A New Chapter – The Janice B. Interview

Written By: Raven Ekundayo

Her January 2010 cover remains one of my favorite ETM covers ever. She refuses to be confined within any specific genre of music, and I think this is what makes her music so good. She bucks against any and all boxes that society attempts to put her in and at the end of the
day she follows her own rules. By the time you read this her new album "My Life" will have been released. It's a new chapter for this Scorpio. She told us to watch her fly and we have; now she's soaring. Here's my interview with my sister, Mrs. Janice B.

Raven - Since your cover story in ETM almost two years ago, what's changed?

Janice B. - A lot of things. My full length CD "My Life" is completed and will be released any day now. I have met some amazing musicians and producers and I'm working on some other projects outside of my own songs. My view of myself as an artist and songwriter has changed. I'm much more confident with what I can do artistically and because of that many doors have opened.

Raven – Isn't it a wonderful feeling; evolving? I love it and I'm really happy for you. If you could go back in time and give your teenage self some advice what would it be?

Janice B. - It's so hard to do that because I know that if any circumstance from the past had been different, my life wouldn't be the same now. And I love my life! But let's pretend!! I would tell her that the things that seem so important now we be almost insignificant in the years to come. That seeing the world differently and sometimes being on the outside of the group will be a gift one day even though it feels lonely now. "It gets better"..for lack of a better phrase. Oh and I would tell her to keep taking piano lessons!! Hiring musicians to accompany you will be expensive!! LOL

Raven – Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! I loved that entire answer; and it was very very true. Since you officially started writing songs late in life how has this newly discovered gift changed you?

Janice B. - I have finally found a way to release my emotions, joys, sorrows, pain, anger and put them into a song. It actually started with pencil portraits. I would release my emotions onto the paper...into the person's face. I no longer hold on to unwanted feelings. I transform them into lyrics. Some people feel it's better to write literally about what you
are going through. But for me it's more powerful to take the energy from the emotion, whether it's good or bad, and transform it into a song. This way I have control over it. A beautiful ballad may have been born from a painful loss. This is my gift. It's taken me a long time to realize it. But since I have, I feel like I have evolved emotionally and spiritually. I am much more at peace than I was years ago.

Raven – That's that Scorpio in you. Lol. That word "Evolution" plays a big part in our life. What do you hope your fans/listeners take away from your songs?

Janice B. - I hope that they will be able to connect with something in the lyrics or the melody that uplifts them. Something that gives them what they need whether it is a feeling of hope, a good cry, a reason to hold on, or maybe just justification that their feelings are important. I was told by a listener once that my songs give people permission to feel what they are feeling and know that they are not alone. I don't think there is a greater compliment than that.

Raven – I agree. Now wherever you are you always make sure to represent for your record label. What has the eXperience been like working with StinkiFace Music?

Janice B. - Stinkiface Music is known for diversity and pushing the limits of what people are used to hearing in the music world. It's a great place for me because creatively I have never felt like I fit in with most genres and mainstream artists. MoRece (Label head and producer) has challenged me to take what I do to a higher level and really try new things in the studio. No idea is dismissed or laughed at. I'm free to create. You simply don't find that everywhere. And it's really changed how I see myself as an artist. There are no limits.

Raven - What has been your highest high and your lowest low in your career thus far?

Janice B. - You know, I've had some disappointments throughout this journey. Finding out people you trusted aren't worthy of your trust is hard. Letting go of things that aren't lifting you up creatively is hard. But even though there have been some low times, they happened for a reason and led to brighter days and bigger things. So I can't give you
the "lowest" low. Working with MoRece has certainly been one of the highest points as an artist. Being hand selected by someone of his caliber of an artist to work with him and write is certainly encouraging as a new songwriter. Finally finishing my CD is a high point! Oh I guess I was supposed to just pick one thing? You know I never follow the rules!

Raven – And you're a Scorpio so lord knows you're talkative. Lol. Who are some of your favorite musical influences past and present, and why?

Janice B. - Certainly my grandmother and my mother were my first influences. There were no musical boundaries in my home growing up. If we are talking mainstream artists/ influences I could name a lot. Roberta Flack, Sade, Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross, Selena, Sarah McLachlan, Rachelle Ferrell, Rakim, The Roots, Sinatra. The list goes on!
I am influenced by the songwriting styles of some and the performance and delivery of the others.

Raven - How does being a mom play into your music career?

Janice B. - Well my time to create and perform is definitely limited so my schedule has changed drastically. You learn to make every second count so that your child gets the best of you and your audience does too. More importantly I think that having a toddler around makes me not take things so seriously and just let go and laugh like a fool sometimes. It's
wonderful for your spirit and it's not all about you anymore. There is someone way more important and precious who needs you and you learn that your gift of songwriting will still be there in the few moments you have to devote to it!

Raven - Where do you aspire to be in your career 5 years from now?

Janice B. - I would still like to be doing what I am doing now. Creating my own music and performing it. But I would also like to expand my writing to include more work with other artists and producers hopefully taking my music to an international level. I'm taking steps towards that right now. I want to weave a real live show too. That's something I've
never been able to do in the past being in our band "Intuition" because I didn't have the creative control. I can do this now and would love to see where it can go.

Raven - What would you like your legacy to be?

Janice B. - I hope that people will look back, listen to my lyrics and be able to connect with the message even when I'm long gone from this place. I hope I am remembered as an honest writer and someone who put everything she had into going after her musical dream.. and that it's never too late in life to change the path you have chosen and evolve
into a better you. I think artists have a power that they can use to heal the world. Truthfully music and art are the only things that connect all of us and I believe they will be the only things that can save us. I hope I can contribute a little to that healing energy.

 

 

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