Chloe Malle: Oh, hi Fran. Francesca Ragazzi: Hi guys. Chioma Nnadi: Hey, how's it going? Francesca Ragazzi: You look so pro, I love it. [laughs] Chloe Malle: We're very pro. Francesca Ragazzi: It's going well, thank you. The calm before the storm. Chioma Nnadi: This is The Run-Through. I'm Chioma Nnadi. Chloe Malle: And I'm Chloe Malle. The fashion flock have descended on Milan this week after hitting London last weekend. Chioma Nnadi: And of course we talked to the queen of Vogue Atelier yesterday, our very own Francesca Ragazzi, who is the head of editorial content at Vogue Atelier. Chloe Malle: She was very excited for the Diesel show which kicked things off, with my beloved Jennifer Coolidge, of White Lotus, "These gays are trying to kill me," acclaim. Chioma Nnadi: [laughs] Chloe Malle: What are we supposed to be excited about this week for Milan fashion? Like what- what are the big shows? Francesca Ragazzi: Yes. So big shows, uh, I- I always look forward to Diesel, actually, because it starts the week and Glenn is such a creative and- Chioma Nnadi: Glenn Martens who- who- Chloe Malle: Oh, to Diesel? Chioma Nnadi: ... is new discovery. New discovery for Chloe, Glenn Martens. Chloe Malle: I'd never heard of Glenn Martens, I was shamed. Chioma Nnadi: [laughs] Francesca Ragazzi: Glenn is the best, you have to meet him. Very connected to zeitgeist, to the people, community driven. Uh, super smiley and, uh, amazing designer. Very proud that he's in town for Diesel. Uh, so I expect a lot of, uh, jeans couture. Chioma Nnadi: Okay. [laughs] Chloe Malle: Diesel is an Italian brand? Francesca Ragazzi: Yeah. Chloe Malle: What's next? What else are we excited about? Francesca Ragazzi: Yeah. Very excited about Fendi right after, I would say. Chloe Malle: Who designs Fendi now? Kim Jones? Chioma Nnadi: Yeah. Francesca Ragazzi: So it's, uh, yes. So we have Sylvia for men's, Sylvia Fendi for men's. Kim for women's and couture, and we have- Chioma Nnadi: Okay. Francesca Ragazzi: ... Delfina Delettrez which, who is amazing. And does all the jewelry. So that's very cool. Chloe Malle: Right. And Delfina, does she still have her own brand? I remember when we all used to love that so much. Chioma Nnadi: Yeah. Chloe Malle: Delfina Delettrez Fendi is the, she's the granddaughter? Or she's- she's Sylvia's daughter but she's... And Sylvia's the daughter of Mr. Fendi, is that right? Francesca Ragazzi: It's the third generation of- Chloe Malle: Okay. Francesca Ragazzi: ... family. It was started by the grandparents of Sylvia. Chloe Malle: Oh, okay. All right. Francesca Ragazzi: Super cool. Oh my God, I love podcast. I wanna do that in my next life. Chloe Malle: Well you can do it in this life. Chioma Nnadi: Exactly. We- we love having you on. We love having you on. Everybody talks about Bottega being the hot ticket of the week. What are your thoughts? Francesca Ragazzi: Yeah, absolutely. I can't wait. Especially after, not, you know I'm excited about everything, so much for me. Chioma Nnadi: [laughs] Francesca Ragazzi: My criteria is give us some entertainment that we are ready [inaudible 00:02:59]. Yes. Bottega, um, it's a, it's phenomenal because you really could join, like, art and fashion in a very, uh, like, nice and gracious way. So I can't wait to see. And, uh, my feeling is that the prediction overall is it's gonna be a lot of, uh, modernism and minimal clothes. But let's see. Another brand I really look forward to see is Ferragamo. Chloe Malle: Mm-hmm. Chioma Nnadi: Yeah. Francesca Ragazzi: With Maximilian Davis. Chioma Nnadi: I've, I can tell you a bit about Max 'cause he's British. Um, actually, you know, he's a, he's someone I met before he- he was designing at Ferragamo when he was, he was, um, before when he was just doing his first collection for his own line. And I remember meeting him in a coffee shop and he talked through his collection. It was all inspired- Chloe Malle: Oh 'cause he looks, like, 20, right? Chioma Nnadi: He's young. He's very young. He's probably late 20s, I would say. Chloe Malle: Yeah. Chioma Nnadi: Um- Chloe Malle: And one of the only black designers to run a major Italian house, right? Chioma Nnadi: For sure. Yeah. And he- he works very closely with- with Ib Kamara too. And he worked with Ib- Ib Kamara who's the editor in chief of Dazed, um, Dazed and Confused. So he- Francesca Ragazzi: Also the creative director of Off White. Chioma Nnadi: Yes, exactly. So- Chloe Malle: Ib is? Chioma Nnadi: Mm-hmm. Chloe Malle: Huh. Didn't know that. So I'm learning so much this morning, ladies. Chioma Nnadi: Yeah, yeah. They all, they all got kind of friendly. Francesca Ragazzi: [inaudible 00:04:24] in fashion. That's how we wanna do with our audience, tell- tell them things. Chioma Nnadi: Yeah. Tell us a little bit about Raf's work. 'Cause he, his use of color is very, is very special, right? Francesca Ragazzi: Yes. The- the uses of color is very special. Especially like the red, the, for example for Max, uh, is because it's connected to, uh, his, uh, his roots. So the- the Trinidad and Tobago. So it's a really a personal affair that, uh, Max adds with the, with red. Chioma Nnadi: I know this season Sabato won't be, the new creative director of Gucci, won't be showing 'cause he's still at his job at Valentino. Francesca Ragazzi: Valentino. Chioma Nnadi: Yeah. Francesca Ragazzi: I think he's working still. Chioma Nnadi: He's working this season, probably. Chloe Malle: Oh wow, that's the new Gucci designer? Chioma Nnadi: Yeah. Chloe Malle: And he's gonna still be doing Valentino? Chioma Nnadi: Yeah. Chloe Malle: That feels like there should be, like, a noncompete. Like- like or, like, finance where they, like, take your computer away as soon as you leave. Chioma Nnadi: [laughs] I know, I wonder how they're gonna work it out. I mean he's Pierpaolo's right hand, right? Francesca Ragazzi: Yeah. Uh, what I think interesting is, like, all those, this new generation gets so much support, right? So Sabato got the blessing of Pierpaolo Piccioli who is his, uh, boss and soon former boss. And, uh, as same thing to Max, there is at Ferragamo a strong support since day one like Naomi Campbell, the community. I mean that's very incredible. I can feel now more than every these, uh, transition to- to a new generation being seat at the table as well. It's- it's exciting. Chioma Nnadi: Yeah. It's cool to see that in Milan 'cause I think traditionally we don't associate it with young emerging talent or- Chloe Malle: It's Prada or bust. Chioma Nnadi: Yeah. Francesca Ragazzi: It's- Chioma Nnadi: Does it, do you feel the shift? Francesca Ragazzi: I do. Chioma Nnadi: Francesca, you don't do yourself credit. You're part of the change in Milan. I mean, like, you're, you know, head of Vogue I- Italy. And, like, you've been there, you know, it's- it's recent for you. And you're, you've been really good at pushing for change and bringing in new creatives. And when did you take the position? How long has it been now? Francesca Ragazzi: Been a year and a half. Chioma Nnadi: Wow. Francesca Ragazzi: So- Chloe Malle: And will you tell us a little bit about the- the Fran origin story? Chioma Nnadi: Yeah, we need to know. Francesca Ragazzi: Uh, my story? Chioma Nnadi: Yeah. Chloe Malle: Yeah. Chioma Nnadi: Of course. Francesca Ragazzi: I- I started work at Vogue as an intern in my 20s. Chioma Nnadi: At American Vogue or in- Francesca Ragazzi: No, Italian Vogue. Chioma Nnadi: Italian Vogue. Francesca Ragazzi: Under leadership of Franca Sozzani. So I was basically packing, uh, clothes and luggage for the shoots. But because a lot of shoots were happening in Paris, I was able to go on set since day one with masters like Paolo Roversi, Peter Lindbergh. And then I want, I like I change. So after a while I wanted to see another side of the business. So I joined American Vogue which was very different in terms of approach, but that's what makes it- Chloe Malle: How? Francesca Ragazzi: ... very interesting. Well, it- the Italian was is more, like, last minute we would find our technician. And, uh, American way was much more organized and business oriented. For example, we just confirmed a cover shoot in Milan in two days. Chloe Malle: Oh my God. Chioma Nnadi: [laughs] Francesca Ragazzi: It's fine. Chioma Nnadi: Congratulations. Francesca Ragazzi: And, you know, uh, Ib Kamara is not worried about the wardrobe because he knows we can pull it out in two days. So, I'm proud of the Italian twist plot. Chloe Malle: Actually, Fran, should we just talk about how we all know each other? 'Cause I wanna hear a little bit more about your time at American Vogue. What were you- Francesca Ragazzi: Yeah. Chloe Malle: ... doing? I remember you coming and you were like, it was, like, a bottle of Prosecco being popped among a sea of pinot grigio. Francesca Ragazzi: [inaudible 00:08:11] come down yeah. Be- because I'm so obsessed with my job that one summer, instead of going on vacation, I ask to spend a- a summertime in New York with American Vogue. I- I volunteer to be just there. And wh- whatever was needed I could help. And, uh, after my time there, one month, I was, you know, I was told that there was eventually the possibility to come back a few months after. And I got my visa. And, uh, I arrived in New York as a fashion associate for the Italian and French market in Virginia Smith's office. Chioma Nnadi: Virginia Smith is the global head of fashion. Chloe Malle: Fran, how do you describe your job to people who don't know what it is? Francesca Ragazzi: I was trying to explain who, what is an editor to my nephew, she's five. And, uh, she keeps sa- saying that it looks like it's a designer in the end. [laughs] It's a designer of stories. No, what we do is, like, editor means edit, edit means put order. So in a very, in a world full of information and inputs and images, it's like you have to pick the best stories to share with your audience and with the, with your readers. Chloe Malle: Great, I love it. Chioma Nnadi: That's a good description. So what's your day like during fashion week? Francesca Ragazzi: Really late because I'm a night person, you know. I like the parties, like I like to stay out. I'm trying to learn from Anna Wintour that, uh- Chioma Nnadi: Mm-hmm. Francesca Ragazzi: ... like a better way of doing things that you stay one hour, you stay just at the beginning. I really can't. I tried. Chioma Nnadi: [laughs] Francesca Ragazzi: I don't know why. But this is my goal. Chloe Malle: [laughs] Chioma Nnadi: Give yourself a curfew, midnight. Francesca Ragazzi: No I can't. Because then- Chioma Nnadi: So what time do you usually set out? How- how do you have the energy? Francesca Ragazzi: No but I always meet someone and then... Not, it's not that I drink or I do strange things. It's just I like being out with people with, more luxe. Chioma Nnadi: You also, I mean it's, and you're so fun to be around. I think I've had some really good times with you at parties. Chloe Malle: I say stay out, Fran. It's working for you. Francesca Ragazzi: No but she, no, I think we need to follow the good example. [inaudible 00:10:40] so in the- the morning I struggle but I wake up at- at 8:00. And I put myself in the car with all my luggage because I- I have to do everything in the car. Also change for the nighttime, like- Chloe Malle: Oh wow, okay. Francesca Ragazzi: ... computer. But the drivers, we all, uh, we are super friends. We stay in touch after because we really share everything. And, uh, yeah. I jump from a show to another, appointments, yeah. And we try to keep it healthy as well which means trying, you know, giving yourself one hour to eat. And the time, like, remind myself to stay, like, a nice person. No hysteria, no panic because it's- Chioma Nnadi: You're always nice. I've never seen you. Francesca Ragazzi: Oh my God, you- you don't know. Chloe Malle: Fran, thank you so, so much. Chioma Nnadi: Yeah. Thank you for, thank you for coming on. Francesca Ragazzi: Thanks. Chloe Malle: Fran, I want you to stay out as late as you want this week. Chioma Nnadi: Yeah, do it. Chloe Malle: I think you're doing what works for you, and you should lean into that. Francesca Ragazzi: [laughs] Okay. Bye. Chloe Malle: Bye. Chioma Nnadi: Good luck, bye. Francesca Ragazzi: Ciao. Chloe Malle: Chioma, you are actually en route to the airport as we speak. Chioma Nnadi: I'm off for fashion week in Paris. I mean so much to look forward to when I get there, all the big shows. Chanel, St. Lauren, Dior, Paco Rabanne. But there's also, like, a new wave of young designer. I'm v- designers I'm very excited to see, Ester Manas. Chloe Malle: Yeah we're gonna talk to them. Chioma Nnadi: Showing on the Saturday. Chloe Malle: Next show, yeah. Chioma Nnadi: Yeah. There'll be lots to see. Chloe Malle: I can't wait to hear about it. You'll be, uh, zooming in, uh- Chioma Nnadi: I'll be zooming in next week. Chloe Malle: Great. This is The Run-Through Vogue, we'll be back in just a minute. And we're back at The Run-Through with the one and only, Erykah Badu in the studio, when she was visiting New York for fashion week. Chioma Nnadi: Exciting. Chloe Malle: This was, this was a big one for me. Chioma Nnadi: [laughs] Chloe Malle: I have to I historically am not, like, a Erykah Badu die-hard. But this will now go down in the records as one of my favorite interviews I've ever done in 15 years interviewing people. Chioma Nnadi: I loved watching you. 'cause- Chloe Malle: Oh. Chioma Nnadi: ... you, the expressions. It was in that moment that I was like, I wish we had, you know, video. Chloe Malle: Oh, it was a dream. Chioma Nnadi: Yeah. Especially you having your tarot cards read. Chloe Malle: Oh my God, she read my tarot cards. Chioma Nnadi: Yeah. Chloe Malle: She pulled a card. Chioma Nnadi: Yeah, that was great. Chloe Malle: Uh, you have a long running relationship with her. Chioma Nnadi: I've hung out with every- Chloe Malle: You guys are basically besties. Chioma Nnadi: ... single member of her family. [laughs] I spent a lot of time with Erykah in Dallas. But the thing about- Chloe Malle: 'Cause you wrote the amazing cover story- Chioma Nnadi: I wrote the amazing cover story. Chloe Malle: ... for the March cover. Chioma Nnadi: Which was really fun to do and such an honor to do. Um, yeah, I went down to Dallas. And the plan was very loose, as it always is with Ms. Badu. It's all about mood and vibe. And so I kept a couple of days, you know, for flow. And we hung out one night and she was like, "You know what, you should meet my family. We should hang out." And I thought, yeah. So I changed my flight. Chloe Malle: Oh my gosh. Chioma Nnadi: Um, and there had been a- a crazy... I'd never lived through a, um, tornado. And there was a tornado the morning that we were supposed to hang out with her family, so I just had to, like, cross my fingers and hope that it passed. Chloe Malle: Oh, wow. Chioma Nnadi: So it was quite dramatic. And it did and it was just, like, as if nothing happened. It was kind of incredible. I stayed hunkered down in my hotel and then she came, picked my up in her dove gray Porsche. Chloe Malle: Oh. Chioma Nnadi: And we headed over to her fam's house where- where she grew up. And it was so fun. Like she's- she's the best. As you will discover. Chloe Malle: I mean she came into this office. Chioma Nnadi: Just what she was wearing alone. [laughs] Chloe Malle: She was wearing a, basically it was like Erykah and the technicolor dream coat. Chioma Nnadi: Yeah. Chloe Malle: And totally embroidered, um, duster. Chioma Nnadi: Mm-hmm. Chloe Malle: Thigh-high s- caramel suede Y Project boots. And then the layers of head gear. Chioma, walk us through what was on her head. Chioma Nnadi: Well some kind of, like, Power Ranger-like visor. And then a red crochet balaclava. And then these insane- Chloe Malle: And then a stove top hat, pipe hat. Chioma Nnadi: Oh I missed the hat. See, she, by the time she got into the studio the hat was off. But she forgot the hat and we had to chase her. Chloe Malle: Yeah when I left the building, the, uh, security guards downstairs at One World Trade were all talking about her hat. Everyone was very excited. Chioma Nnadi: I mean what's not to love? [laughs] I mean she was totally ready for New York Fashion Week. You know, she was here for New York Fashion Week. Chloe Malle: No was else was as ready. Chioma Nnadi: No one else. No one else is ever as ready. She's always ready. Well- Erykah Badu: Hey. Chioma Nnadi: ... Ms. Badu. Erykah Badu: Yeah. Chioma Nnadi: So good to have you in the studio with us. Tell us how your fashion week has been. Erykah Badu: My fashion week has been eventful, successful, um, tiring. It's a lot of work. I'm super grateful for it. Chioma Nnadi: I spied you across the room at Tom Brown. Erykah Badu: Oh I didn't see you. Chioma Nnadi: Yeah. What do you love about Tom? Erykah Badu: I love that he makes me feel like I'm wanting to do something really creative and wh- whimsical and imaginative. I would wanna do it but think it'd get in trouble for it. And he does those things that we think we'll get in trouble to do. And he's courageous and always imaginative. And uninhibited. That's what I like about him. Chioma Nnadi: Tell us what you wore that day? Erykah Badu: I wore Tom Brown. Chioma Nnadi: Right. Erykah Badu: Tom's look was inspired by the actual look itself. Chioma Nnadi: Yeah. Erykah Badu: I- I looked at a photo of the full look, and interpreted it in my way. Chioma Nnadi: I love the colors. Erykah Badu: Thank you. Chioma Nnadi: Yeah they were really great. Erykah Badu: Thank you. There were colors in the original look, but they were very small little red and blue ones. Chioma Nnadi: Right. Erykah Badu: So I thought that- Chloe Malle: You upped the ante? Erykah Badu: Yeah just a little bit. Chioma Nnadi: I think they were b- were they from this young designer duo in Brooklyn? Erykah Badu: Yes L'Enchanteur. Chioma Nnadi: That's it. Very, very cool duo brand. Erykah Badu: Yeah. Two very talented twin sisters. Um, originally from Nigeria. Chioma Nnadi: You're like a jewelry connoisseur. I feel like you always have incredible jewelry that you have either custom-made or you've, or you've commissioned. Erykah Badu: Yeah I love it. I think it- it creates sometimes the look, you know, it's all you need really. Those little accents and things that enhance the silhouette but not take away from it. Chioma Nnadi: So now we're dying to know. How do you get, like, how do you decide, is it a mood thing, is it a vibe thing? Like how- Chloe Malle: You wake up, you're naked. Chioma Nnadi: Yeah. Chloe Malle: Or I mean not necessarily, but I mean how do you build? I feel like you're painting a picture with your clothes every day. How- how do you build your outfits? Erykah Badu: Yeah that's how I feel too. I wake up and I, you know, do my morning ritual and I'm thinking about it the whole time. Chloe Malle: Wh- what's- what's the ritual? Do you mind me asking? Erykah Badu: Um, I light a candle on my alter. And I make a cup of tea. Chloe Malle: What- what kind of candle? Erykah Badu: Uh, just a small tealight. Chloe Malle: Okay. Erykah Badu: That can go out in about an hour. Chloe Malle: Okay. Erykah Badu: Yeah. And, uh, I make a cup of tea. And I turn on, I say, "Alexa, play soothing wind chimes." Chloe Malle: [laughs] Erykah Badu: And she does. Sometimes she goes, "Your Amazon a- account has been suspended." But it's- it's a mistake, obviously, so I say it again. "Alexa, play wind, soothing wind chimes." She plays it again. And so as soon as she plays it and I go, you know, open the doors. And I'm thinking about, you know, what I have to do for the day. Most days I don't have to go anywhere. But on a week like this week my day would be a little bit different. I would wake up and I'm a ho- hotel room. And, uh, I'm just thinking about what I have to do that day. And what colors I wanna create. Or I just wear what I slept in with a jacket, some cute boots, hat. Some jewelry. You know, there's not a lot of thought that goes into it. Chioma Nnadi: Well- Erykah Badu: I would h- I would love to have a really eloquent answer. But I just, you know, it's grace. Yeah, that's what it is. It's, it happens to work. Chioma Nnadi: We very much enjoyed your cover. Erykah Badu: [laughs] Thank you. Chloe Malle: We really did. Chioma Nnadi: Yeah. Tell us about the shoot. Erykah Badu: Oh it was really fun. Chloe Malle: Where was it? Erykah Badu: It was, uh, Santa Monica, I believe, on the beach. Um, very overcast day at first. And then as it got to the golden hour, that's when we all became, um, creative and expressive. It was the day before we were kind of powwowing in my hotel room and talking about the looks, Alex and I. Chioma Nnadi: That's fashion editor Alex Harrington. Erykah Badu: And did a, uh, a little test shoot on the wall as I was just throwing things together. And some of them stuck. Some of them were things that were, um, really cool looks and we kept a couple of those. And Alex had some things in mind so it was a true collab. It was his vision and, uh, my vision, seasons and stuff that I can add. And we did. And, yeah. Chloe Malle: Were there some special pieces of your own that you kept in the shoot that you wore? Jewelry or accessories? Erykah Badu: There was a special piece we talked about for two weeks. We talked about we needed to locate the perfect tattered T-shirt. Chloe Malle: Oh wow. Chioma Nnadi: Wow. Erykah Badu: The perfect tattered T-shirt. And I'm going to wear it throughout the whole shoot. So you have to come find it in each photo. But it's out, me and Alex's, own kind of- Chloe Malle: Talisman. Erykah Badu: Yes. Exactly. And that, I slept in it the night before, you know, just to get the energy going 'cause it guided the whole way. You know, so it's- it's present in some of the photos and in other ones you don't really see it. But, yeah. Chioma Nnadi: I love that your daughter's in there with you. There's really beautiful photos together. What was it like- Erykah Badu: Puma. Chioma Nnadi: ... shooting with her? Erykah Badu: Easy. Just like doing everything with her. She's, you know, she's easy-breezy. Um, she's helpful. She's kind. Um, considerate, hard-working. So she didn't mind. She's really, she's starting her career and doesn't really wanna be in the limelight when, uh, it's a job for me. She's very humble. Um- Chioma Nnadi: She is very humble. I got that impression from her. She's very polite and lovely. Erykah Badu: Yeah. Mm-hmm. But, you know, they asked her if she wanted to be in it. And I go, "Puma, you want to be in this because everybody is waiting for you, everybody thinks that you're gonna be perfect for it. Come on, please, let's..." "Okay." Chloe Malle: [laughs] Erykah Badu: Yeah. That's how it is most of the time. Chioma Nnadi: [laughs] Didn't she come with you to deliver those twins? Erykah Badu: She did. Chloe Malle: Oh my gosh. Erykah Badu: It was almost the same thing. "Puma, come on we gotta go to this. It's gonna be perfect, everybody is waiting for you, the babies need this." Yeah. "Okay." Chloe Malle: Well tell us about that because I mean, I can't imagine delivering twins. Erykah Badu: Well, I, this story is going to break first with you. Chloe Malle: Okay. Erykah Badu: We weren't actually there. Chloe Malle: Okay. Erykah Badu: Um, we went, uh, for the first, um, visit. Uh- Chloe Malle: We should say, for anyone who doesn't know, that you are a doula. Erykah Badu: I'm a doula. Chloe Malle: Yes. Erykah Badu: Yeah. Chioma Nnadi: And Summer Walker was- Erykah Badu: Yes. This was my second time. Chloe Malle: Oh I see, I see. Erykah Badu: Second time around with her. Yeah, she had a- a daughter that I was present for the first time, two years ago. It was kind of a false alarm the first time we went. And we went back home and, you know, regrouped a little bit. And by the time it was time to go back we were on the way and she said, "Well, the babies are here." Sometimes it happens like that. But that's still a tremendous amount of guidance and support they depend on. Chloe Malle: Mm-hmm. Erykah Badu: You know, so, I got afterwards and give post support if I miss a birth. I missed a birth before because you never know how quickly- Chloe Malle: Mm-hmm. Erykah Badu: ... it's going to happen. And luckily, we had set up a great support team. We always have a really good support team, a network, where there are people on hand. You know, I had other doulas who were available to help. Chloe Malle: Twins are always, seem so complicated though. Erykah Badu: [laughs] Chloe Malle: Oof. Chioma Nnadi: How's she doing? Erykah Badu: She's doing wonderful. She's back in [inaudible 00:24:47] and being a good mommy and working. Being creative. Chloe Malle: Wow. Erykah Badu: Yeah. Chioma Nnadi: I live how your, you bring ritual into everything that you do. And so tell me a little about what goes into your doula kit. Like how you set- set it up. Erykah Badu: Yeah. Chioma Nnadi: The rituals and the- the breathing exercises that you- Erykah Badu: Sure. My doula kit, I'll say is, the kit is the whole experience, I think. It starts when I meet a mother. And we bond and I think this is something that I can do and a family I can support. And we decide on a birthing plan. Uh, this is probably fourth, fifth month. And I at that time we decide who's going to be there and what the vision is. And that changes sometimes, but just to have a foundation of that. Then I walk a mom through her nutritional package her, you know, the recommendations that are suited for a good, healthy birth. Then we come with our own dual ritual. Uh, for example, uh, Tiana Taylor and I got up every morning at sunrise and we did a meditation and prayer. Um, using elements, you know, fire or a candle, incense for the wind, a little cup of water and a plant or something for earth. And just to ground us and realign us with nature. Chloe Malle: Do you usually do home births or hospital births? Erykah Badu: I usually do home births. Chloe Malle: Okay. Erykah Badu: Or birthing center births. Chloe Malle: Okay. Erykah Badu: But I also attend hospital births as well. Doesn't matter to me, you know, it's no wrong way to have a baby. It's just that you are at peace and you have, uh, the comfort that you desire. So that the breaths are easy, your heart rate is down, and the babies can come through. Chloe Malle: And your babies aren't babies anymore. Erykah Badu: My babies are not. My- my youngest just turned 14. And that's a- Chloe Malle: Wow. Erykah Badu: ... a special time. Chioma Nnadi: She's an aquarius or? Erykah Badu: She is an aquarius. Chioma Nnadi: Special. Erykah Badu: She- she's the only aquarius or air sign in the house. The rest of us are water. I'm Pisces, and Puma's Cancer, and Seven's Scorpio. So she's the regulator. Chloe Malle: I just am in awe that so much of your family, so many of your family members work with you. Erykah Badu: Yeah. Chloe Malle: How, I mean that like brings new meaning to family business. Erykah Badu: Listen, we had an intervention today. You know, every now and then I'll ask, you know, for a report. Like, how am I, how am I doing in life? How am I... You know, and then they'll tell me. Sometimes you have a tendency to this, this, this, that. You're moving, snapping quick this week. You're, you know, they'll tell me 'cause they're my family members, you know? It's my sister, I grew up with her. It's my daughter, she's honest, you know. It's my mother. She's like, come on now. Chioma Nnadi: She's definitely honest. Erykah Badu: Yeah. She's kind of- Chioma Nnadi: Straight shooter. Erykah Badu: And she's witty, you know. Chioma Nnadi: She's so funny. Erykah Badu: She's half joking, half straight. You know, but it's like she's- she's gonna be straight with you, you're right. My uncles, they're gonna coddle me. And so I get- Chloe Malle: That's so sweet. Erykah Badu: ... I get the balance of everything. Chloe Malle: Wow. Erykah Badu: I get the, you do everything right. And then I get the, nah, sis. That's not it. You know, so as long as we, uh, keep those lines of communication open and- and not shy away from- from loving each other. And not put loyalty in front of it. Chioma Nnadi: I'd love for you to share with us a little bit about, um, you know, baby Erykah when you, you know, when you were young and you learnt to sing. Erykah Badu: Uh-huh. Chioma Nnadi: Um, what are your first memories of kind of, like, being... You shared a little bit with me about how hearing music. But what were your first memories of making music? Erykah Badu: My first memories are in church with my great grandmother, the house that you were in. Chioma Nnadi: Mm-hmm. Erykah Badu: She also lived there. Chioma Nnadi: Mm-hmm. Erykah Badu: And passed on there. Chioma Nnadi: Mm-hmm. Chloe Malle: In Dallas? Erykah Badu: In Dallas. And my grandmother lived there and passed on there. Chioma Nnadi: Wow. Erykah Badu: Now my mother has inherited the- Chioma Nnadi: Wow. Erykah Badu: ... the position of the matriarch of that house. In that house there was a- a grand piano or an upright piano. And it belonged to my great-grandmother, Odessa. And she played for church. So she would play it all the time. And it was a pretty tall upright piano, you know, the kind that you would see in a western movie or in an old church. And she would kick the bottom of it while she played to use the bottom for a kick drum. Chloe Malle: Oh, wow. Erykah Badu: And I would sit under there and watch her foot. You know, and I would feel it, you know, whatever it was that you're supposed to feel, I felt it. And, um, I always had. I didn't know if I would be a singer or anything like that, but I felt the thing whatever that is, that, you know, metronome. I'd always find the rhythm, or the pitch of the, of the keys or the tone of the thing. You know, I always find it. But I didn't know I would be a singer. But that's my first understanding. And my other grandmother, uh, bought me a piano like that. And I just pretended like I was playing, like my great-grandmother. And that's- Chioma Nnadi: Did you teach yourself? Or did you take lessons? Erykah Badu: I did. Yeah, I carry music or- Chioma Nnadi: Wow. I will say Erykah played me a song. Chloe Malle: Oh. Chioma Nnadi: I wasn't allowed to record it. But, um, we know that your, you know, your music is such a part of you too. And I know that people are eager to see what you will do next with music. How are you feeling about that? Erykah Badu: Soon it'll come. You know, I feel like I've been going through a downloading period. You know, I told you that for the best two or three years since a little bit before COVID, uh, the pandemic, yeah. That sent us all into a- a spiral of deep thought. And, um, I think that I'm ready to have something to say maybe. Yeah. Chloe Malle: To upload? Erykah Badu: Yeah. I'm ready. So that, uh, 'cause I'm feeling music a lot right now. I listen to it all the time, I'm really feeling, like, participating. You know, even though I perform live it's a totally different feeling. A live performance is like creating a mood. We can do that anytime. But, um, the studio experience is perfecting a moment and it's work. You get in there and you- you really start to craft something. And I'm ready to give that type of energy to myself. So soon. Is that what you asked me? Chioma Nnadi: Yeah. Erykah Badu: Okay. Chioma Nnadi: [laughs] Erykah Badu: I'm ready to do that, I think. Chloe Malle: I was excited to learn that you actually started working at Steve Harvey's comedy club. And Chioma was telling me that you actually are quite the mischief maker and prankster. And I was just wondering, how do you sort of integrate that into your life? Are you playing pranks on people in your family? [laughs] Is April Fool's a big holiday? Chioma Nnadi: I didn't mention this, but you should see the- the, doesn't the welcome mat is really hilarious at your... Erykah Badu: Okay. I think that's what she meant. Chloe Malle: Oh. I don't know about this. Chioma Nnadi: No. Erykah Badu: My welcome mat, well- Chioma Nnadi: Says what? Erykah Badu: This is- Chioma Nnadi: There's always a little bit of fun, there's always a little bit of, like- Erykah Badu: Yes. It's, uh, it's a little mischief. Chloe Malle: What- what does the welcome mat say? Erykah Badu: Well I gotta tell you the story first. Chloe Malle: All right. Erykah Badu: People are stealing people's packages left and right. And it's like people just really feel entitled to people's things now for some reason. So weird. And, um, but people are also still scared of things that they don't understand. So in order to deter people from stealing packages, my welcome mat says, "Steal my packages and you will die in three days time." Chioma Nnadi: [laughs] Chloe Malle: Now did you make this custom or? Erykah Badu: I did. Chloe Malle: Oh wow. Chioma Nnadi: I didn't know it was custom. Erykah Badu: It was custom. Chloe Malle: Like on Etsy or how does that work? Erykah Badu: It was custom from I- I saw this, uh, mat company on Instagram, actually. I said, "Can you make me one that say, steal my packages and you will die in three days time, today?" Chloe Malle: Everyone else has their name on it. Erykah Badu: And they said, "Uh, yeah. We can, we can probably do that." Came in the mail, I was like, "Yes." Put it outside. And there have been no- Chioma Nnadi: It worked. Erykah Badu: ... thefts on my camera. Chioma Nnadi: [laughs] I'm happy to hear that. I also know there was a word that you taught me and it's escaping me. But it's a, I think it's a, um, indigenous American word. That- Erykah Badu: Heyoka. Chioma Nnadi: That's right. Explain that to everybody 'cause I was really intrigued about it. Erykah Badu: Heyoka. Sioux tribe describes Heyoka as an empath who deeply feels everybody's emotional experiences in some way. And he is the person in the tribe who tries to make light of heavy things by using comedy as a coping mechanism. Chloe Malle: Mm-hmm. Erykah Badu: Riding a horse backwards or eating a rock. Or making light of someone's tragedy my making a joke of it. The whole desire is to create balance so that we don't take ourselves and our moments so serious. Heyoka is very blunt with their opinions and they are very curt with their statements. And they often cut people off because they know what you're gonna say. And they don't have time to listen to it. So that could be seen as rude and people do say they're rude. But Heyoka are, they're... It's not like I'm talking about myself, right? Chioma Nnadi: [laughs] Erykah Badu: I am. I am Heyoka. I am Heyoka. Chioma Nnadi: [laughs] Erykah Badu: And that's, and I am, when I read the description years ago I felt like I fit that description 'cause I mean well. And my energy is pure. But sometimes people don't like the mirror up to them. Chloe Malle: Mm-hmm. Erykah Badu: And they will tell you stuff like, it's not always your job to show someone who they are and... You know? I disagree. Who job is it? Chloe Malle: [laughs] Erykah Badu: It is my job. You know? There you have it. Chioma Nnadi: I mean you have so many talents. I think- Erykah Badu: Thank you. Chioma Nnadi: We actually have a- Erykah Badu: Thank you. Chioma Nnadi: ... deck or tarot cards here. Erykah Badu: [laughs] Oh, okay. Chioma Nnadi: Um, and I think it might be time for us to... Chloe Malle: These are very old. Chioma Nnadi: Yes. I think they're actually in French. Are they in French? Chloe Malle: They're my father's, they're French. 30 year old French tarot cards. Chioma Nnadi: They're beautiful cards. Um, but because I know when I was there, you know, your alter has all kinds of beautiful things on it. And there was a stack of cards. And you pulled me a card that, you pulled a card for me that was very accurate for my life at that moment. Erykah Badu: Yeah, tarot. Are you guys into tarot- Chioma Nnadi: Yeah. Erykah Badu: ... at all? Chloe Malle: Yeah. I haven't had my cards read in a long time. Erykah Badu: What do you know about tarot? Chloe Malle: Well I have a, this is getting very personal, but when I was very young about right or nine years old, my mother and I went to a tarot card reader on a side street in Midtown. And she read our cards and I forget what she said about me. But then she looked at my mother and she pulled, it might have been the card of death. But she said- Chioma Nnadi: Oh no. Chloe Malle: ... you're gonna need help very soon. And then a year later my father died. And so my mother has never seen a tarot card reader since then. Chioma Nnadi: How long have you been, um, into tarot, Erykah? Erykah Badu: Five minutes. But I can do it. I'm new to this, but I'm not new to this. Understand me? Chioma Nnadi: [laughs] Erykah Badu: I can gear it down to you, I might give you a reading that's gonna blow your mind. Chloe Malle: [laughs] Erykah Badu: Right now. Right now, right now, right now. Right now. Come spirit and give us some energy, something that we can use. Something that we may learn from, grow from, thank you. All readers don't do this, but... Chioma Nnadi: [laughs] So Erykah's tapping on the stack of cards with her grill, which is amazing. Erykah Badu: That's the only stones I have available. Chioma Nnadi: I know. Erykah Badu: There are pearls in here you see- Chioma Nnadi: They're beau- they're beautiful. I was admiring them. Erykah Badu: I'm also resourceful. Okay. So, uh, od you have a question in mind or you just want... Let's do, go ahead. Yeah. Let's do the whole thing. You have a question in mind? Chloe Malle: Oh, what's my question? Um, I found myself recently as I've become a parent being concerned about the health of myself and those around me. And I feel like there's no way to control that. But I- I wonder, I'm constantly concerned about having health issues early. Erykah Badu: Okay. Death. No, I'm joking. Chioma Nnadi: Don't do that, Erykah. That's not funny. Erykah Badu: [laughs] No, no. Hmm. Hmm. Chioma Nnadi: [laughs] Erykah Badu: Your card is the 10 of cups. 10 of cups says, to me, that, and cups represent love. In this case, you are requiring and needing overwhelming love and support. Chloe Malle: Mm-hmm. Erykah Badu: So, because you do need to take some, uh, time to regenerate. Chloe Malle: That's- Erykah Badu: 10 of cups generally says that you are, you are wanting more- Chloe Malle: Hmm. Erykah Badu: ... support. More love. You are willing to receive it as well. And I'm feeling that you will very much return the love is you can just get a new battery in your back. Chloe Malle: All right that's very helpful. Erykah Badu: Yeah. Chioma Nnadi: That's lovely. Tell us what you've got coming up. Like what's in- in- in brief. 'Cause I know, so basically in Erykah's house there's a white board with all the projects. Chloe Malle: Oh, wow. Chioma Nnadi: And I know several have been crossed off now. Erykah Badu: Yeah. Chioma Nnadi: How are you feeling about your to-do list? Erykah Badu: Um, we're, I'm almost done. You know, usually at the beginning of the year, I don't have a manager or anything like that. So I have to be self-motivated to do everything. And it's of course more difficult when, um, grieving about something or having some kind of emotional reaction to something. Or- Chioma Nnadi: Oh my God, it's your birthday coming up soon, isn't it? Erykah Badu: Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. 'Cause let me tell you about those. Chloe Malle: Yeah, yeah. Chioma Nnadi: Yes, tell me about your birth, 'cause I know that- Erykah Badu: Let me just tell you about stuff- Chioma Nnadi: ... those are big. Erykah Badu: ... on the board and not the feelings that go with it. Chioma Nnadi: Yes. Erykah Badu: Let me try to use my left brain. Chloe Malle: Is the birthday on the board? Erykah Badu: The birthday is on the board. Chioma Nnadi: The birthday is a big thing every year. Right? Erykah Badu: Yes, yes, yes. Thank you. Chioma Nnadi: What does that look like? Erykah Badu: The birthday is an annual party that I have as a concert in a 4000 seater venue, kind of small for. Chloe Malle: A- always in Dallas? Erykah Badu: Always in Dallas- Chloe Malle: Okay. Erykah Badu: ... at the same venue. The Factory. Chloe Malle: Okay. Erykah Badu: And I have it each year. And I've had it each year for about 10 years now. This is gonna be my 52nd birthday. Chioma Nnadi: Oh you look like, honestly, like, your skin I just, it's unbelievable. Erykah Badu: Yeah c- I- Chioma Nnadi: You look so young. Erykah Badu: I know. Chloe Malle: What's the skin secret? Chioma Nnadi: Yeah. Erykah Badu: Really? Chioma Nnadi: Yeah. Erykah Badu: I use money for lotion. Chioma Nnadi: [laughs] I was wondering and I never got to ask you that. Erykah Badu: It's, that's it. That's it. Don't tell all the girls. Chioma Nnadi: No. Just between us. Erykah Badu: Yes. But that's what's coming up, the birthday party is February 24th- Chioma Nnadi: That'll be so fun. Erykah Badu: ... in Dallas. Uh, I'm looking forward to seeing all of my amazing friends that come out every year. Chioma Nnadi: Do you have an outfit yet? Erykah Badu: I don't. I don't, I don't lay my clothes out on the bed like that. I don't. Chioma Nnadi: You don't lay out- Chloe Malle: You lay it out in your mind. Chioma Nnadi: ... a birthday outfit? Erykah Badu: No. Chioma Nnadi: It's your birthday. Erykah Badu: That's the first, best day of the- Chloe Malle: So you just wait? Chioma Nnadi: You wake up, you're just gonna wake up and go into the closet and pick something out? Erykah Badu: Yes. Chioma Nnadi: Oh, you're insane. Chloe Malle: [laughs] Erykah Badu: Listen, I'm not insane. I'm telling you, I thrift, like, maybe, you know, I've been thrifting this month. I thrift a month or two before, just get some cool pieces that I see. These rings I found in Etsy, I mean it's just- Chioma Nnadi: They're great. They're basically look like broken plates, they're beautiful. They're like little porcelain- Chloe Malle: Like Chinese made. Chioma Nnadi: Yeah they're so good. Erykah Badu: The key to this whole thing is just kind of like you have tools around. It's just like if I was a- a visual artists there's no way, you know, I know today's a day that I paint a thing. But I don't know how you imagine in your mind what you're gonna do. But it's just how my mind works, it's fun. Chioma Nnadi: You're mind is- Erykah Badu: I'm discovering- Chioma Nnadi: ... a magical thing. Erykah Badu: I think my best work is still in me. So I wanna- Chioma Nnadi: It's definitely still in you. Erykah Badu: I don't wanna disrespect it by trying to label it. I- Chioma Nnadi: Yeah. Erykah Badu: I don't know what I'm gonna do. You know, it's like I never, I don't... It's fun like that. So the birthday is coming up which I don't know what I'm gonna wear for. Um, there is a collab I have with Cookies. Chioma Nnadi: Yup, yup. Erykah Badu: Um, Cookies is a- a brand, a cannabis brand, one of the most- Chloe Malle: Oh I thought it was an actual cookie. I was excited. Erykah Badu: They do have actual cookies. Chloe Malle: Okay. Erykah Badu: But you wanna just take two bites of it, of that cookie. Chloe Malle: That might not be the nurturing I need right now. Erykah Badu: No, that's not the c- that might not be the cookie for you. My, um, weed brand is called Apple Trees. And his is called Cookies, so we got together to create a- a strain that I wanted to specifically research the relationship between cannabinoids and women. And that's my interest. The strain we created is not just for women, but it has women in mind. Chioma Nnadi: Mm-hmm. Erykah Badu: Um, the packaging, the art. Some of the cannabinoids inside. Chioma Nnadi: Mm-hmm. Erykah Badu: Um- Chioma Nnadi: Can you explain a bit about the pack- describe the packaging? You showed it to us. It, can you reveal it yet? Erykah Badu: S- I did reveal it today on Instagram. Chioma Nnadi: Oh great, okay. Good. Erykah Badu: So it looks kind of like this. It's- Chloe Malle: Oh, wow. Chioma Nnadi: It's beautiful. Erykah Badu: Yeah when I was thinking of, thinking of packaging- Chloe Malle: It's like blue and white delft china- Erykah Badu: Yes. Chloe Malle: ... sort of Ming Dynasty china. Erykah Badu: Mm-hmm. When I was thinking of this- this look, I was thinking, what is the most feminine and soft thing that I can create to, you know, give to- to women as a- an offering for we're paying attention to you too in cannabis world. I thought of a vase. I thought of a- a vase shaped like a woman. That is also a bong. Chloe Malle: Mm-hmm. Erykah Badu: That also has a vanity tray made of the same porcelain material. But trimmed in gold. So I thought, wow, wouldn't that be beautiful for someone? And that was the first thing I thought of. So I'm excited about this drop I have with Cookies. It's my first venture into the cannabis world which, uh, sparked an idea to do a documentary about women in cannabis in the- Chloe Malle: No pun intended. Chioma Nnadi: Wow, great. Erykah Badu: Yeah. Chloe Malle: Sparked an idea. Erykah Badu: It did spark an idea. And, uh, the name of the documentary will be called, Pussy in Weed. Chioma Nnadi: I love it. Erykah Badu: Yeah. Chioma Nnadi: Perfect. Chloe Malle: Wonderful. Erykah Badu: I had a drum roll in my head, I'm sorry. Chloe Malle: [laughs] Mine too. I thought you were maybe having a stroke. Erykah Badu: I was listening to the drum roll. Yes. So, 'cause I was real still. Chloe Malle: Yeah. Everything was- Erykah Badu: I was waiting for the audience to be quiet. Chloe Malle: Erykah, thank you so much. Chioma Nnadi: Thank you. Chloe Malle: This has been the highlight of our, definitely of our fashion weeks. Chioma Nnadi: Yes. Chloe Malle: By far. Chioma Nnadi: This is definitely the highlight of our fashion weeks. Erykah Badu: Thank you so very much. And thank you, Vogue. Chloe Malle: One of my top favorite interviews of all time. Chioma Nnadi: What an experience. Once you meet Erykah, you will never forget Erykah. Chloe Malle: I feel, I feel like I'm just gonna listen to this interview as, like, ASMR to help me go to bed at night. I feel very soothed. Chioma Nnadi: That- that voice, that whisper. Chloe Malle: Yeah, exactly. Well, until next week, everyone. The Run-Through Vogue is a production of Conde Nast Entertainment. I'm Chloe Malle. Chioma Nnadi: And I'm Chioma Nnadi. We'll be back next week. Bye.