Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Respect’s Saycon Sengbloh

Saycon Sengbloh is a tour de force who has quickly earned the respect of her peers and audiences around the globe. She’s delivered breathtaking performances on the stage in productions including The Color Purple, Motown: The Musical, and Eclipsed (which earned her a Tony nomination) and starred in projects like Scandal, In the Dark, and Delilah.

This year, she stepped into the shoes of the iconic Erma Franklin in Respect.

Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of speaking with Saycon about Respect, her history with musical dynasties, bringing this legendary family to life on the screen.

PC: What was it like working on Respect and getting to play the iconic Erma Franklin?
Saycon: It was a blast. I don’t remember the last time I got to be serenaded. [laughs] There were days where we weren’t filming, and we would sit in the audience and listen to Jennifer Hudson sing. I don’t know if there’s anything better to do on set than that. It was a lot of work, but it was a wonderful time. We got to pay tribute to the queen of soul: Aretha Franklin.

PC: You’ve done it all throughout your career. What was it about this project that stood out to you?
Saycon: The thing that stood out to me the most was the opportunity to portray these incredible Black women in history. The fact that it was an opportunity to do dramatic work, and also to sing—I couldn’t pass it up.

PC: You’ve been a part of so many iconic musical projects on the stage and screen. How have those experiences prepared you for this film?
Saycon: Wow. That’s a great question. I’ve been really fortunate that I’ve had so many opportunities to be a part of projects that were set in this era. I’m very familiar with the movement of the era. I’ve always called myself a vintage pop soul because I love the style, the clothing, the looks, and just the energy behind it. There was so much change happening in the world and in America at the time. I’ve had some great opportunities to be associated with these amazing musical dynasties from Aretha Franklin to Bob Marley to the Motown catalog. I’ve had all these opportunities throughout my theater career. I was primed to do this.

PC: Were there any nerves heading into this project given the fact that you’re bringing this iconic family to life on the screen?
Saycon: The only thing that I was nervous about was the harder stuff that happened to her, historically, that people didn’t know about. There were a lot of questions and innuendos about how her life happened, especially her childhood. I was most nervous about how the audience would respond to learning about these tragedies.

PC: If you had to choose either an Aretha or Erma song to be the anthem of your life, which would it be and why?
Saycon: Well, she famously sang “Piece of My Heart” before Janice Joplin did. I feel like every role that I play gets a little piece of my heart. But as far as Aretha’s music, “Dr. Feelgood” is one of my favorites. It has a simple blues riff. It’s a good old standard blues song, but the lyrics are so meaningful, and it’s so grown. I use that word grown as G-R-O-W-N. That’s some grown folk music right there. “Dr. Feelgood” is such a sexy song. I want my life to always have a little “Dr. Feelgood” in it.

PC: The film has been incredibly well received. What do you think is resonating most with audiences? Is there a scene that you’re excited for your fans to see?
Saycon: One of the scenes that people tell me resonates with them is when she and the Muscle Shoals finally get their rhythm and groove. People love to see these people from different parts of the world and different socioeconomic levels come together and make music.

PC: With the film out on Blu-ray and DVD, what do you hope audiences take away after they see the project?
Saycon: I hope that audiences take away a new respect for Aretha Franklin. People only know of these artists when they’re at the top; they don’t think about the work and time that it takes to get there. I hope that people walk away understanding that it took a lot of time and energy for her and her family to reach that level. Everyone from Erma, her sisters, her brother, her father, all had something to do with her success.

To keep up with Saycon, follow her on Twitter and Instagram. Pick up your copy of Respect today.

Photo Credit: Lelund Thompson – © Yellafella Photography