at the bottom right of the Q home page. We'll let you know here when it's posted.


Until then, a few shots of K'Naan during our interview: