INTERVIEW - J Holiday
- Posted on November 6, 2007 3:23 PM
- 3 comments
- Interview By Zarina Raja
The autumnal streets of Britain are getting dark early; the cold is setting in and a dreary winter is well on its way. We need some R ‘N’ B soul to warm us up and J Holiday is going to help. He has already topped the charts in the US with his debut album Back of My Lac which went straight in at number one, and he is now ready to take the UK by storm.
J Holiday's upcoming single Bed, a seductive and smooth sounding song, is out on December 3rd. It will certainly keep you warm over Christmas.
He is now bringing his street Soul from Washington D.C. We got the chance to ask Mr Holiday about what is at the heart of his Soul tracks, his new album Back of My Lac and his obsession with forensic science.
You grew up surrounded my music – your mum was a gospel singer and your sister is a singer – do you think that if you didn’t have these influences you would still be in the music industry?
I'm not sure. Had I not had those influences around me at a young age, I may not have. I have always loved music but it was only when I got older…I think they definitely had a big influence on me.
What do you think you might be doing had you not found music?
Honestly, right now I think I would be some kind of forensic investigator – I am infatuated with it.
What made you take an interest in forensics?
I saw it on a TV show one day and ever since then I have been hooked! I have always been an analytical type of person. I like to analyse and try to figure stuff out.
I imagine that being a musician is hard work. Has there ever been a time when you have lost your enthusiasm for it?
Oh, definitely. When I wrote Back of My Lac that was exactly the state I was in – I didn’t know if I wanted to continue to pursue my music career.
What was it that made you push through to the end?
Just the love for it, I have always thought that anything that you do career wise should be something that you are in love with - and not because of the money. Otherwise, before you know it, time will have passed by and you will be grey and old. I just knew that I loved singing and performing and so that was going to get me to where I needed to be.
How has your life changed since you entered the public eye?
It definitely had changed. I am travelling all of the time now; I’m going to all these different cities and meeting new people. It feels good! It has gone from everybody in the city knowing me, to everybody in the country knowing me and now to everybody in the world knowing me.
With such a hectic schedule, do you ever get to hang out with your mates?
In the music industry you have a lot of live sows, studio time and press and promotion. There are also times when you have to go to clubs to show your face. So, if I am in the city where all my friends are then I just tell them to come out and have a few drinks with me.
Back of My Lac was released in the US in October. Talk me through the creation process.
Back of My Lac goes as far back to my demo package that I got singed on and up to 2007. I started the demo package in August 2004 and we recorded it on 2007.
What is your favourite song on the album?
My favourite song is a song I wrote called Get UP. It my favourite because it just kind of shows people – especially with me being from D.C because a lot of people don’t respect music from D.C – that we have all seen the same things growing up.
Is there anything that you would do differently when you make your next album?
No. I love making music so there is nothing different that I want to do on it. The only that is going to be different is that I will be older so I will be talking about different things.
How did you feel when it hit the number one position in the US?
Number one is always great! When I found out, I was probably on the road somewhere. In all honesty, I haven’t really had the chance to take it in. I think it will hit me sooner or later – I will probably then have some kind of anxiety attack.
Tell me a bit about the new single Bed which is out in the UK in December.
It is a love song. It is something that the ladies will definitely like – the guys will like it too. It is one of those tracks that just makes you want to be in love again.
Is there a message in your music that you want fans to be aware of?
It is just real life situations; things that really happen to people. When I was rowing up, I always felt really good when I heard a song that talked about something that I was going through. I want people to take what they can from my music.
You call your music street Soul. Can you explain what street Soul is?
Street Soul is the soundtrack to the ghetto. Anybody can listen to love songs, but it is about a certain kind of love that we have in the hood and a certain type of loyalty that we have. It is Soul music of the street.
What are you listening to at the moment?
Right now, I’m listening to Kanye West. Alicia Keys, of couse, is coming out with some hot fire too. I am working so much right now though that I don’t get to listen to much.
You have a tour lined up with R Kelly. Are you a big R Kelly fan – you mus be feeling quite nervous about it?
No, I’m not nervous at all about the tour. I met him once, and of course I am an R Kelly fan. I am just waiting for the experience of seeing him on stage.
What is the one thing that you want to achieve in your career – or have you achieved it already?
I just want to still be around. I don’t want people to be like, ‘what happened to J Holiday?’ I want people to keen to find out about what I am doing.
What can we expect from J Holiday live?
Oh man, just a really good show and good singing. I am just going to put my heart into al my performances.
Get your J Holiday downloads at: http://angelmusicgroup.net/jholiday/shop/
For more info on J Holiday checkout his MySpace.
Are you a big J Holiday fan? Tell us why you like him in the comment section below.
To celebrate the release of J Holiday's new album, we have two copies to give away. All you need to do is answer the following question and the CD could be yours!
Is J Holiday's mum:
A) A Gospel singer
B) A Pop singer
C) A Rapper
Email the answer to Seatwave at competition@seatwave.com
Don't forget to leave your name, address and telephone number.
Terms and conditions
This competition is not open to employees of Seatwave.
Entries close on the 26th November at 2pm . The winner will be notified by telephone and email. Prizes are non refundable. Seatwave and its representatives, reserve the right to substitute an equivalent prize should the prize stated be unavailable.
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Comments (3)
jadyn
i love you and i want to go to one of your concerts i am your #1 fan
Posted on November 18, 2007 12:13 AM
Sexy
I have had a rough few months and since hearing your song, you are not aware how this has helped me and would love to meet you and take you to bed!!!
Posted on November 19, 2007 2:21 PM
Mina
Thats whats up...J is getting international status...do yo thang! aint mad at u at all...i'm rockin wit u 4ever and always!A
Posted on January 8, 2008 3:15 PM
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