Cover Erykah Badu will host a wellness retreat at Desa Potato Head in Bali (Photo: courtesy of Potato Head Bali)
Erykah Badu will host a wellness retreat at Desa Potato Head in Bali (Photo: courtesy of Potato Head Bali)
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Soulful songstress Erykah Badu breaks down topics of love, fear, stillness and community ahead of her wellness retreat at Desa Potato Head in Bali
Erykah Badu has taught generations of fans about self-love through her music. Her ethereal vocals have carried introspective lyrics that explore her experiences of heartbreak, growth and inner work.
In her song On & On, for example, she sings, “Peace and blessings manifest with every lesson learnt if your knowledge were your wealth then it would be well-earned” and “The man [who] knows something knows that he knows nothing at all”.
Vulnerable and soulful, it’s no wonder her fans look to her as a source of inspiration and realness. Now, a select few have the privilege of embarking on a spiritual journey with Badu as she hosts a seven-day wellness retreat at Desa Potato Head in Bali as part of its Merasa “Good Times, Do Good” programme.
“All of the memories, millions and billions of memories, of atoms, of the ancestors and the spiritual work is here. You can feel it in the air, you can see it in the statues, you can smell it, you can see it in the people’s eyes,” she says of the Island of the Gods. “There’s something very, very different [about Bali].”
The retreat, Badu says, is for “any person who wants to introduce new tools into their daily practice. It’s a place for sharing, for people who want to learn and give, to replace things they no longer need with things that fortify them.”
Ahead of her retreat, Tatler caught up with Badu to talk about wellness and the importance of finding the balance between love and fear.
See also: Potato Head founder Ronald Akili talks about sustainability, hope and pride of place
Erykah Badu on music
It’s who I am in every expression of myself. Through my art, I exhibit wellness in some shape or form. In my music, I’ve always incorporated tuning forks, singing bowls and different sonic healing instruments. More recently, electronic frequencies and sounds. But it’s always been part of who I am.
Music is frequency and vibration. Everything is moving all the time, and that’s what frequency is; it’s a small, steady movement of something. And music is where our memories are stored.
With music, our emotions are unearthed, and we become in tune with the planet’s metronome and bond with one another. It is the ultimate weapon and instrument. Music to me is that vibration that connects everything. The absorption of it is how we can be healed and restored.
Erykah Badu on fear and love
I was taught by the old ones that they are two different modalities. And we always want to be right in the middle, we want to be balanced. You don’t want any of those frequencies to be turned off, because they are our protectors. Feelings of fear shield us from danger. We don’t want to get stuck in it. And that’s where the balance comes in.
Fear looks like possession. Fear looks like competition. It looks like jealousy, like envy. It looks like discouragement. Love looks like discipline. Love looks like gratitude and encouragement. So when measuring yourself, you want to be right there in the middle. Because mercy without severity is weakness, and severity without mercy is cruelty.
Wellness rituals connect people with nature at Desa Potato Head in Bali (Photo: courtesy of Potato Head Bali)
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Erykah Badu on silence
It doesn’t matter where I am, I’m always listening for the silence underneath everything. You can hear it if you listen to it. It’s waiting for you to discover it in trees, grass, the air and the sun. It’s waiting for us to recognise it no matter where you are or how busy it is. It’s there for you to connect with if you are willing, and that’s what wellness is—the willingness to connect.
Erykah Badu on being a morning person
I’m excited about the sunrise ceremonies every morning [in this retreat]. The 5:30am, 6:30am events get the dopamine flowing through my body. I like to be up early with the elements, and then to have other people around sharing that, to me, is so powerful. I feel I’ll get so much from that release in those hours. I always call it the “God hours” because that’s when we’re most open to receiving.
Desa Potato Head in Bali (Photo: courtesy of Potato Head Bali)
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Erykah Badu on motherhood
I’m a doula by trade, it’s my second job. I spend a lot of time with women in their bodies, you know, as they’re ageing and growing, exploring and learning.
I’m doing a couple of talks on being a doula, my experiences with childbirth and how it relates to who we are. I would say to mothers that as soon as you are aware of your pregnancy, be aware that the baby is here.
It’s a very sacred ritual for you and the baby. It may be the most important ceremony that we have besides going the other way. You become a mother and receive a being from somewhere, you know? Be aware of it, because you’ll want to be as healthy as possible.
Erykah Badu on community
Togetherness is so important. The generating of different energies and feelings that all have the same agenda. It’s powerful and refreshing, you know? I think it’s good to be around people with the same postures, passions and attitudes; it furthers your practice. Whatever that practice may be.
The community of it also holds you accountable for your journey. Even if it’s not discussed, it’s understood that we are all here to lift one another and to hold space for one another. There’s something refreshing about that. It’s healing in itself, the gathering.
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Coco Marett is a writer and editor who grew up between Hong Kong and Melbourne. She currently heads the travel section for Tatler Asia, and manages the Tatler Travel account on Instagram. She is known for her features on unique, under-the-radar properties and destinations. She's also known for her in-depth interviews that paint a refreshingly candid portrait of influential figures across various industries —from artists to political figures, CEOs to celebrity chefs. Follow her on Instagram @cocomarett
