By: Amanda Anderson-Niles
R&B singer Jill Scott is in promo mode since she just released a new studio album, and she sat down with Essence Magazine recently to chit-chat a little about the current state of the music industry and even relationships.
On her gripe with most of today’s music artists, Jill says:
Speaking of respect, you’ve had 15 successful years in the music industry. Music was different back then, in regards to R&B especially and you addressed “getting back to feelings” during your set in Brooklyn. What do you think needs to happen in music for people to want to sing about feelings again?
I think that artists have to remember that the songs that they’re singing are going to follow them for the rest of their lives. The weight is heavier than what a single that works today is. I think they’re creating a lot of microwaveable music and not thinking about longevity.
My career is not Diana Ross’ career, is not Beyonce’s career, is not Nina Simone’s career. My career is my career but we all have a stamp of who we are in our music. Longevity is a point and purpose.
Look at Frankie Beverly and Maze. They hadn’t put out a record in 30 years but when Frankie Beverly was singing at a concert, you were there with your hands up in the air singing “Golden Time of Day.”
The music had emotion and it had a story. It is something that still feels good or sad or heartbroken because these are the things that human beings continue to feel. We are always going to be in love, or heartbroken or angry, or confused or solid or getting it together or falling apart.
We create the mosaic of life and I think that’s what artists need to try and remember. But that’s my opinion.
I like to Nae-Nae, too. [Laughs]
And when it comes to overcoming bad relationships, Jill dropped this gem:
Throughout your show, you talked about handling past relationships in a song. When you lose love, do you listen to your own music? How do you find strength to move on?
[Laughs] What I do is, I allow it. I allow my feelings to be hurt. A girl blames the guy for breaking her heart. A woman looks at her own decision to date that guy, or girl, or whoever it is that you’re dating. You are accountable for who you allow in your life. You are accountable for what you do with them.
There are so many places in this album where I listen back and say, “Well, God-darn girl, you better say it!”
But, I journal it out. I cry it out. I sing it out. I take long baths. I take walks. I exercise, I buy new clothes. I do something that feeds me and I check the hell out of myself so I don’t make the same mistakes by dating the same person, again. Our choices become our habits. It becomes, “This is who I like,” when clearly who you like isn’t benefiting you.
I love her.
She always has the best interviews.
I agree with everything she said. It’s easier said than done though because when you don’t conform to what’s hot, you don’t usually move units. A lot of times seasoned artists give in and start catering to the young crowd because if they don’t, they flop.
My fave!! She killed it at the Hampton Jazz Festival btw. So real and so beautiful. She is absolutely right and I agree 100%. Sounds like what I’m doing now.
Jill be knowing.
I have to say you do a really good job on your blog, I just transitioned as a long time reader at Necole Bitchie and I have to say I haven’t been disappointed with your blog! As a gossip junkie, I needed to find a fix fast since my fave left! LOL keep up the good work!