Jack White Discusses Recording With Beyoncé & More With NPR

On Friday, Jack White released a 26-song, career-spanning acoustic compilation Jack White Acoustic Recordings 1998 – 2016 through his Third Man Records/Columbia/XL Recordings. The guitarist known for his work with The White Stripes, The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather was the guest of Ray Suarez on NPR’s All Things Considered and discussed many topics – including White’s recent collaboration R&B pop star Beyoncé.

White co-wrote and was featured on the track “Don’t Hurt Yourself” on Beyoncé’s acclaimed 2016 album Lemonade. The recording on the album includes a sample of Led Zeppelin’s “When the Levee Breaks.” When asked about the collaboration, White told Suarez:

You know, I just talked to her and she said, “I wanna be in a band with you.” [Laughs.] I said, “Really? Well, I’d love to do something.” I’ve always loved her voice — I mean, I think she has the kind of soul singing voice of the days of Betty Davis or Aretha Franklin. She took just sort of a sketch of a lyrical outline and turned into the most bodacious, vicious, incredible song. I don’t even know what you’d classify it as — soul, rock and roll, whatever. “Don’t Hurt Yourself” is incredibly intense; I’m so amazed at what she did with it

White also discussed the recently opened second Third Man Records location in his native Detroit, jokingly becoming “the czar of vinyl” and more. Head here to watch White’s appearance Friday on The Tonight Show and listen to the interview below: