It was a powerful rendering that some say rivals Jeff BuckleyРІР‚в„ўs cover, or even the original. His DreamWorks connection allowed him to record his cover of Leonard CohenРІР‚в„ўs classic РІР‚СљHallelujahРІР‚Сњ for the РІР‚СљShrekРІР‚Сњ soundtrack. I just felt like it was part of the process like, РІР‚ВWhy would I be doing this if I didnРІР‚в„ўt want to be the best I can be?'РІР‚Сњ ItРІР‚в„ўs funny, that was identified by certain people as megalomania or conceitedness, but it actually wasnРІР‚в„ўt. IРІР‚в„ўm Best New Artist in Rolling Stone because I am the best new artist.РІР‚в„ў It didnРІР‚в„ўt seem like such a stretch to me. The album landed him a Best New Artist nod from Rolling Stone magazine. But I was more concerned with the music, the quality of the recordings and the performance I wanted to try to pull off.РІР‚Сњ РІР‚СљI was certainly excited about getting all the attention, being in the spotlight and having a true power behind me in terms of what that meant years ago when you were on a major label. РІР‚СљThankfully I wasnРІР‚в„ўt aware at the time of what was happening,РІР‚Сњ Wainwright said. РІР‚СљWeРІР‚в„ўre doing РІР‚ВHadrianРІР‚в„ў this summer in Spain РІР‚В¦ They seem to have lives of their own now.РІР‚СњР”Р„s for his life in popular music, Wainwright signed with DreamWorks Records for a self-titled debut in 1998. Singers love singing it, so it seems to have survived and is beginning to flourish,РІР‚Сњ Wainwright said. It was by no means a critical success, but thereРІР‚в„ўs been seven productions of it all over the world. That passion would eventually lead to him writing two original operas, РІР‚СљPrima DonaРІР‚Сњ (2009) and РІР‚СљHadrian,РІР‚Сњ which premiered in 2018 in Toronto, Canada. That was really for me the beginning of my personal journey into the world of music, specifically with songwriting.РІР‚Сњ It was very quick, I heard one piece, I was listening to VerdiРІР‚в„ўs РІР‚ВRequiem,РІР‚в„ў and, after that two-hour sР“В©ance, I could only listen to opera. РІР‚СљI plunged into this passion for that type of music. РІР‚СљWhen I was about 13 years old, I had a major conversion to opera,РІР‚Сњ Wainwright said. Still, he looks back to one specific moment that changed the entire course of his life. She loved to teach people music in general and to play music with people, so to have her son so eager was a real blessing that she took advantage of.РІР‚Сњ РІР‚СљMy mother very much took on the challenge and really enjoyed that whole process.

РІР‚СљFrom a very early age I expressed a real precocious nature and loved to sing and perform,РІР‚Сњ Wainwright said. When Wainwright was 3, after his parents divorce, he moved to Montreal, Canada with his mother. More the folk-rock version, because my mom went with my dad in the studio after the hospital and they put me in a guitar case.РІР‚Сњ РІР‚СљI wasnРІР‚в„ўt quite born in a truck or anything, but my first ever crib outside of the hospital was a guitar case. РІР‚СљI was a poster child for showbiz lore,РІР‚Сњ he said. His father, Loudon Wainwright III, was also a famous songwriter, known best for his ironic lyrics and pop-up performances on the РІР‚в„ў70s war comedy РІР‚СљM*A*S*HРІР‚Сњ. His mother, Kate McGarrigle was a songwriter and half of a famous Canadian folk duo with her sister, Anna. But yes, I miss traveling, I miss seeing my fans and I miss the electricity of a live audience with a live performance, so I am excited to get back out.РІР‚СњР”В«orn in 1973 in Rhinebeck,Р’В New York, Wainwright may have been destined for a life in music. РІР‚СљI actually needed the time to focus on songwriting, even practicing piano and working on some musicals and stuff, so I took it as a gift actually. РІР‚СљI have managed to stay busy throughout the entire pandemic,РІР‚Сњ Wainwright said. Wainwright has used his time away from the road to focus on creativity. ItРІР‚в„ўs his first tour since the pandemic began. РІР‚СљIРІР‚в„ўve done little gigs around there, but IРІР‚в„ўm very excited to get back to our nationРІР‚в„ўs capital.РІР‚Сњ РІР‚СљItРІР‚в„ўs been a while since IРІР‚в„ўve played D.C.

Now, you can see Rufus Wainwright perform at The AnthemР’В this coming Tuesday. HeРІР‚в„ўs built quite the career since Rolling Stone named him Best New Artist in 1998. WTOP's Jason Fraley previews Rufus Wainwright at The Anthem (Part 1)

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