Jamie Hawkins

u r b a n

but this had to be tough? I grew up listening to Whitney go on, like being away and always I don't like to he a victim. I went too. I grew up listening to every- working so much. That's an adjust- Jamie Hawkins: through a situation. It wasn't the thing. My father had one million ment all by itself. I'm learning how best. But it was the best for me at records and 45s. He was an enter- to stay grounded as a person and Out to Shock that time. If I didn't go through that tainer. I would listen to Teena that is extremely hard. Not just not The World I wouldn't be where I am today. I Marie-that was my girl right there. getting the big head-that's not that BY KEVIN FLEMING can talk about it with people now. You couldn't tell me nothing about hard because I'm not a big star I'd be a fool to put out an album Teena Marie and Rick James, Evelyn yet-but learning how to stay on IG\Il these new labels for R&B can that I can't talk about. But I was "Champaign" King, Patrice Rushen- my fitness regiment, how to eat on drive you crazy: soul, neo -soul, retro writing while all this was happening that was my little era right there. the road, how to take care of soul...call it what you want, but it's to me. I would get off the phone Then my mother and father would myself, my body, my mind, to stay the kind of music that you should with him and sit down and write the have parties and we were bombard- spiritual... All of that and perform discover. It's hard to be promoted on song. I knew he was cheating, and I ed with Al Green and Mavis Staple, well. To smile and he nice to every- something that you should feel and wrote more. Natalie Cole, Donna Summer, Chaka body you talk to even if you don't not just react to, just because it's People like categories. Where are Khan, James Brown, and my mama feel like it-you can't show it. I'm a someone's job to make you react. you? Are you soul, blues, R&B? loved Gladys Knight. So I grew up 24 -hour performer and that's a hard D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, Maxwell, Jill What? on everybody. Then when I was in adjustment. Scott, Musiq Soulchild, Rashaan I think that people-consumers- school they taught me classical I'm a product and I understand my Patterson and the like are bringing and I know because I'm a consumer, music. I sang in the jazz band and role. I'm trying sell myself. This is a soul back to a well -deserved, want to be able to identify you with learned about Billie Holiday and business and I have to treat it that respectable space. So it should he no what they're used to. This world other artists. way in order to be successful. A lot surprise that I've gravitated to Jamie

does not do change well. So when So, how has your life changed? of people get wrapped up in it. I'm Hawkins. I spoke with him from his something different comes across it I'm a singer. But now my job is to not gonna say that won't ever hap- home in Oakland: takes time for people to adjust. The promote myself. I have to go out to pen to me because you never say "I think neo -soul is just another way wonderful thing is once they do; clubs and talk to people and take never. But with the grace of God, I of saying 'good songs and real music they'll love you forever. I don't think pictures and I'm not used to that. want to treat this as my career. This with substance.' A lot of people are I'm neo -soul. I hate that characteriza- Plus, I'm a newlywed and that's is my job. I want to do my job and trying to jump on the neo -soul sound, tion. I don't think that Jill Scott is very stressful. My husband is not in go home and have a family and a but what I do is just m}° music. It's neo-soul-they're doing old-school the music business, so he doesn't life, I know it's going to be hard, but just Jamie's music. What is Prince? Is stuff. Don't call us new. We're not understand a lot of the things that that's what I want. he neo -soul? Is he rock? Is he R&B? new-we're doing old stuff that's just hot right now. We've been here all along. People want to feel comfort- able when they're talking about you. I've been compared to Lauryn Hill. To Angela Winbush. To Aretha Franklin. To Chaka Khan. To Randy Crawford and Kelly Price. I'll take it, because none of those names are shabby. If that's what it takes for people to want to buy my album and get into Syleena as an artist, then fine. Do you think you sound like anybody?

I don't think I sound like anybody. I do think that sometimes I hear a little something of somebody and that's normal because I grew up listening to radio all of my life. How do think people learn how to sing R&B? R&B is not taught. It's the radio and the TV and what people hear that makes them sing the way they do. For instance, how would Christina Aguilera know how to sing runs like that unless she had heard Whitney Houston? How would she "I listen to old soul music from Al Green, Stevie Wonder, know that's the appropriate way to sing black music? Now, she overdoes Marvin Gaye, and Michael Jackson. The old school flavor it to me, but she'll be the bomb in like three years when she learns is coming back strong, but not as quickly as I want it to. what she's doing. She sings so good sometimes she can't help herself. I'm very optimistic about Musiq Soulchild's project. He's changing the sound in music and I'm happy about that." 24 gavin May 25, 2001 -Jamie Hawkins