Featured Artist: Interview with Jully Black

Posted on November 30, 2009 by Lola

Last week I had the chance to sit down with Canadian R&B singer Jully Black. I had met her two years ago at the annual DJ Stylus Awards in Toronto, where she won Canadian R&B single of the year for “DJ Play My Song.” It was a short meet though. Something along the lines of a photo opp in the media section.

This however, was a real sit down interview with the lady herself. The good people at Universal had set up a session for a group of bloggers in the city at Hammam Spa [602 King Street W.,Toronto] where we got manicures done while waiting for our turn for the interview.  I got to sit down with Jully first. I had only prepared a few questions as I thought I was going to be pressed for time. Jully was wearing all black everything, with her hair done nicely and a big smile on her face.

Watching her videos and seeing her perform, Jully comes off as a very strong woman, and while she is that and more, she is also very approachable and charismatic…oozing with confidence. I guess you’d have to have all that to be a host on prime time Canadian TV, for CTV’s E-Talk. Jully’s most recent interview as a reporter on the show was with Hip-Hop royalty: Jay z.

Jully Black’s first album This is Me was released in 2005, but she has been garnering fans since 1998 when she released her first single “Rally’n.” In 2002 Jully was also featured on rapper Nas’s 6th studio album God’s Son in the song “Heaven,” a personal favorite of mine. When Jully was recording in Miami, Nas was too. He heard her voice in one of the studios and wanted to get her on the album. She has been a staple in the Canadian entertainment and music scene for over a decade now, and with her current release The Black Book she continues to hold that role. Third album to date and what stays the same? “Me,” she said as a matter of fact. “I always remain the same. I’m always Jully. No matter what.”

The Black Book was released this past week, on November 23rd and it was a special project for her. ” I was ready to grow creatively but this would mean taking complete control of my artistic expression. It was time for a new sound, a new look and to expose the other side of my personality. The side you won’t see on TV but rather the side you will feel when listening to THE BLACK BOOK. I was ready to step outside of my comfort zone and challenge myself to expand as a writer, an artist, a producer and a performer,” Jully shares.

The creative aspect of the album took place in Atlanta, GA where Jully worked on composing the songs and laying down the foundation of the album before she finished the recording of the songs back home. “The people there are incredible,” she gushed. “You could be in the grocery store in Atlantic Station and see Monica doing her shopping. There are so many talented people there, and everyone is cool, laid back and always working on something.” I couldn’t agree more. We shared some common experiences since I had stayed in Atlanta before and knew exactly how she felt.

“I think old and new fans will like this album. And that’s the scariest thing sometimes…wondering if your fans will really love your product as much as you do. I think they will embrace this well though. I am confident they will,” she said with a smile.

Follow Jully Black on Twitter @jullyblack or visit her online www.jullyblack.com

Check out Jully’s latest video “Running” off her third album The Black Book.

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