The ish: The interview

Just a few days after I posted my previous entry, I had the UNREAL opportunity to actually interview Jazmine Sullivan. How lucky am I?

On a pretty boring morning at work, I decided to send an e-mail to Jazmine’s people requesting an interview. I will be honest; I sent the e-mail on a whim. I wanted to see if anyone would respond. Shockingly, I received an e-mail in my inbox a few short hours later. I was told that Jazmine would love to be interviewed. After jumping up and down and trying REALLY hard to compose myself, I replied and said that I would be free to conduct the interview later that afternoon.

I ran home, created a list of questions and patiently waited for the call.

Here’s a snippet of our short but sweet interview! Enjoy!

Did you always want to be a singer?

Yes, I always knew. It’s what I feel I was supposed to do. I started singing in church when I was five, but I took it seriously by age 12. I decided that I wanted to be an R&B artist. My parents were very supportive of me.

How does it feel to have a hit song?

It feels great!!! I put my heart and soul into it. I’m very proud of the record. It’s very different from anything on the radio.

How did you come up with the reggae vibe for the single?

Missy presented the track to me. I’ve never sung over a reggae beat before, but it felt right. It definitely catches people’s ears.

How did you get Pepa (from Salt-N-Pepa) to be a part of the song?

She is a friend of Missy and she was chillin’ in the studio. Pepa is Jamaican… so it just worked for the song.

How would you describe your album?

It’s colourful. No single song sounds like the next. There is something on the album for everybody!

Who are your fave artists?

Mary J. Blige, Keyshia Cole, Beyoncé

Who would you like to work with?

Mary. J Blige, Andre 3000, Coldplay, Maroon 5. I love jazz, R&B, reggae… I want to work with people you wouldn’t expect. I’m a fan of music.

Do you have plans to do some shows in Toronto?

I don’t have anything planned as of yet, but I would love to come!

What’s the next single?

The single is called, “Bust Your Windows”

What was the inspiration for the song?

When I write I write from true stories. Not necessarily things that I’ve been through. But we’ve all felt that way at some point!