LE:

You’ve been working in the industry for quite awhile.  What would you say is the thing you are most proud of at this point in your career? 

JULLY:

My perseverance and my will to win.  The fact that I didn’t give up.  It doesn’t matter how many accolades you may receive or not receive or nominations or whatever, it’s just the fact that I kept going and I’m still on my path.  That’s what I’m most proud of.

LE:

Did you ever want to give up when you were on your way up?

JULLY:

I never ever totally wanted to put it down and say that’s it for me.  However, I felt very very weak.  I’ve been on my knees but not all the way on the floor.  Metaphorically speaking.  Absolutely.

LE:

You’re also well known for your dynamic songwriting skills.  Who is your dream to work with on the songwriting tip?

JULLY:

David Foster, Diane Warren – true songwriters.  Babyface and R. Kelly – true songwriters.  Anyone that can write for both Celine and B2K – it’s all good! (laughs)

LE:

What are your thoughts about the Canadian music industry and what’s been the biggest challenge?

JULLY:

As far as Black music in Canada, it’s still in it’s infancy but we’ve come a long way.  The biggest challenge would be having people realize that my audience is broader than just urban.  Because when I go to my shows, I perform primarily for a white audience but yet radio needs to understand that the music does translate.  So, that’s been the biggest challenge. 

LE:

What do you think about the current state of urban music in Canada?

JULLY:

Even in the past year or two years, it’s funny because it’s bittersweet.  CHUM FM has been a supporter of Jully Black before my album was even completely recorded.  Just taking a chance based on a good song.  I’ve seen more than one artist come out per year as far as Black music is concerned.  Normally it’s one a year – it’s Keshia’s year, it’s k-os’ year or whomever.  This year we had myself, Divine (Brown), Kardinal (Offishall), Melanie (Durrant), Juice (aka Rochester), Carl Henry – all in one year.  But my fear is, is Canada ready for so many artists at once or are we splitting the difference – are we splitting votes so to speak, as far as sales? 

LE:

What would you say is the unique contribution of Canadian urban music globally?  Is there something you hear outside of Canada about our music?

JULLY:

Canadian artists, I would say, how trained and how good we are at what we do.  Because we do have a training camp; VideoFact so you’re comfortable in front of a camera, Factor so you can actually record a record and hire some people and pay your friends that are good at what they do as well.  As far as urban music, most of us are of Caribbean descent so around the world they always say I have an accent but you sing ‘like us’.  I don’t hear my accent.  I mean, Elton John has an accent; Celine Dion has an accent, etc. etc. 

Our uniqueness is that we’re Canadian and that we’re just as good if not better – often I would say that we’re better but we’re just not looked at as much.

LE:

Do you think that’s a confidence thing from our end?  I feel that we’re responsible for how the world sees us – just like in life; you’re responsible for how other people see you.  What’s the key to unlocking or getting a closer understanding of who we are?

JULLY:

Pride.  Canadian Pride – that’s the bottom line.  What you project is what you reflect so if you’re projecting that ‘oh, it’s good for a Canadian’ then that’s exactly what you’re going to reflect.  We need to go as an army and let the world know.  Like the people in the UK – half of them we don’t even know but they’re selling platinum!  And you know who we could learn from?  We could learn from Quebec.  We can learn from French Canadians because they totally embrace their own. 

LE:

I think it’s also important to convey that this translates into the boardrooms too.  Not just artists.  Because if we approach things like ‘oh please give this Canadian artist a listen…’

JULLY:

Yes yes!  Yeah, you’re begging.  It’s desperate.  There’s no way you should have to beg and plead.  Especially with the Americans, they’ll look to Canada and see how an artist is doing in their own country.  And really, it’s not a reflection of how good we are.  [Example:  Gold status in Canada is 50,000 units sold – in America, it’s 500,000!]

LE:

Unless the American wants to make an effort to understand the culture, then they’re going to pass.

JULLY:

And most times they do – they’re not willing to make the effort.

LE:

I find it interesting that more and more U.S. record labels are asking to be put on my distribution because I believe that they are peeping Canada.

JULLY:

There’s some diamonds in the rough and they’re trying to figure it out.  You’re in the streets with us – the people in the business suits don’t know so to speak.  Even the presidents of a label – you want to know what’s going on in a company, go ask marketing or promotions or publicity.  You’re not going to go to the president because 9 times out of 10, they don’t know. 

LE:

What do you like most about being a Canadian artist?  The least?

JULLY:

I only consider myself a Canadian artist by birth.  So, I don’t have likes and dislikes. 

LE:

When you sang I Travelled at the Gospel Jubilee, there wasn’t a dry eye in the place!  How is it that you can evoke such emotion from your audience?

JULLY:

It’s definitely not contrived.  I come from a truthful place.  Even if I’m singing ‘Mary had a little lamb’, it’s going to be truthful.  That’s what’s missing in music now, especially in R&B is that it’s kind of identifying what’s going on in the world – it’s fast-paced and it’s 'wham bam thank you ma’am.  Come and get a piece of my body and keep it moving.  Look at my bling, look at my grill, look at my ice.'  So, there’s no real truth to it so when I perform, that’s where I get to be me. 

That’s where the realness is because you can pick up ‘This is Me’ and come see my live show and it’s two different things.  The live show, you’ll connect the dots once you see me live.  It doesn’t matter if I have a room full of enemies, I’m going to sing to them with love.

LE:

I just love that you keep a diary on your website.  You really reveal your true self in this – why did you choose to use this forum?

JULLY:

I look at my fans as my one best friend so there could be millions out there but I speak to them as though I’m speaking to the person I trust the most.  And your fans know you best, especially if they listen to your lyrics.  I don’t think the fans just need to know me if I’m having a good day.  You cut us, we bleed red.  We just happen to have a cool job.  And so what?  A cool job could be waitressing – to that waitress, that’s her cool job.  I meet people, I get tips, I get to speak to people.  So, I decided to take the diary route, not only to speak to them but to keep it fresh and to keep myself on my toes.  Because we can get caught up and can lose ourselves.  And that keeps me very grounded where fans come up to me and say ‘oh my gosh, I read your diary’ and ‘you helped me get through this’ or ‘I can’t believe that you love Oprah like I do’. 

LE:

You’ve suggested a few times that you’d love to be on television or host television – has there been any headway on this?

JULLY:

As far as television, I would definitely say that there’s been headway with eTalk training me, trusting me and having me do some great interviews.  I’m interviewing Shakira tomorrow so that’ll be pretty cool.  I’ve interviewed Aerosmith, Alicia Keys, Sean Paul and now tomorrow Shakira which are my one-on-one sit down interviews and then I’ve done red carpets at the Emmys, film festival and the MTV Music Awards in Miami.

Again, it’s just being me and I love doing it.  Maybe because I was the youngest of nine and I didn’t get that much attention so I’m like ‘look at me, look at me!’  It’s really fun to interview other artists because we’re speaking like we’re friends.  Even my interview with Aerosmith which is one of my most favourite interviews – it was hanging with the boys but them being mentors and legends so I learn from these interviews.  And I also study the interviewee so now when I’m being interviewed as Jully Black, how do I steer the conversation etc. 

There’s a lot on my plate but I’m just letting destiny do its thing.  There’s a lot going on in the world and once upon a time I was complaining more than I was appreciating so I have a new perspective now – I’m getting older and wiser. 

LE:

Who are some of your influences – not just musically but anyone’s who’s made their mark for you?

JULLY:

Of course, my mother is my #1 influence in my life – my queen, my everything.  Maya Angelou, Madonna, Oprah (of course), Queen Latifah.  What’s she’s done with her career is unbelievable.  She’s a Cover Girl, she’s a plus size woman, she’s a Black woman defying all the odds.  I would say those are my key influences. 

LE:

When people hear you sing who do people compare you to?

JULLY:

I’m always compared to Mary J. Blige but note for note, we sound totally different.  She’s passionate and she’s a legend now.  She’s definitely helped the altos of the world.  And Lauryn Hill is another influence.  But my musical influence is Etta James.  And Gladys Knight.  They both have a rasp to their voice that helped me to accept my rasp. 

LE:

Was that a challenge?

JULLY:

Hell yeah!  For instance, I started singing when I was 6 years old so I had a kid voice but a higher register.  So, when people hear that you can sing, they say ‘hit your highest note’.  It was a challenge but it had me train my lower register which broadened my higher register so I started singing a lot of Anita Baker – a LOT of Anita Baker – at a young age, like middle school and that made my higher register that much higher because most women can’t sing low.  So, that was my strategy.  I learned that at a very young age. 

LE:

Did someone tell you that if you train your lower register it’s going to affect your higher range because I didn’t know that.

JULLY:

No.  But it’s just like math – it makes sense.  That’s why I know that I was born to do something with this gift because there were a lot of things that I figured out on my own.  I just started vocal training this year and that totally changed my voice in the most amazing way.  I have to send a shout out to Falconer, the greatest voice trainer on the planet!  I love him!

LE:

The rasp to me … even if you weren’t passionate about delivering a message, it could sound it.  It sounds heartfelt.  There’s many things that we can’t embrace about ourselves until we get some knowledge about it but it’s obviously made a change in your career too. 

JULLY:

I’m with you on that!  Totally.  It’s your uniqueness.  I just said, this is my blessing, this is my gift.  Not everybody could do what God wants me to do and that’s the raspiness in my voice. 

LE:

There’s a lot of talent in our city – who are some of your favourite Canadian artists?  Favourite overall artists?

JULLY:

Alanis Morrisette.  I respect her not only as an artist and songwriter but I respect her taking the chance in changing direction with her sound and with her imaging.  She embraced it, loved it and stayed with it.  K-os, Kardinal, Saukrates.  I would say Michie, Maestro – the pioneers.  Definitely Dallas Green of Alexis on Fire.  He has a solo album out.  My backup singers actually, DShon and Tonya Renee – those two are insanely talented and they are artists in their own right. I always say that your background singers should sing better than you or equal.  It’s just as important.  They are part of my DNA. 

LE:

The CUMAS.  I have to talk about that performance.  Were you feeling being there because you were sooo great.

JULLY:

That was an interesting night to say the least.  But one thing I never skimp on is my live show because that is where I’m happiest no matter what’s going on off the stage.  I decided to do a song that’s not a single for a reason.  A lot of artists are afraid to take chances and they want to just do their single because they want the pre-applause. 

Before This Is Me came out, I was doing songs that no one knew.  It’s still that whole message that music is the only language we all speak.  It’s my slogan, my title, it’s my email.  So, with what’s going on in the world and in Toronto with the violence, lyrically, Living In The Ghetto Ain’t Easy was the song and the message I wanted to convey and let everyone know that it ain’t easy but dreams do come true so stick to your vision.  I’m a Jane and Finch girl! 

LE:

It’s part of who you are and it’s in your delivery of songs.  Almost every time I’ve seen you perform, it’s been a goosebump experience and the more I’m in the industry, the less that happens.  That was the song of the night for me!  It has to do with you knowing you. 

JULLY:

It comes from love – again.  In a weird way that night I kind of felt I was in my own box.  And the only friends that I felt were there were my band and of course my amazing manager, Sandi.  The night was very heavy and kind of emotional.  In the past, I may have handled it differently but I just put it into the performance. 

LE:

Why was it emotional for you?

JULLY:

Unfortunately, the urban industry in Canada and specifically in Toronto has a far way to go with true, sincere, genuine solidarity.  Not just fair-weather solidarity when the cameras are on or when you’re at an industry event.  Shout out to Ngozi Paul, one of my ‘kink’ ladies [‘Da Kink in my Hair’ theatre production] for producing the show and putting a lot on the line. 

LE:

What pieces of advice would you give to a young artist that wants to enter the business?

JULLY:

• I would say to really explore who you are trying to be, not necessarily who you are but who you are trying to be.  It’s two different things.  Who are you really trying to be?  Are you trying to be the humanitarian, the philanthropist?  Are you trying to be the vixen?  Who are you trying to be?  What risks are you willing to take?  How long are you willing to wait? 

• Also, groom your craft.  Try different things.  If you’re a vocalist, experiment with different genres – dig in the crates!  There’s nothing original – learn from the foundation.  That’s what has set the industry.  The pioneers set up the wall and built the foundation. 

• Don’t be afraid to fall and get back up.  My Mom always says you can’t go further than the ground.  Get up – you know where you fell already so don’t fall in that same spot. 

• If you don’t write songs, just try.  That’s your power – your power is in your songwriting.  My publisher always says that your publishing, or your writing, is your pension plan.  Even if you’re not writing for yourself.  Once you’re comfortable as a writer, you can write for other people.  So, know who you are trying to be.  Are you always trying to be in the spotlight or are you ok with being a spotlight songwriter like Diane Warren.  She’s the Michael Jackson of songwriters. 

• Know that you’re a product.  You ARE a product.  Are you going to buy the beaten, battered, bruised apple?  Or are you going to buy the shiny one.  It looks nice!  Everything is affected – know that relationships are affected – personal, business, your family.  There’s a lot you have to sacrifice but if you know that you’re doing it for yourself and therefore once you’re happy, your friends, family and fans will be happy too and you’ll be ok. 

Everything you go through in life, you’ve been given the grace to deal with it before the problem.  All you have to do is believe and the hardest thing is believing, having that faith and the will.  Can you imagine?  It’s like “Here’s your ammunition – go fight!”  That’s all it is.  God says "Here’s your grace.  And it’s all going to be ok." 

When I look at my life as having been signed to MCA etc. etc. – I would trade it all in if I could have one minute with my sister that passed away.  I would trade it all in and work at McDonald’s – for one minute to just be able to give her a hug and to say I love you.  Everything else just doesn’t matter.  (crying)

We break while we take a moment to speak about Jully’s sister who passed away in 1990 and how much she misses her, how much her family has grown closer because of this tragedy and how her legacy lives on. 

LE:

What do you want people to remember you for?

JULLY:

I want people to remember me as a loving, sincere, passionate person that just happens to be a singer.  Who just happened to be a songwriter.  I don’t want what I do for a living to be my memory.  I want the person first then my career second. 

One thing that Oprah said on her recent Letterman appearance was even if you don’t have ‘Oprah money’ or ‘Letterman money’, it doesn’t take much to make a difference in somebody’s life.  When you make a difference in one person’s life, that chain is where it starts.  You think that you have to go around and break the bank but really it’s if you truly affect one person …

I got an email from a fan who was suicidal and heard I Travelled and decided not to kill himself – long story short.  That alone shocks me – I haven’t even responded yet because this one, I need to sit and really speak to this person and let him know that he has affected me.  And that’s the ripple.  Where he feels that my song saved his life, his honesty has given me the courage to keep going.  Especially in a country that doesn’t get it yet. 

That’s the one thing that we all have in common too – that we’re all on our journey.  Day to day, minute to minute.

LE:

Just recognizing that it is a journey – it’s not over if this doesn’t happen … or I don’t get this record contract or recognition – it’s that it will always be ok.  It’s what you do with the ‘ok’ part.

JULLY:

That’s IT!  Exaactly.  

LE:

If you could work with any artist, living or past, who would it be?

JULLY:

Etta James first.  I would say Marvin Gaye.  Classy music about love and even about sex, sexuality, sensuality that wasn’t raunchy.  And of course, the voice.  If I could bring him back after his father killed him – imagine what he’s got to say!

LE:

So, what’s in your CD player right now?

JULLY:

Michael Buble right now.  I definitely put him in the ranks of a top Canadian artist who struggled for 10 years in Vancouver.  Struggled with nothing, nothing!  And David Foster, another great Canadian artist.

LE:

Any message for your fans?

JULLY:

I love you.  I don’t even feel to push the record down people’s throat.  I sincerely love you and to quote Donny Hathaway … ‘more than you’ll ever know’.