GrooveOn speaks with Jazmine Sullivan…

Jazmine Sullivan is a rising star already having accomplished more than most veteran performers out there, at only 22! The maturity in her music certainly translates in her words and it is little wonder she is the next big thing to look out for. In between promoting her debut album ‘Fearless’, writing, filming a new movie and moving house, Jazmine takes time out to have a chat with GrooveOn to answer some of our questions:

GO: Jazmine, can you tell us a bit about your new album?

Jazmine: My album is called ‘Fearless’ and I named it ‘Fearless’ because I wasn’t afraid to try different things musically. You know, if you listen to the album you will hear that one song sounds different to the next and because I have been influenced by so many different styles and genres of music, I feel like that should be represented because that is who I am. And I didn’t want to leave anybody out, who would be listening to the album; I wanted to include everybody, whether they listen to pop or RnB or reggae. Once you hear the album you will hear what I have to say..

It [the album] was about a year in the making. The song that I wrote first for the album was ‘In Love with Another Man’ and it was a song that I definitely wanted to put that on there. It was a great memory of everything that came after, but you know, it’s the first album!

GO: Was there ever a time when you did feel that fear to go ahead and put yourself out there and how did you overcome that?

Jazmine: When I was younger, I don’t know if I wasn’t fearless, but I didn’t really have a whole person yet, you know, I was a kid and I was still experiencing things and I wasn’t me to put myself out there. So I don’t know if I was fearful of that. I am a very private person and I like to keep certain things to myself, so it was definitely a lot to bear all in my album, which I definitely did. Some of the songs in the album are very very personal, so that was a bit scary, but I had to overcome it and not be selfish. I had to put myself out there so that I could help other people.

GO: Your style has been referred to as a combination between Lauren Hill and Mary J Blige and Sarah Vaughan.. How do you describe your style of music?

Jazmine: Umm… I think that it is honest and it’s real, lyrically. Musically, I don’t know if I can put a pinpoint on a style because I don’t sing one style of music. I am a fan of music, period. So that’s why the album sounds so diverse. It’s cos I have been influenced by so many styles of music. But – I will define myself as an artist – just an artist that loves to create.

GO: Now you have jammed with Stevie Wonder, which is something that most musicians only aspire to do! And at your tender age, what was that experience like?

Jazmine: It was great!!! The thing is, I was young. I was a kid, so I didn’t really understand the magnitude of who I was in front of. I was just a kid singing at that time, but when I got older of course I was like, ‘hold up, did I actually get the chance to sing with Stevie Wonder?’ and now I am actually trying to get the opportunity back that I got so easily back then.

GO: You have already worked with some of the best of the best. Who else would you like to work with?

Jazmine: On my wish list right now is… KanyeWest! I’m like his biggest fan. I talk about his album and Kanye West on every interview I’ve ever done! Haha. Yeah I would definitely love to do something with him. Chris Martin from Cold Play, Maroon 5, Mary J Blige, Lauren… anybody who is different, like you can go somewhere and make something just magical and new.

GO: OK let’s talk about your songwriting. You are the primary songwriter in your album. How did you first get into writing music?

Jazmine: Well my mum was a writer. She used to write plays. I was in one of her plays when I was I think about four. So I grew up watching her create all these characters. And she wrote songs and she actually wrote my songs for me when I was younger! And people absolutely loved the songs she wrote. My grandmother was a poet, so I kind of grew up with it. I had more of a passion to sing that write at first, but I just ran the risk, picked up a pen one day and I started to write and I wasn’t very good at first, but I felt pleasure in it, so I kept doing it and now I love to put my feelings on paper.

GO: As you know, there are a lot of young musicians out there who are uncertain about how to get into writing and creating their own flavour. What advice would you give them on how to become ‘fearless’?

Jazmine: Wow…to write.. I dunno.. I think just go with the first thing you think of. Don’t over-think it. Like when I was thinking about Bust Your Windows, that was absolutely the first idea that came to my mind, to be said that way, which is how people would say it, you know: “I’ll bust the windows out your car..”. It was very honest and that’s why I think so many people related to the song so much. I didn’t sugarcoat it or go around the idea. It was what it was. So you know, don’t second guess yourself and don’t over-think it. When you are writing, it’s like you are speaking. When you speak you don’t think about you know, good times and making it rhyme, and let’s do this...you know, it just comes from your heart.

GO: Now at your age, you are already so busy with your new album release and all the work you are doing, do you get any spare time to just relax with your friends and do things like go to shopping or go to the movies?

Jazmine: Do I get any time?? Well… I am very busy with the first album and my friends are very understanding of that. I am home now, so I’ll probably see them before I go off, but anytime I get the opportunity to come home, I have to see my friends and my family just to come back and get some kind of normalcy in my life and be grounded.

GO: Are there any plans to come visit Australia in the near future?

Jazmine: Man… I want to! I have never been so I definitely would love to come. I hear it’s a long ass plane ride! How long is it, is it like 24 hours?

GO: Yes, it almost is! It is a long way away but we would love to have you here!

Jazmine: Yeah that plane ride would kill me though! Hehe but I would definitely love to come and perform. I just want to reach people who don’t know Jasmine as well. I would love to come there and let people know who I am and perform for them, you know, it’s what I do!

GO: So what is your favourite song at the moment? What is playing on your IPOD?

Jazmine: My favourite song at the moment is…oh my God, its Soulja Boy…how does it go.. ok have you heard this.. [sings]“I just hop up outa bed.. turn my swag on.. take a look in the mirror what’s up..heyyy...” haha that’s my favourite song! I can be in church and if I hear that song, I’m going to like jump up and sing. haha I love that song!!

‘Fearless’ is out now through Sony Music