The two agree that Prince’s work environment was one of constant searching, openness, and experimentation, with Prince calling the shots and making suggestions of all kinds, but respecting the judgment and agency of his collaborators, encouraging them to try new things—and even new artistic disciplines.
“When I was working with him, the creative high was such that I never thought ‘Ugh, I have to go to Paisley’ or ‘Wow, it’s my turn to go on stage.’ It was never like that because it was all pure, it was all passionate… If I had to define it in any way it would be to say it was otherworldly, and even then it’s an understatement. Even when he put me to sing—and I don’t consider myself a singer—despite being so particular, there was always an exchange of views and he always made me believe that I could do other new things. In fact, he encouraged me to take lessons during my pregnancy,” Garcia recalls.
“I tended to say yes to any opportunity I was given, but sometimes, when I thought I was getting into trouble, it was enough to rely on her faith in me. I would think, ‘I’m going to borrow your faith in me because I don’t have it right now,'” Parke adds.
“He had a huge couch with a central open back, like an arch, and the seats placed each on an opposite side. All of a sudden, he took a look and said, ‘Oh, let’s take pictures there.’ And he spent a little over five minutes treating it as if it were a playground. I shot as much as I could with no idea what would come out and he was climbing, rolling around… Turns out they were great. They’re in the book,” Parke says.
“I think I witnessed a more relaxed side of him because that was different than anything else he did, and he was having a great time. A lot of his musicians would tell me that they would take advantage of when I was there to take a break…” at which point Garcia seems to remember something.
“Steve, did you ever take his passport photo?”
“No way,” Parke replies.
“Are you sure?” she asked, insistently.
“Maybe… I think I can tell now. I might have retouched it a little bit because there was something on his cheek and he seemed to need it urgently. Of course, I said yes,” Parke admitted, before they both burst out laughing.
