Fresh Air ‘Sinners’ Songwriter Raphael Saadiq
21 snips
Feb 13, 2026 
Raphael Saadiq, Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and producer known for Tony! Toni! Toné! and work with Beyoncé and Solange, talks about finding his voice in church, his love of vintage blues and Motown bass, writing the Oscar-nominated song "I Lied to You" for Sinners, and collaborating in the studio while embracing risk and stagecraft.
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Feeling Trumps 'Old School' Labels
- Saadiq says older music carries a timeless feeling that doesn't change across generations.
- He injects that vintage feeling into new work rather than imitating old styles exactly.
Bass Made Him Feel Big
- Saadiq fell in love with bass because it made him feel big despite being small as a kid.
- He traced that feeling to Motown records and bassists like James Jamerson.
Oakland Connection Led To 'I Lied to You'
- Ryan Coogler called Saadiq to co-write "I Lied to You" for Sinners, connecting because they're both from Oakland.
- Saadiq adapted the song's perspective to fit the film's pastor-father storyline and Miles' character.
