She sets things out on the table that are commonly kept in cabinets, caters to the truth and serves it straight to the soul. So when R&B soulstress Jazmine Sullivan – inarguably one of the best singers in the world – announces she’s in the kitchen cooking up a new album, music lovers starving for sincerity, hungry for humility, famished for more female fearlessness, and greedy for a second helping of God-fearing good-girl gorgeous, gather around the sexy chef as she stirs up the music industry once again. Sullivan’s secret songwriting recipe can’t be duplicated because the menu is laced with a self-love so unique, the beauty in this instance is also the beholder. Music is a meal, it feeds the spirit; nourishes the mind. Jazmine Sullivan’s “Reality Show” is a bold and beautiful buffet, call it health food ingredient in strength, courage, and wisdom.
Simply by referencing her previous albums song titles, even the most casual music listener is fully aware that Sullivan, 28, is fearlessly unafraid of lions, tigers, and bears, is always holding you down, but will bust your windows to seek some form of redemption. She is powerful, very powerful, having recently embraced that fact after eight Grammy nominations, three critically acclaimed albums, and one bad relationship finally convinced her numbers don’t lie to women so deeply dedicated to the truth. Jazmine is, in all sincerity, better than the relationship she was in, and better at sharing her gift because she was in it. Weakened, she discovered her strength, further embraced her beautiful, and realized her importance to rhythmic-soul – there is no R&B without Jaz.
Written by ToneSwep
Images by: Alejandro Garcia
Styled by: Lou Lou
Hair by: Jenever Forbes
MUA by: Eve Chen for Melange NYC
Location: The Blue Room Suite, Brooklyn, NY
“Reality Show” is Sullivan’s latest masterpiece, accomplishing one of the most dynamic first-three-albums of any artist in recent memory. The 12-song classic debuted at number 12 on the Billboard 200, quickly ascending to number 1 on the R&B charts after generating well over a million streams just weeks after its release. From the lead single “Dumb”, featuring fellow Philly faithful Meek Mill, to the lessons-learned themed “Forever Don’t Last”, it was entertainingly clear Sullivan had healed after the hurt. Then in late April, the fashionable soulstress released the chillingly telling “Veins”, an ode and forewarning to the phases of addictive love. The single, produced by frequent collaborator Key Wane and written by Sullivan (who authored the entire album), melodically fluctuates from melancholy to mindfully spirited, bends the radio-friendly R&B genre into the regret-vs-recovery laden soul category. It is meaningful, echoes Houston, Winehouse, Cobain, and Hendrix off stage while remaining solely Sullivan on it. The singer is considered by many as the best pure vocalist in music today. She makes yet another case for that argument by showcasing a range reached by few. Equally as impressive, though rarely mentioned, is Sullivan’s remarkable ability of singing to match the mood of the song. The vocalist has a tendency to mirror the feel of her music. It’s truly amazing to experience.
After Sullivan’s exclusive cover shoot in Brooklyn, in a wondrous loft with rooftop views of Manhattan, the statuesque young woman has a terrific one-on-one with editor ToneSwep. The two discuss five year layoffs, loyal followings, conversations with Donny Hathaway, and how children used to run and play in the streets of Philadelphia.
(ToneSwep: TS) I’ve been working to get you on the cover for years, chica. Real talk, I thought I was going to have to come up to the label and fight somebody.
(Jazmine Sullivan: Jazmine) Man! (Laughs!). That’s nice. I’m glad we finally got it done. It was meant to happen, I guess. And I love the cover (Screams!). It’s all me.
(TS) You seem empowered now, even more so than usual. I mean, there’s always been a supreme level of confidence there because you’re the girl singing “Bust Your Windows”, “Lions, Tigers, and Bears”, “Dumb”, “Holding You Down”, “Mascara” and so on, so you’ve always been about holding your own, speaking your mind. But what is fueling all of this drive you are operating with today? Seems like you’ve embraced being powerful.
(Jazmine) I think it just comes with age and maturity, learning yourself and knowing yourself. I’m more confident and comfortable with myself, my life, and with my career. And then after having come through a real bad relationship like I did, you gain a deeper understanding of how strong you are. Because it takes strength for a woman to stay in an abusive relationship, and even more for her to leave. I did both. I’m doing my thing now on tour and that makes me feel even stronger. I actually am stronger now than in the past. I physically and mentally feel stronger than before. Spiritually too. My growth is in my strength.
(TS) Over the last few years music fans have complained about a lack of soulful R&B music, especially from a female artist. How much of that lack of great contemporary soul music has to do with your absence the last three or four years? I don’t think it’s a coincidence. No jazz without Jaz.
(Jazmine) I don’t know, really. I’m glad that people want to hear what I’m bringing. I personally enjoy a lot of the music that is out here today. I’m glad that I still have a place in people’s hearts. And that is something I was afraid of – will people still want to hear from me when I return? My brand of soul music, of R&B music, of music period, is very different. So I was concerned that since they haven’t heard from me in a while they may not respond well. I wasn’t sure. I try to be well rounded with my music. I’m not against singing over a trap beat. I have songs that are Hip Hop inspired. I’m from Philly, so that is going to be heard in music at times. And I’m flattered that maybe, just maybe, it has something to do with why people missed me (Laughs!). DOPE music will always be my focus. Writing real songs and making DOPE music.
(TS) There are many Jaz Sullivan classics like “Holding You Down” and “10 Seconds” that are real edgy yet still Billboard smashes. Why are you able to have so much commercial success without needing a pop or EDM record? I ask because so many artists run into the issue of their record label waiting for a cross-over radio record. You, however, are able to do the opposite: take your real records to radio.
(Jazmine) I just think that my music is relatable. People love what they can relate to. That sometimes helps me defy genres, you know, because the story is saying something and the singer is singing something. That is the main thing. They can identify with the music because they hear and feel something real from it. If you have anything that is grounded in something real, it’s always going to touch people.
(TS) “Reality Show” registered more than 1.3 million streams less than two weeks after its release. I know it’s hard to pick a favorite baby, but is this your best album? Your favorite album?
(Jazmine) Laughs! That’s so hard. I would say Reality Show is my second favorite. Because Fearless was my first project coming out, marks my arrival into the industry. Me introducing myself and my music to the world. And the album was groundbreaking. Here was this Black girl with this voice singing all different types of songs, saying things people weren’t talking about on record but were discussing privately. With this album I do feel I did my best writing. I’ve grown as a songwriter, too. Reality Show was similar to Fearless in concept, but different at the same time.
(TS) What would you say are the major ways in which you’ve grown from your debut album “Fearless” to now with “Reality Show”?
(Jazmine) I think I’ve grown as a writer. I try to be more detailed. I want to get people to really empathize with me, if I’m going through it, or with the subject of the story in the song and what they’re going through. I’m very real as a person and artist, and I’ve gotten better at writing that realness into my songs.
(TS) I think many guessed your latest album would be a pity party, but instead you’re primarily singing about love, enjoying life, and embracing ones self-Image. What prompted you to make an uplifting and inspiring album instead of relying on the typical R&B cry for help and seeking of sympathy?
(Jazmine) I wanted to touch on my relationships and what I’ve been through, but I didn’t want to focus on that. Because I think a lot of people’s downfalls come from staying in that bad space. Singing the “he did me wrong” songs forever and a day (Laughs!). I purposefully didn’t write that way much because I have so many other things on my mind, so many positive and uplifting and exciting and nice things on my mind and on my spirit, writing the bad breakup songs would be me ignoring all the good in my life. Not doing that. Why, when I can sing about so much else?
(TS) To return from a layoff with a #1 album on Billboard’s Top R&B/HipHop list is unprecedented. Did you anticipate such a warm reception from the fans and media?
(Jazmine) I didn’t know how people were going to react to it. It sounds a little different than my last album, and different from most of what’s out right now. I’m glad people still believed in me. I’m fortunate to have touched people before and they support me now.
(TS) There’s talented and there’s gifted. There’s a video of 11-year-old You singing “Home” from The Wiz at Hill Elementary in Philly. You already had control, clarity, poise, pitch, even some depth and some power. And that was in sixth grade. That’s gifted. When did you and your family discover you possessed such a unique gift?
(Jazmine) Thank you, first of all. Thank you for that. My mom paid close attention from the beginning. She used to sing and had a short solo career. She said that I had a really raspy voice, and it was deep and she heard something in it. I noticed it pretty early on myself because people made it a big thing. I was always considered to be the one who could sing in church, at school. You know, I was the singer. I didn’t particularly care for my voice when I was younger, though. I thought it was too low. I wanted a Mariah Carey voice. Having a higher voice that was light was more popular at that time.
(TS) No matter who you ask, you will never hear a Top 5 best singer’s discussion without your name on it. But who are some of your favorite singers? Who is on your Top 5 list?
(Jazmine) Kim Burrell. Brandy. Lalah Hathaway has an amazing voice, she sounds just like her Father. Beyoncé is on there. Fantasia can really sing, too.
(TS) What are the skills needed, the qualities possessed, to be a truly elite singer? People talk about having great control, or being able to go on runs, for example.
(Jazmine) That’s kind of difficult for me to answer, because I’m not the best at taking care of my instrument. I’m more of a natural singer who is just now beginning to take care of her voice. I’ve been winging it pretty much (Laughs!). I just sing my heart out, but now I’m learning different techniques to preserve my voice. Especially now that I’m touring so much. One thing I would say is a great singer sounds good live. The ability to be a great live performer.
(TS) What is your most distinguishing characteristic as a singer and performer?
(Jazmine) I think it’s my rasp. My voice just makes you feel whatever it is that I’m singing. It’s just a soulfulness that comes out in my singing. It has always been there. Hopefully it always will be.
(TS) “Mascara” is my favorite song on the new album. Lyrically, it has a street smart vibe to it but then the music is very romantic and tranquil, like a love song. Do you think today’s woman should embrace the thinking shared in “Mascara” in order to be successful in life and relationships today?
(Jazmine) Women should feel however they want to feel about it. When I was writing the song I really wasn’t trying to influence anybody. I just happened to be on Instagram looking at video girls, model girls, and decided to write the story and tell it with a song. There are classy women, there are hood girls, there are married women, and there are prostitutes. You know, there’s strippers and there ladies with regular jobs – and some of them look better than the strippers (Laughs!). There are all types of women in the world. Each of them gets to make their own personal decision about how they choose to live their lives. It’s up to you. I don’t want to force my opinion on anyone. I want to influence women to live their lives how they choose to.
(TS) From a fashion standpoint it looks like you’ve been experimenting, taking some risks with punk, streetwear, boho chic looks, even a little garage band like when you rock’d the stage for your Good Morning America performance in Times Square. But then you can also glam it up. What inspires your daily fashion picks?
(Jazmine) I’m just a woman. I like to change my hair. I like to change my style depending on my mood. Some days I want to be real sexy. Other days I’m a tomboy, like right now I’m in J’s and sweats. I don’t like to be put in any boxes, period, musically or otherwise. People are multi-faceted, we’re so layered, so you can’t just do one thing forever. But you should always be who you are and stay true to that.
(TS) How is life for you away from the industry?
(Jazmine) I chill. I relax. I travel so much for work that when I’m not performing or recording I like to rest and relax. If I can, I try to get out with my girlfriends. But I don’t do much outside of the music really. Music has been my whole life, for my entire life. In some ways it’s all I know.
(TS) When it comes to men what are your three main criterion?
(Jazmine) They have to be respectful. They have to work. And they have to love God.
(TS) You and Meek Mill are from Philadelphia, and you are relatively the same age. You two even collaborated on “Dumb” for the new album. How has Philly changed since your childhoods? How does it need to change in a way that it hasn’t?
(Jazmine) When I was in middle school there was a placed called the Black Lily. I used to perform there. It was like the only place people could go to listen to live music. They showcased a lot of local talent plus they booked shows from out of town. I think people want that back.
(TS) Then you have to open “Jazmine’s”. If you had a spot like that in Philly the whole industry would perform there.
(Jazmine) Ooooh, you know what. That would be nice. I might have to look into that…. And then the way that the city needs to change is, there’s no kids outside playing. There used to be more kids out playing, jumping rope, listening to music. Now they’re on the internet, like it’s too hot outside and they’d rather sit in the air condition and watch TV (Laughs!). Philly needs to bring the feeling of community back. People are more selfish in their thoughts these days, though. There’s really no sense of community anymore.
(TS) You arrived on the scene around ’07, after your city’s Neo Soul movement brought us Jill Scott, The Roots, Bilal, and others. How is the music scene in Philly now?
(Jazmine) I don’t really know. I haven’t really been studying the local music or Hip Hop scene. That’s why the Black Lily is what we’re missing (Laughs!), no seriously because you could go to one place frequently and they would all be there. Also, as a new artist it was probably your first time getting to practice and perform with live musicians in front of a live audience.
(TS) If you could go back in history and spend a day with anyone, who would it be and why?
(Jazmine) I would spend it with Donny Hathaway. I would just want to hear him sing. Even though we have Lalah and she sounds just like him, it would be amazing to just speak with him, maybe write with him. Another would be Tupac. I would like to know what’s on his mind, see what he was thinking. It seemed he was a little confused at times, but then wise and intelligent, too. Like he would do something amazing then make a mistake right after that, then do another amazing thing. I feel like I could talk to him and maybe help him figure some things out.
(TS) Why do people only see things in black and white when they should be living in color?
(Jazmine) I think people kind of like to live in a box. It’s easier to do the more simple things, to just go with the flow and not against the grain. To me, that’s living in black and white. Living in color requires us to know more about ourselves. Sometimes people are so caught up in knowing everyone else’s life they don’t know their own. I would much rather know me first, then when you experience other things you see them differently.
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