Producer/singer/pianist/Jewish MC with Spanish moniker Gonzales, is dusting off his supervillian cape in anticipation of the April 7 release of Soft Power, the upbeat follow-up to Solo Piano. Thanks to his buddy Teki Latex, I scored a preview of “Working Together,” a nostalgic tune off the album that could’ve easily been sung during the choreographed “team spirit” segment of a 70s PBS kid’s show–but with added commentary about the drama that inevitably follows. It’s a trusty insight that only a seasoned collaborator-turned-one-man-band could make. I picked up a couple others during a brief Q&A session this morning. I look forward to what the rest of the songs on Soft Power have to say.

Gonzales - Working Together exclusive Teaser !Uploaded by JonathanBarre

Waxyjax: What are you up to right now?

Gonzales: Stroking my ego, coaxing it out of hibernation….it’s been a while since I put out an album so I’m remembering what self-promotion is. For example, I had a photo session yesterday and it took me some time to find that supervillain look. I am also putting the finishing touches on a 13-person remix for a disco track of my album (almost everyone I’ve worked with is on there).

Wj: You started playing music in Canada and are now based in Paris. How has living abroad affected your music and your creative process?
G: Living abroad keeps me on my musical toes. Something about feeling left out and alienated is good for risk-taking, because you inherently care less about a foreign culture’s opinions. I mean that iin a positive sense, it’s just psychology.

Wj: Is there another city you might live in someday?
G: Anywhere to chase the glory.

Wj: The Dailymotion clip of Working Together is a fascinating look into how you produced the song and played all the instruments by yourself. It’s interesting that a song titled “Working Together” was created by one guy. Was there any meaning behind this?
G: Well I did spend the better part of five years working with others, living in their brains and rubbing up against their complexes. So to make an album on my own again was exciting but eventually harrowing because I started to live in my own brain and rub up against my own complexes.I never had to compare these two situations before, so this song is about a guy who doesn’t have to think about other people’s feelings being forced to think about other people’s feelings. Ouch!

Wj: “Working Together” gives me the impression that Soft Power might be peppier than Solo Piano. How on or off-point am I in this assumption?
G: On the point, into the point, IS the point.

Wj: Soft Power hits stores in a few months. What’s next in the pipeline?
G: More collaborations, but a bit more low-key and with more Canadians than Frenchies. Other than that, dinner with Teki Latex.

Wj: Not only have you collaborated with a wide array of artists like Teki Latex, Mocky, Feist, Peaches, Buck65 and Jamie Lidell, you’ve also remixed countless others (including our favorite, Daft Punk). Of all the artists you have NOT worked with, which would most likely intimidate you?
G: Barry Gibb, Lenny Kravitz, rappers.

Wj: What do you think of the Canadian Dollar surpassing the US Dollar?
G: Obama/Cronenberg ‘08!