*Taken from an interview conducted backstage House of Blues, Hollywood, CA Jan 2nd, 2009---
Q: This is your first time playing the House of Blues main stage. Are you nervous?
A: I don’t really get nervous before shows. Maybe a little anxious and excited, but I’m most comfortable the moment I step on stage. I look at it as if I have no choice…if I’m not having fun up there then no one’s having fun.
Q: You’ve performed overseas in places like London and Paris, and soon you’ll be performing in Greece…is there a difference in appreciation for your music in other countries?
A: Definitely. I think the genre of Soul has really died here in America, whereas overseas it seems to be a genre people genuinely still appreciate.
Q: You opened for Ne-Yo on the island of St. Croix, where you’re originally from…tell me about that experience.
A: It was a lot of fun. The local media showed me a lot of love on the radio and in the papers, and the show was a blast. We actually had what I guess you could call the after party at my parents’ house the next night with Ne-Yo and his crew, and reggae artist Collie Buddz, who also performed. I was guest bartending, I think we ran out of Cruzan Rum…so enough said. Good times.
Q: Okay, cliché question…who are your biggest influences?
A: (Smiling) Here we go, I knew that was coming. Sade is my favorite artist in the world. I’m influenced by the strength and honesty that female artists convey in their lyrics. Male artists don’t usually get as deep as female artists emotionally speaking. I was a freshman in college when Alanis Morrisette’s first album dropped and I can honestly say it changed my life. There was a rawness to it that was beautiful, and it made me want to start writing songs.
Q: So Sade, Alanis…there must be some male artists too, c’mon.
A: (laughing) Of course. I was a huge BoyzIIMen fan growing up, and Brian McKnight, Jodeci and Babyface of course. I lived in Atlanta during the 90’s, Motown of the south era, Laface records, So So Def, all of that…the 90’s was dominated by male R&B. It definitely made an impact on me musically.
Q: You recently had a song placed in an episode of the TV show, GIRLFRIENDS…how did that come about?
A: That was through a licensing company that I submitted my music to years and years ago. And I guess someone at the network stumbled across my song (Easier Said Than Done), and thought it was a fit for one of the scenes.
Q: You released Roadless Traveler independently in 2006, and now you just started working on your new album…what can we expect?
A: Well, it’s gonna have two sides…half of it will be very funky and up tempo with the whole band, which we’re calling the Soul/Groove side. And the other half will be acoustic based with more ballads and melodic stuff. That’s gonna be called the Soul/Folk side.
Q: And when will we have it in our hands?
A: That’s a great question…my objective is not to rush it in any way. I really want this record to be the greatest work I’ve done to date, so…let’s just say this year sometime.
Q: What do you want people to say about you as they leave the House of Blues tonight on their way home in their cars?
A: Well hopefully they would’ve bought a CD and they’re popping it in the stereo so they won’t be saying anything, just listening. (Grinning) If the guys are saying, I wish I could sing like that dude, and the girls are saying, I wanna have his babies…then I’ve done my job.
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