📰 Fantastic Voyage – Blues & Soul: Dec. 1999
- Escape
- Dec 15, 1999
- 2 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Cover + seven‑page feature interview
A major Blues & Soul cover story published across the December 15–27, 1999 issue, marking one of the most substantial UK interviews of the Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic era. The feature — titled “Fantastic Voyage” — positions The Artist as a figure on the brink of a new millennium, navigating reinvention, industry shifts, and a renewed sense of purpose.
📰 Excerpt
“Has life begun again for the artist formerly known as over?”
The cover teases a resurrection narrative, framing the interview as a deep dive into The Artist’s creative state at the close of the 1990s.
📰 Overview
This seven‑page feature captures The Artist in a moment of transition — newly signed to Arista, promoting Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic, and re‑entering mainstream conversation after several years of turbulence and experimentation.
The tone of the piece blends:
• career reflection
• spiritual undercurrents
• humour and self‑awareness
• commentary on fame, identity, and artistic evolution
The interview positions Rave as both a summation of late‑’90s Prince and a bridge toward a new era.
📰 Source Details
Publication: Blues & Soul
Issue Date: December 15–27, 1999
Format: Cover + seven‑page feature interview
Provenance Notes: UK R&B and soul magazine; one of the most significant British interviews of the Rave era.
📰 The Story
The feature explores The Artist’s mindset as he enters the year 2000:
• reflections on the late‑’90s albums (Chaos and Disorder, Emancipation, Newpower Soul)
• thoughts on creative independence and label politics
• the collaborative spirit behind Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic
• the balance between spirituality and sensuality
• the ongoing evolution of his public identity
The cover image — The Artist in ornate black and gold, holding the collar of his outfit with a knowing stare — reinforces the theme of rebirth and self‑possession.
The article’s title, “Fantastic Voyage,” suggests both a retrospective journey and a forward‑looking leap into the unknown.
📰 Key Highlights
• Seven‑page interview exploring The Artist’s late‑’90s reinvention
• Major UK cover positioning him at the centre of R&B and soul culture
• Discussion of Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic and its high‑profile collaborations
• Commentary on identity, spirituality, and artistic renewal
• A defining snapshot of Prince at the turn of the millennium
📰
Blues & Soul — Cover + seven‑page feature, December 15–27, 1999.
📰 Related Material
• Explore the tags below for connected eras and themes.
📰 Closing Notes
This Blues & Soul feature stands as one of the most important UK interviews of the Rave era — a moment when The Artist reasserted his presence, recalibrated his narrative, and stepped into the new millennium with renewed clarity.
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