Kenyon Dixon on An Evening of Soul, His New Album and the Power of Ego
By F’iona Mesha Backstage in Mableton, the R&B singer reflected on sharing the bill with Lalah Hathaway and Robert
By F’iona Mesha
Backstage in Mableton, the R&B singer reflected on sharing the bill with Lalah Hathaway and Robert Glasper, the timing of his latest project and plans for next year.
Kenyon Dixon joined Lalah Hathaway and Robert Glasper for An Evening of Soul at Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre in Mableton, Georgia, on September 26. Before the show, he sat down with Tha Culture Report to discuss the lineup, his latest album and what may be ahead.
Dixon was grateful to be included. He said he wished he could have done more dates with the artists, both of whom he had performed with previously. He spoke especially warmly about Hathaway, an artist he looks up to, and about the chance to be among peers whose music reaches many of the same listeners. “We have similar fan bases; it was a great night for music,” Dixon said.
The conversation turned to EGO RUINS EVERYTHING, his album released in July. Dixon said he had wanted to put the project out roughly a year earlier, but its timing shifted while he and producer Terrace Martin worked on their collaborative album, Come As You Are. That project arrived in 2025, ahead of Dixon’s solo release.
For Dixon, the word ego is an invitation to look closer, not a verdict. “The title ‘Ego’ brings you in, but the album and the songs give you proper context,” he said. “The ego itself is not bad, but it’s a terrible driver. Ego is not a good leader, but if you teach ego where to go and what to do, it serves you well.”
He described the album as “very explorative.” His point gives the project its tension: ego can serve a purpose, but trouble follows when it takes charge.
Dixon is also looking beyond this performance. He said he is considering a tour at the start of next year, which could give audiences more chances to experience the new material live.
