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That Grape Juice sat down with none other than Jazmine Sullivan earlier this week. The R&B singer is flying high after receiving her 8th Grammy Award nomination for ‘Holding You Down (Going In Circles)’ and scoring her 2nd top 20 debut with her critically acclaimed new album, ‘Love Me Back’.
Naturally, we asked that questions to which you wanted answers. Sullivan spoke quite candidly about a wide range of topics including her next single, being compared to Brandy, losing to Beyonce at the 2010 Grammys and much more!
Check out all the action below:
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Jazmine Sullivan Shouts Out That Grape Juice
That Grape Juice: Hey Jazmine, how are you?
Jazmine Sullivan: I’m good. How are you?
That Grape Juice: I’m great! Thanks for asking. Let’s jump straight into things. Your new album ‘Love Me Back’ hit stores this week. What was the concept behind the record?
Jazmine Sullivan: I named it ‘Love Me Back’ because I liken what I do to being in a relationship. When you’re in a relationship and you feel like you’re giving your all and giving 100%, you want it back.
I feel like I’ve gotten a little bit of what I wanted thus far. I’ve had a wonderful start – I was nominated for many Grammys, I had a #1 song and I’ve toured all around the world but I want more. That was concept of ‘Love Me Back’ – wanting more from this industry and wanting to do bigger and better things.
That Grape Juice: How exactly does this album differ to your last effort?
Jazmine Sullivan: On this album I believe you see a softer side of me. I was really concerned about people listening to my music and getting the impression that I was the girl who wrote the angry songs because there is so much more to me. Now, looking back, I realise it’s because of a relationship that I had gotten out of that wasn’t that great and that was what naturally came out.
With this album I wanted to show a relationship in its entirety and I wanted to do that for the people who are going to listen to it. Not all relationships are bad and even in a relationship there are good and bad times; ups and downs; but I wanted to show a full relationship.
That Grape Juice: What are your favourite songs on the album?
Jazmine Sullivan: It switches up! Right now they’re probably ‘Good Enough’ and ‘Excuse me’. They are 2 totally different songs; saying 2 totally different things. ‘Good Enough’ is about a woman realising that she is worth more and she’s telling the guy that “if I’m not good enough then go ahead, leave”. ‘Excuse Me’ is a love song and I just love it. {giggles}
That Grape Juice: Have you already chosen another single from the album to follow 10 Seconds?
Jazmine Sullivan: Not yet, actually. I would love it to be ‘Excuse Me’ because I want people to hear that softer side that I’m talking about. I want people to hear me singing a love song, especially something like that. The music is very old school and classic then you have these words that are pouring your heart out to a lover so I would love people to hear that.
That Grape Juice: Having released the album this week with stiff competition from other artists such as Taylor Swift, Susan Boyle & Chrisette Michele, how important are sales to you at this point?
Jazmine Sullivan: Of course I want it to do well but I don’t follow up on numbers every week. I would probably torment myself if I did that {laughs}. I want it to do well and I’m going to do everything in my power but I’m not going to stress over it.
That Grape Juice: Many R&B artists have adopted a more Pop-oriented sound in an effort to achieve success on the mainstream charts. Do you ever feel pressured to do the same?
Jazmine Sullivan: No I don’t. I just do what’s natural to me. If one day I want to do a song like that – as I writer I can write almost anything – I’ll just do what’s natural.
That Grape Juice: You’re a stunning, curvaceous woman. Did she never think she had to lose weight?
Jazmine Sullivan: Aww thank you! Of course I feel pressure. In this industry there aren’t many women who look like me {laughs} but at the same time I love who I am so that’s it.
That Grape Juice: As the incredible vocalist that you are, do you ever get frustrated when you see singers with far less talent outperforming you on the charts?
Jazmine Sullivan: No I don’t, really. I don’t want to stunt any blessings coming on me because I’m thinking about somebody else and where they are in their life. To each his own and if it’s working for you then keep doing it. I got my own path and my own journey.
That Grape Juice: You have a great working relationship with Missy Elliot. Do you know why she keeps delaying the release of her new album?
Jazmine Sullivan: I think she’s really comfortable being behind the scenes right now. She’s spent a lot of time being an artist and being out there but from what I hear, because I’m just beginning as an artist, at a certain time people just don’t want to be in the spotlight anymore. She’s probably very comfortable with making records and selling them {laughs}
That Grape Juice: You have been favourably compared to both Brandy and a young Lauryn Hill. How do you feel about such comparisons?
Jazmine Sullivan: It’s great to be compared to women that I look up to and Brandy, Lauryn Hill and Mary J. Blige are people who I listened to growing up and I appreciate their music so it feels good. However, I do want to one day, when people are ready, stand beside them in the list of names and not just be a subtext as somebody who sounds like them.
That Grape Juice: On that note, which 3 artists have had the biggest influence on you?
Jazmine Sullivan: There is a Gospel artist name Kim Burrell that I listened to my entire childhood. Then I would say Brandy who I got into in my adult life and I loved everything that she did. I’d also say Lauryn…and Mary (that counts as one)! {laughs}
That Grape Juice: Along with being a talented singer, you are also a gifted songwriter. Having written songs for both Jennifer Hudson and Monica’s most recent projects, are there any other artists with whom you are working at this point?
Jazmine Sullivan: As of right now, nobody but I love to write and I plan on writing for everybody, not just R&B singers – Country singers, Pop artists etc – because I love to be able to express myself. So, right now, nobody but, hopefully, soon I’d be writing for everyone. {giggles}
That Grape Juice: At the 2010 Grammy Awards you were nominated ‘Best Female R&B Vocal Performance’ for ‘Lions, Tigers & Bears’ but Beyonce’s ‘Single Ladies’ took home the trophy despite it being more of a Pop song. Were you disappointed?
Jazmine Sullivan: Yeah I was disappointed because I wanted to win but I was disappointed by every category that I didn’t win. Still, like I said before, she won it and she’s a great singer and she puts out great music so I can’t be too upset. I just feel like it’s going to come for me one day and I’ll just have to wait until then.
That Grape Juice: I could definitely respect that. Rounding things off now, 2010 is coming to a close, which 3 artists would you say were the best of 2010?
Jazmine Sullivan: Wow…this is hard! I think I did a pretty good job so say me {laughs}! Janelle Monae – I love her music – and Willow Smith!
That Grape Juice: Which 3 songs were your favourites of this year?
Jazmine Sullivan: Definitely ‘Whip My Hair’ by Willow Smith. Well – I wrote this but I love it – ‘Everything To Me’ by Monica and ‘Right Thru Me’ by Nicki Minaj.
That Grape Juice: Which artists, both past and present, can we expect to find on your iPod?
Jazmine Sullivan: You can find Prince on my iPod and you’ll find Mary.
That Grape Juice: How do you, Jazmine Sullivan, want to be remembered as an artist in 20 years?
Jazmine Sullivan: I want to be remembered as an icon, and I want to be remembered as someone who was true to themselves and did music that I loved. I spoke from my heart and tried to reach people with my music.
That Grape Juice: Well thank you so much for your time Jazmine and we’re really cheering for you here at That Grape Juice. We hope to see, and hear, a lot more from you in the future.
Jazmine Sullivan: Thank you so much! I really appreciate that.
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