NEW ORLEANS (AP) 鈥 Jon Batiste transformed the Super Bowl stage into a symphony of creativity, debuting new music, reimagining 鈥淭he Star-Spangled Banner" and shining a global spotlight on his wife's creative vision.
As Batiste performed the national anthem Sunday, the multi-talented musician played a piano adorned with a colorful butterfly painting by his wife, Suleika Jaouad, who came up with the idea while making their documentary 鈥淎merican Symphony.鈥 Her artwork, the city鈥檚 resilience after the New Year鈥檚 attack, and the memory of his late veteran grandfather all fueled his performance.
鈥淭his was powerful. The spirit came over me,鈥 Batiste told The Associated Press after his performance at the Caesars Superdome. On Monday he unveiled 鈥淢y United State,鈥 a two-track project featuring 鈥淪tar-Spangled Blues鈥 and 鈥淣otes from My Future Self."
鈥淚t鈥檚 the first time in the history of the anthem that had samples included in it,鈥 said Batiste, a Louisiana native who is a Grammy and Oscar winner and former bandleader for the 鈥淭he Late Show with Stephen Colbert.鈥 鈥淲e almost couldn鈥檛 clear the main sample that I wanted until the night before.鈥
Batiste, 38, said his reinvented national anthem draws from 鈥淒rag Rap鈥 by The Showboys 鈥 better known as the Triggerman beat 鈥 a staple of New Orleans bounce and hip-hop culture. He aimed to showcase the city's rich culture and heritage while putting his own stamp on a song that was first echoed at the Super Bowl in 1967, performed by The Pride of Arizona, the Michigan Marching Band and the UCLA Choir.
Over the years, the anthem has been reimagined by music legends like Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, Billy Joel, Beyonc茅 and Lady Gaga.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of pieces to the puzzle,鈥 he said. 鈥淭hey all come in different tempos and melodies. It鈥檚 a whole lot of things that wouldn鈥檛 never work together unless it was framed by the American ideal. I wanted to capture it in an arrangement. Just in the sound.鈥
In an AP interview, Batiste reflected on his wife鈥檚 resilience, new songs, an upcoming tour and his festival this weekend that will leave a lasting musical impact on New Orleans.
Batiste's wife's resilience shown through her painting
During the filming of 鈥淎merican Symphony,鈥 inspiration struck 鈥 not just in the documentary, but on canvas. As Jaouad painted, one creation that took flight was a vivid butterfly, embodying what he calls the 鈥減ower of resilience, delicate beauty, and grace.鈥
Jaouad's painting was on the piano and bench Sunday.
鈥淚t's the balance of this duality,鈥 he said about watching his wife creatively express herself during 鈥淎merican Symphony,鈥 which won a Grammy for best music film. 鈥淚t Never Went Away鈥 from the documentary also won best song written for visual media. He's thankful for the collaboration and proud of Jaouad, a writer who is battling cancer for a third time.
In December, she revealed her diagnosis on social media.
鈥淪he's a one of a kind human being, like a person who has so much light from within,鈥 Batiste said. 鈥淵ou look into her eyes and you see the work. I'm very glad that she was able to not only survive, but have this alchemizing process of it all to lift it into something that's even more than just a way of making lemonade out of lemons.鈥
He added: 鈥淭his is more than just taking a bad thing and making it good. It's almost a blessing, as wild as it is to think about it like that.鈥
Batiste鈥檚 anthem of growth and homecoming
While crafting 鈥淣otes from My Future Self,鈥 Batiste had three things on his mind: returning home, the national anthem and the wide-eyed wonder of him at 6 years old.
鈥淚t really brought together so many things in my subconscious,鈥 said the seven-time Grammy winner. "It brought them together, like all these stories, notes. What would the young me think about what鈥檚 happening now and how to really connect to this moment from their inner child plays in this song? It just came out of that.鈥
Batiste called the upbeat song an anthem that represents self-empowerment for himself and others too. He said making the song was a profound journey of artistic realization.
鈥淲hen you hear the song and you鈥檙e listening, it鈥檚 me talking to my younger me,鈥 he said. 鈥淏ut it could also be you, talking to young you. In a moment like this, it鈥檚 important for us to heal, to really thrive and be rooted in who we are. We have to go back to that kid.鈥
Batiste said the musical foundation came while talking to director Alan Ferguson, his frequent collaborator. He said they had a vision of using spoken word, poetry and hip-hop within the context of 鈥渞adical cause, positivity and openness.鈥
鈥淚t鈥檚 a celebration of life,鈥 he said. 鈥滻t's a natural intuition and the visual possibility and the evolution of me as an artist is just me going into this new zone. ... When it aligns like that, that's how I know it's the right direction."
What's next for Batiste
After Batiste's Super Bowl performance, his next goal is creating visuals for 鈥淣otes from My Future Self" and hitting the road for a concert tour.
Full details have to yet been released, but he's looking to perform new music and songs from ,鈥 which reimagined the iconic German pianist鈥檚 work.
鈥淵ou really get a twofer on this next run,鈥 Batiste said.
Batiste spreads love and music before big game performance
Before delivering the national anthem, Jon Batiste brought his signature energy to New Orleans鈥 9th Ward, turning a neighborhood into a stage for joy and community.
His He Gets Us Presents Jon Batiste鈥檚 Love Riot Festival transformed the grounds of George Washington Carver High School into a celebration of music, hope, and action. The event also highlighted plans for a future sports field to serve local schools.
鈥淚 wanted to make something where we go to the places that are forgotten but are the foundation,鈥 Batiste said. 鈥淭hey are the foundation of why we want to come to New Orleans in the first place and go to those communities.鈥
Batiste, alongside Sing for Hope, led 10 New Orleans artists in creating hand-painted pianos, scattered throughout the 9th Ward as an open invitation to the festival. After the event, these vibrant instruments will find permanent homes in schools and community centers, keeping the music alive long after the final note.
鈥淭hey greatest thing we can do is serve and not take it,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a holistic view. ... Yes, I鈥檓 honored to sing at the Super Bowl. I also want to leave something that impacts the community, my hometown.鈥
___
For more on the Super Bowl, visit
