Photo credit: Renell Medrano
Sky is indeed the limit for rising singer Justine Skye.
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)The Brooklyn-bred belle has been touted as one to watch ever since she burst onto the scene with a cover of Drake’s ‘Headlines.’
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)In the years since, she’s been steadily building buzz and at 21 is ready to crank her career up a notch.
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)To help that cause, she departed her longtime label and signed a lucrative deal with Roc Nation/Republic Records.
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)With an album on the way and her new single ‘U Don’t Know (ft. WizKid)’ burning up the airwaves, we caught up with Skye to chat about her journey and a whole lot more.
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)Sam (TGJ): We love your new single ‘U Don’t Know’ with WizKid…
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)Justine Skye: Thank you so much!
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)TGJ: You’re welcome. How did the collaboration come about and what was it like working with him?
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)JS: Well, basically, our fans linked us up together because I was really into Afrobeats music. So our fans were like “you guys should work together, you guys could make magic together”. And then finally he reached out to me and I was like “we should work together “ and then we got to the studio, we made a bunch of songs and ‘U Don’t Know’ definitely became the clear single.
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)TGJ: Cool. And we hear that the video is dropping really, really soon. What can we expect from that?
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)JS: It’s very sexy; kind of like an intro to the new Justine Skye.
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)TGJ: The song has a real island vibe to it; given your Jamaican heritage can we expect to hear more of that in your music moving forward?
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)You can definitely expect more of that in my music. I always have to incorporate that. It just happens naturally too, you know? I’m very excited for everyone to hear how I pepper it into my new music.
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)TGJ: This year saw you leave Atlantic Records and sign with Roc Nation: what led to that move?
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)JS: Well, you know, it was definitely time for a change. You have to go where your heart sends you. Especially in the music industry.
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TGJ: Over the last three years, you’ve released two EPs – the most recent being ‘Emotionally Unavailable’. With your new situation at the Roc, can we expect a new album soon?
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)JS: Yes, I’m working on my album; expecting it to drop next year. I’m definitely going to put out some more music before the end of this year just to get people more excited, you know?
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)TGJ: Who have you been working with? What can we expect in the way of sound?
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)JS: I’ve been in the studio with incredible people like The Dream, and Tricky Stewart. So, that’s just going to be iconic. And I have a song that Boi Wonder produced which I wrote and I’m really, really excited about that one – it has a real Reggae vibe on it. And I’ve been working with Teck from The Mekanics. Given all the songs I’ve recorded, I feel like I have a song for everyone while still maintaining my own sound throughout.
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)TGJ: Who are some of your musical influences? And have you met any of them?
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)JS: Musical influences, I feel like for every member of younger generation, Aaliyah. Beyonce, Jill Scott, Missy Elliott, Pharrell, Usher. Just growing up with my mom, whatever she was playing influenced me.
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)TGJ: Your mom is a music attorney; has that impacted your approach to the business side of music. Especially following the cautionary tales of the TLCs and many other acts?
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)JS: I’m absolutely grateful to have an entertainment attorney as a mother because she will always be able to protect me when it comes to deals and situations. Making sure no one ever tries to play me. I also know about more than the average artist, especially the average new artist, because I’ve grown up around it. So it’s definitely a great advantage.
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)TGJ: The industry is full of twists and turns; you’ve been open about being turned down by labels in the past. What motivates you on this journey?
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)JS: It’s really easy to get discouraged in this industry, especially in the era of social media and everything. Like everyone can show his or her opinion of you to you, and it’s just showcased out to the world. It’s really easy to get discouraged or insecure about singing. But what really motivates me, as clichéd as it sounds, is my fans and my team. They keep me going, they push me harder.
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)Because sometimes I’ll be like “you know, no one cares,” and I used to get emotional and get in my feelings. And then you’ll see how hyped your fans are for you to blow and the music you make, your shows, and all you do, and then you remember that this is what you’re meant to be doing.
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)TGJ: You’re now repping the Roc – home to so many big names. Is that pressure at all?
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)JS: I think it’s more of a great thing. Everyone’s so different and all the artists are so unique in their own way. It’s more of a family out there. No one is in competition. It’s just about wanting everyone to win. But I love the fact that there’s so many amazing artists and writers signed there.
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)TGJ: You’ve been tipped as one to watch by so many.
So to help the masses get to know you, let’s play a game. Your new single is titled ‘U Don’t Know,’ using that phrase tell us three things we don’t know about Justine Skye.
JS: I like that! So…
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)– You don’t know that purple is actually not my favorite color, it’s green.
– You don’t know that the song ‘U Don’t Know’ is actually written in Jamaica.
– And you don’t know that I absolutely despise mustard. Just letting you know that I never put mustard on anything.
TGJ: One thing a lot of people want to know, after all the Instagram snaps, is whether you and WizKid are dating?
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)JS: We’re definitely…cool. He’s definitely someone who I spend a lot of time with and we’re getting to know each other. We just met, so…good vibes…good vibes [laughs].
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)TGJ: If you could you be in a super group with two other females, who would they be and why?
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)JS: If I could be in a super group? That’s a tough question. Probably would have to be Beyonce and Rihanna.
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)TGJ: That would be very, very…interesting.
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)JS: That would be so insane.
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)TGJ: And finally, where does Justine Skye want to be in the next 3 years?
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)I hope to be performing at award shows, walking up on that stage, grabbing some awards. Definitely working on my second album, and maybe acting. ?
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)[Interview by Sam + Nehemiah]
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Let me sum this up.. This chick was so promising but… Musically… I just don’t think anyone cares. She was an RnB artists signed to warner and didn’t work… If you are an R&B artists and can’t work on warner, you are truly doomed. She needs to become a model/socialite and get pregnant!
Um NO!
She’s so pretty but Roc Nation isn’t going to do anything with her.
She’s a pretty girl but they have her in these pictures looking like a ghetto hood rat hoochie. That’s the absolute worst way to start off as a new artist…unless you’re a hard core rapper.
Ummm exactly what pics are you looking at?
Wow these comments are so negative and stereotypical of the black woman. Disgusting!
Reminds me of when Tinashe was first published to this site…..
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Anyways, I can say she is stunningly beautiful, good voice and all but I have to be honest her music on Atlantic didn’t make me feel anything after listening to it over 5x but I think she has potential. Especially with “U Don’t Know” being her first Roc Nation offering to the GP I think it’s a GREAT start as I absolutely love the song. I will be keeping my eyes on this brown skin beauty 😀
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P.s Atlantic is trash if you don’t have anything going for you outside of music…..
Can’t wait I’ll be rooting for her I hope roc nation actually dose something with her not like they did Rita Ora even beyonce gave her some shine and it didn’t work we will see she so stunning
Why is she posing like this? This is death to a urban artist career! Sevyn, Tinashae, and now JS are in the same boat. But you know who is actually killing the game right now? Alessia Cara and she kept her clothes on…
She need to bring more music
such a beautiful girl. she better line up for Empire