February 4, 2015 Justine Skye Shares Makeup Tips, Lash Spots & What It Was Like Working With Tyga

At just 19, Brooklyn babe Justine Skye has made quite the impact. Between her debut EP, Everyday Living and her newest single with Tyga, she is destined to go nowhere but up. Justine truly embraces what the modern day super star is all about. She’s young, smart, beautiful and has a social network to match. We had a chance to get some style and beauty tips from the goddess herself. Read our interview below.

It seems you give tons of advice through your Tumblr! Literally, you are kind of like the perfect self-help book that randomly includes beauty and fashion advice. How has Tumblr allowed you to connect to your fans?

I feel like Tumblr is the greatest platform for me to truly express who I am via the internet. I personally feel like “Who am I giving someone else advice? I need some myself!” But it really makes me feel like I’ve accomplished so much when I hear a person say, “Thank you, you helped me out a lot” or “I’ve never thought of it like that before.” It makes me feel a lot closer to my unicorns, and it also lets me know that I’m not alone in any situation – I’m not the only one who feels like this or went through a similar problem. I feel like no matter how much I grow and progress in my career I will always speak to my fans through Tumblr. How would you describe your personal aesthetic?

My personal aesthetic is edgy, sexy, vintage, and even a bit spiritual. I live in a creative space and I feel like that’s what makes me cool and relatable. I’m young so I’m constantly changing. I’m still figuring out who I am, but what has remained the same is my overall vibe and that definitely shows in the way I dress, my style of music, and my personal aesthetic. I’m a free, R&B, magical unicorn spirit who’s sprinkling her magic all over the universe!

Does your personal style influence your music? And vice versa? My style definitely does influence my music a lot, and vice versa. I wear a lot of dark colors – it’s very rare I’m dressed super colorful even though my hair is purple. The dark colors can be seen oozing throughout my music. Most of my records have a sort of dark, sultry vibe to it. I’m super emotional lol.

What is your go to performance makeup look? My go to performance makeup look is pretty complicated, lol. I’m not sure if I know exactly what I’m doing when it comes to makeup; all I know is that people seem to like it! First I start off by using Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 Illuminating (Bronze Radiance). Then I do my eyebrows using the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Pencil – Ebony. Then I go to the eyes… I use MAC Soft Brown Matte eyeshadow, MAC Corduroy Matte eyeshadow & MAC Twinks Veluxe Pearl eyeshadow. Then I use NC50 Select Cover-Up as a conceder to cover up dark circles under the eye. Then I use NYX Jumbo Eyeliner – Black Bean. I use MAC Studio Face and Body Foundation – N9 on the rest of my face (lightly). MAC Studio Fix Powder C9 to highlight certain spots (under the eyes, chin, forehead). MAC Studio Fix Powder NW50 to give a matte look for the rest of my face. For blush I use Laura Mercier Lush Nectarine. Finally I use Laura Mercier Golden Mosiac Shimmer Bloc Bronzer to give my face a bronzy look.

Opening Ceremony sweater, D&G skirt & fur jacket from Gabriel Held Vintage.

How do you keep your skin clear after a long and sweaty performance? I use the Clinique 3 Step face wash, astringent and lotion twice a day.

Tips to achieving healthy hair like yours? I wouldn’t say I have the healthiest hair due to all the bleaching and dying, but I keep it from being damaged by using Wen Cleansing Conditioner.

You are from Brooklyn! How has growing up in NY influenced your style?

Growing up in Brooklyn has definitely influenced my style – it’s given me this super edgy, relaxed vibe to the way I do everything. Whether it’s music, fashion, or just my physical being as a whole, you can tell I’m a native New Yorker. Now that I’m visiting all these new places it really brings to my attention how much of a Brooklyn girl I am.

Secret to your sultry lashes? I go to this dope place in NYC called Bling Lash, I don’t normally give my secret away but for you guys I’ll let it slide lol.

What was the best part about working with Tyga?

Being very new to the industry, you never really know how other artists will perceive you. I feel like the coolest part about working with Tyga was that he was willing to give this new artist from Brooklyn a chance. He’s super humble and always has positive things to say. He sort of made me feel welcomed into the music industry by hopping on my track.

If you could only use one lipstick forever, which one would it be?!

Honestly I don’t think I could choose ONE specific favorite lipstick…I don’t wear “lipstick” much anymore. Something that I do wear daily on my lips that I can’t live without is MAC Creamsheen – Delight.

You tweeted that you HATE BRAS. How does a girl overcome fear of being braless? Truly accepting your body and yourself…I get that they’re sort of necessary for some women, but I feel like you should ultimately do what makes you comfortable.

Moschino t-shirt, Fendi Pants, Versace Jacket & Moschino purse, all from Gabriel Held Vintage.

Fashion Editor: Rose Garcia Photographer: Christelle de Castro Makeup Artist: Michael Anthony

Hair Stylist: Cameron Rains Style assistant: Eddy Hooker

https://galoremag.com/justine-skye-tyga-mac-laura-mercier-lush-wen-clinique/

January 30, 2015

Meet Justine Skye, The 19-Year-Old That Leveraged Tumblr Fame Into A Music Career

By DEIDRE DYER

Talking Tumblr, A-list friends, and internet fame with the rising singer

At 16, Brooklyn-born teenager Justine Skye ditched the sticky politics of a performing arts high school for home school, looking to try her hand at a singing career. While recording early demos, Skye poured her energy and time into her Tumblr page, where her purple-tinted hair, brightly hued lipstick, and cool girl persona earned her thousands of notes and a massive following. It was on this social media platform that Skye honed her all-important personal brand as The Purple Unicorn—an approachable, around-the-way girl—and started introducing her downtempo R&B music to a captive audience of Tumblr friends.

But it wasn't until the past year and half that Skye, now 19, started really building buzz as a velvet-toned R&B singer IRL. On the strength of her homemade songs and commanding online presence, Skye signed with Atlantic and released Everyday Living, a seven-track EP full of simmering, lovelorn tracks, in the summer of 2013. Last fall, she dropped the DJ Mustard-produced "Collide," featuring Tyga. As her first major label release, "Collide" finds Skye delivering slithering vocals and come-hither lyrics over Mustard's tinkling track.

Even though she's backed by a major label, Skye remains active on the Tumblr page that birthed her fame, where she treats her hordes of followers to a mix of puppy GIFs, beachside selfies, and well-manicured middle fingers. This scrollable, visual diary still serves as a place for Skye to engage with the audience that's been tracking her growth from loner teen to polished recording artist. Though she's been kicking it with a gang of cool kids that includes Willow Smith, Ian Connor, Kendall and Kylie Jenner, at the wide-eyed age of 19, Skye's awkward high school days aren't that far behind her. The FADER spoke with Skye about the dynamics of social media fame and how the internet helped her to come into her own. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AgYGrXxEIg

Lets talk about the purple unicorn. Where did this name come from? I was in the studio one day, we'd just finished recording and the band was like "This is magical, you're like a unicorn." I was like, wow I am a unicorn. After that I just stuck with it, and changed all my screen names to the Purple Unicorn. This is me, I am magical and I want to spread my magic. That was about a year ago.

When did you start playing with your image and dying your hair purple? The purple hair started when I was 16, after I left high school and began home school. My mom took me out of school because I started to focus on my career. I feel like that was the start of my transitioning into the confidence and being able to experiment and try new things. So it started off with just the tips of my hair, then the bang and then one day i came back it way up here, then I came back and it was all the way up here. I feel like purple really has defined who I am.

So what was high school like for you, before you started recording more and getting full time? Well, my first day of high school I got into a fight with a girl over a boy. It was so stupid. And it was like this whole, planned out thing, "Meet me in the park, we're gonna do this," and it was crazy. But that's kinda how I created my friends in high school, I was like "guys, I have a fight after school, I don't know what to do" and they were like "Girl I got you!" and these were people I'd just met that day, and that was my crew. I was only in public high school for two years and they became my crew. I was the one that was there, but I wasn't like so cool.

"I'm so much more than just a Tumblr girl. I've got a record deal! I'm on TV now! I'm on the radio now!"

What made you not cool? I think it was because I was shy but I didn't know what I was capable of doing as yet, and I just sat in the corner. I was the cool girl in the vocal but everyone in vocal was just whatever. The dance program had all the popping girls. I always wanted to be popular so bad, with all these cliques and all that stuff. They'd always have these parties and my mom would never let me go to those.

But then after leaving high school that's when I started building my Internet presence, and then they were just like "Oh who do you think you are?" kind of thing. I'm kind of glad I got to be in high school for two years just to experience it and then I'm glad that I got to be outside of it because I got to focus and build myself.

You have a circle of very creative and cool friends now—Ian Connor, Willow Smith, and Kylie Jenner. How does an Internet kid turned rising singer make friends in 2015? Well, a lot of my friends I met through Tumblr in the beginning. I'm not really that close with most of them now, but Ian is really someone I stayed close with. I consider him like a brother. Willow and I had some mutual friends that I made through Ian. When I met her for the first time, she actually told me that she'd been following me on Tumblr for a while. Even though she's my youngest friend, she's super mature. Kylie and Kendall, I met them through another mutual friend. At first, I was so nervous in LA because I didn't have many friends, and then when I met all of them, we just naturally clicked. They're like my best friends now. It's super crazy. Beginning of last year I did not think that I'd know these people or that this would be my life right now. Even though my friends are super A-list celebrities, I have to still remember that I'm not them, I can't do most of the things that they do, and yet they always treat me like I'm no less than them. They always treat me the same.

Would you say that music helped you blossom? Definitely, 100%. Well, the Internet and music. There's a space that some people get stuck in where all you have is the Internet - if your social medias got deleted today, you wouldn't have anything. There are some people that are like that, and it's cool because they benefit from it but if it was gone what is your job occupation? What do you do?

Were you nervous moving from a Tumblr personality to an IRL singer? A little bit. Even now people are like, "Oh, you're that Tumblr girl." And I'm so much more than just that. I've got a record deal! Like, I'm on TV now! I'm on the radio now! But I'm still a Tumblr girl at heart.

Do you feel like the Internet is a giant equalizer for people—making people more accessible and placing everyone on the same plane? Not at all, I feel like there are definitely social statuses, especially with verification. If you're not verified on a social platform then like, who are you, even? If you're verified you're part of the select few. And then there are people who have like a million followers and if you don't have any followers, then who is really paying attention to you? I feel like the Internet is a bit of a war zone.

If the Internet ceased to exist tomorrow, would you still make music?Of course. Absolutely. I'd probably make sad music, because there's no Internet! http://www.thefader.com/2015/01/30/justine-skye-is-a-purple-unicorn

October 10, 2014 All You Need to Know About Justine Skye’s Hot New Music Video for “Collide”

Justine Skye gave InStyle a sneak peek of the music video for her latest single, “Collide,” last month, and it’s been pretty hard for us to keep the details under wraps. Now that the video (which you can watch here on YouTube) officially made its debut last night on 106 and Park, we get to share the exciting deets revealed by the singer- songwriter from Brooklyn. To get the perfect mix of what Skye calls “slow and sexy” for the sure-to-be hit, she teamed up with Tyga and DJ Mustard, the hip-hop producer behind songs from Wiz Khalifa and T.I. They headed out to Palmdale, CA, for the video shoot– check out what what went down on set. (And learn why heels weren’t meant to be worn in the sand.)

You’re only 19 years old. How did you decide to skip the standard college scene and start making music?

I was applying for college and in the process of getting signed at the same time, so there was a lot going on. I got a record deal, and I decided that I wanted to focus on my career. I went to a frat party for Halloween once, and I was so terrified—I don’t think I’ll ever go to a frat party again! There were a million people there, and I was like, “Is this life?”

The video has some seriously stylish moments. Which look is your favorite?

The Helen Yarmak fur was my favorite [jump to 0:30 in the video to check it out]. It was hot outside, but the coat was open in the back. I felt like I was Sully from Monsters, Inc. when I was wearing it! I felt like a thug—and so New York. Because we were shooting in LA, we wanted it to still have that New York element to it.

How long has your hair been purple?

Purple’s been my thing for about three years. Sometimes my hair is long, and sometimes it’s short, but it’s always consistently purple! I get it done professionally, but when I need to refresh it on my own, my whole bathroom turns purple for three days.

What was it like to film in the desert during the video’s one-day shoot?

It was pretty chill, but my heels were sinking into the ground. We had to put a cardboard box on the sand for me to stand on, but even still, my heels were poking through. I was falling every five seconds! There were bugs, too—it was crazy.

How would you describe your style?

Vintage meets high fashion meets streetwear. I still wear Hood by Air and Trapstar and stuff like that. I wear whatever I’m feeling when I wake up in the morning.

What do you love most about this song?

DJ Mustard played me this beat, and I was like, alright—this is the sound I’m going for. Everyone can connect to this song. Everyone’s felt like they were in love, or had that moment when they’re ready to open themselves up to the person they love at that moment.

Who would you be starstruck to meet?

I met her. I met Beyonce. I didn’t say one word to her—I was so scared. She shook my hand, and I really almost cried. It was the hand I hold the mic with, so it was blessed by Beysus.

Check out the official video for “Collide,” below! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AgYGrXxEIg http://news.instyle.com/2014/10/10/all-you-need-to-know-about-justine-skyes-hot-new-music-video- for-collide/

May 5, 2015 Justine Skye: The R&B “Purple Unicorn” You Should Know

Ain’t nothing like them Brooklyn girls.

Do you love being in the know or discovering who’s hot before they become mega stars? Well, this plum-haired beauty is someone you should know.

Nineteen-year-old singer Justine Skye is Atlantic Records’ next big starlet. Hailing from the gritty streets of Brooklyn, Justine garnered her popularity using a tool most millennials know well – YouTube.

It all started over a perfect cover of Drake’s Take Care single “Headlines,” and since then, the “Bandit” singer’s been stealing the spotlight – one headline at a time. Soon thereafter, Justine released her 2013 debut EP Everyday Living, and as Drake would say, nothing was the same.

And if she looks familiar, that’s because you might’ve seen her hanging out with the most famous teens in America – the Jenner girls. Not only is she besties with Kylie and Kendall and friendly with fellow R&B star Kehlani, but she also gets much-needed career advice from the one and only bad gal.

Yup, Rihanna. Talk about being a girl’s girl.

Justine’s currently readying her highly anticipated project Emotionally Unavailable, which is due out later on this year. In the meantime, check out the self-proclaimed “purple unicorn” below.

http://globalgrind.com/2015/05/05/justine-skye-singer-instagram-purple-unicorn/

21 Under 21’s Next Class: Vote For 2015’s Best Bet By Jason Lipshutz, New York | September 24, 2014 2:35 PM EDT

Is 2015 the year of Raury, Ella Henderson, Gabi Wilson or someone else? Cast your vote!

This year’s edition of our annual 21 Under 21 rankings includes pop mainstays, rising EDM stars, hip-hop heroes and, perhaps most importantly, lots of new talent, as artists like 5 Seconds of Summer, Shawn Mendes and Bobby Shmurda made the leap onto the list this year. Meanwhile, Becky G hopped into our Top 10 after being included in last year’s “Next Class” poll — under-21 artists still bubbling under the main list, but definitely worth watching. So which under-21 artist do you think could be the next Becky G, and cause a commotion over the next 12 months in order to lock down a debut on the main 21 Under 21 list? A few names come to mind, or you could submit your own entry. Vote now!

More: 21 Under 21 Main Page | Top 21 Songs by Under-21 Singers

Gabi Wilson learned multiple instruments as a child prodigy, but her talent most clearly resides in a soothing voice that invites R&B fans to discover more. “Something to Prove” is a knockout debut single for the 17-year-old RCA artist, who is working on her debut album.

Place your wagers on hip-hop’s next creative force -- you might find yourself putting some money on Raury. Fresh off a label deal and much-ballyhooed meeting with Kanye West, the 18-year-old will bring his amorphous anthems like “God’s Whisper” to Outkast’s #ATLast Festival as an opening act.

The youngest contestant to ever win The Voice, Danielle Bradbery has demonstrated that she is not another reality-show winner worth writing off after the cameras stop rolling. The 18-year-old Texas native showcased her country prowess with “The Heart of Dixie,” from her 2013 self-titled debut.

Mentored by Simon Cowell after finishing sixth on the U.K. X Factor, Ella Henderson teamed up with Ryan Tedder for the powerful single “Ghost,” which hit No. 1 in the U.K. The 18-year-old’s soulful pop music has earned comparisons to a young Adele -- never a bad thing.

K-pop duo 15& (pronounced ‘Fifteen And’) started when they were, not surprisingly, 15 years old, and now that they’re both 17, Yerin and Jimin have commanded an impressive following. Sugar, 15&’s debut album was highlighted by irresistible singles “I Dream” and “Somebody.”

Nineteen-year-old Bronx native Leslie Grace launched her career with an impressive bachata cover of the Shirelles classic “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” in 2012. Grace’s self-titled debut album scratched the surface of a promising Latin pop career last year.

After startling the Internet with his homemade “Without U” video, the mysterious St. Paul native Spooky Black continued to gain a following with his Leaving EP in August. There’s not much known of this kid, except that he’s got a hauntingly pretty voice (think James Blake) and often rocks a durag (think… not James Blake).

Scroll through the R&B singer Justine Skye's Soundcloud page, and you'll find swaggering original songs like "2 AM In Brooklyn" next to her covers of classics from Michael Jackson. She recently hopped on a beat from the star producer DJ Mustard and transformed it into "Collide," a steamy and sensuous track. Watch for Skye to start working her way up the charts. - Elias Leight

http://youtu.be/29MQWQzvz7U

Finally, Angie Miller is best known for coming in third on American Idol in 2013, but she might be better recognized for an absolutely stunning set of pipes soon enough. A new EP, Weathered, will be out in November, giving the 20-year-old her first major music look since her reality-show debut.

Which of these artists has the best shot at breaking through next year and making our 2015 21 Under 21 list? Vote now (or write in an answer) and defend your selection in the comments section! http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/6259320/21-under-21-next-class-poll-raury-ella- henderson-gabi-wilson

September 22, 2014 Justine Skye Recorded A Duet With ILoveMakonnen & Discusses Working With DJ Mustard (VIDEO)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvKHVQGk9GU

Some of you may still be getting acquainted with Justine Skye’s music, but the R&B teen is definitely someone you should be checking for.

The Brooklyn native gained popularity when she released her Everyday Living project, but over the past year, she’s been tirelessly recording in the studio and touring around the country.

Last year, Justine hit the stage alongside her labelmate Trevor Jackson, but this year she’s going solo on her BET College Tour.

Justine stopped by GlobalGrind’s offices to discuss her new DJ Mustard-produced single “Collide” featuring Tyga, recording a duet with OVO Sound’s newest signee ILoveMakonnen, being single, and of course her new project.

While she’s shot the visual for “Collide,” details haven’t emerged on a potential release date. Stay tuned.

Watch our exclusive interview with Justine above. http://globalgrind.com/2014/09/22/justine-skye-duet-ilovemakonnen-working-with-dj-mustard- video/?utm_source=Twitter

January 26, 2015

Justine Skye: iHeartRadio On The Verge Artist

In an age where influence and reach is determined by the amount of followers one has on social media, Justine Skye effortlessly dominates the competition.

The R&B singer-songwriter rose to notoriety simply by being herself and letting her undeniable vocal ability shine. In 2010, Justine covered Drake's "Headlines" and racked up nearly two million You Tube views purely from word of mouth. Since then, Justine's popularity has only grown with over 323,000 followers on both Tumblr and Instagram respectively. To date she has 75k on Tumblr and 248k on Instagram.

Justine was 8 years old when her grandfather, Assemblyman N. Nick Perry of the 58th Assembly District in Brooklyn, New York realized she had a gift. Justine accompanied Perry to political events where she would often sing the National Anthem and the Black National Anthem. However, Justine was still nervous about her talent.

"I always knew I could sing, I just didn't think I was that great because of all the other singers out there. In my mind, I was like 'I'm just a girl from Brooklyn.' "

Justine soon left her insecurities at the door. In 2010 she attended a BMI music panel with her mother, entertainment lawyer, Nova Perry. It was during the Q&A portion, Justine surprised everyone.

"They were talking and I don't even know what they were talking about but I just knew there were a lot of music executives. During the Q&A, I walked up, grabbed the mic, and I asked 'Can I sing for you guys?' they were like sure. I sang "Black and Gold" by Sam Sparro and that's when my mom realized I was serious about singing because that was really gutsy to do."

Justine also realizes the impact that she along with her music will have on other brown-skin girls. Justine isn't naive to the fact that there aren't a lot of entertainers who look like her, and hopes with her music, other girls will learn to love themselves.

"A lot of young girls come up to me and say I make them love their skin. A lot of dark-skin women feel insecure because they only really see the light-skin women in entertainment, you don't see brown-skin women singing. If I can make it, I think it'll give a lot more girls hope."

"I want people to know who I am I want people to know how I think. All my songs are personal. I just want people to connect to my music and to me.”

[Click Here to buy Justine's song "Collide" featuring Tyga on Amazon]

Check it out...

http://www.iheart.com/talk/show/139-iHeartRadio-On-The-Verge/?episode_id=27139649

http://news.iheart.com/features/iheartradio-on-the-verge-28/articles/15/490150/justine-skye-iheartradio-on-the-verge-13177611/

February 20, 2015

Super cool singer justineskye shared her amazing NYFW photo diary with us! Click each image for captions, and be sure to visit Teen Vogue for a full Fashion Week recap » http://teenvogue.tumblr.com/post/111597880700/justine-skye-nyfw-diary

Febuary 22, 2015

It’s true— justineskye had a pretty epic NYFW!

Find more coverage from F/W 15 here » http://teenvogue.tumblr.com/post/111798752093/justine-skye-nyfw

March 2,2015

Justine Skye Talks "Emotionally Unavailable" EP, "Collide," & Her Love for "Trap Queen"

We talked to Justine Skye about her new EP, hearing "Collide" on the radio for the first time, and her celebrity pals.

Justine Skye has turned her Tumblr fame into a successful career, with the Tyga-assisted single, "Collide" getting some major attention last year. Skye is now ready to release her debut EP, titled Emotionally Unavailable later this year, and she sat down with us to talk about her new project.

Justine let us in on her experience hearing "Collide" on the radio for the first time, as well as what we can expect from her upcoming music (though she remained secretive in terms of features).

She also talked a bit about her friendship with Kendall and Kylie Jenner, as well as her love for Fetty Wap's "Trap Queen", which she recently released a remix of. http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/justine-skye-talks-emotionally-unavailable-ep-collide-and-her-love-for- trap-queen-new-video.32927.html

January 13, 2014

The most shared songs from up-and-coming artists on Twitter over the last 24 hours. Learn more

http://realtime.billboard.com/?chart=emergingartists

March 13, 2015

A (Young) Woman’s Worth: Justine Skye On Growing Into Your Confidence

In a corner of Justine Skye’s Tumblr page lies a comment about regurgitated interview questions.

“It’s a bit redundant … but each platform reaches a different audience so.. you gotta tell the same story til they know it by heart ya dig,” she responds like a seasoned vet to the follower’s comments on asking about her Tyga collaboration “Collide” and working with DJ Mustard.

But Skye’s no stranger to Vixen. Here, the purple-haired leader of #UnicornNation opens up about the life and times of 19-year-old Justine Skye. With her Emotionally Unavailable EP dropping in May, she has a wealth of experience to pour out on wax. Just before her first headlining show at SOB’s on Monday (March 16), the Brooklyn-born singer candidly shares her thoughts about finding balance between catering to her fans and honoring privacy, and personal growth. Skye’s the limit.

My confidence comes from:

Being that kid that was really scared and in the background a lot. I decided that I didn’t want to be that person anymore. Life is too short to be scared and not take risks. I’d rather be the person that’s like ‘I messed up’ than ‘I wish I did that.’

On her hair:

My hair is always going to be purple, that’s kind of my thing. It doesn’t matter what length I make it, as long as it’s purple. One time I tried bangs and people just weren’t feeling it at all, but it’s my hair. It’s my unicorn mane, and it’s definitely very important to me. It’s also my body, and so I don’t really care about other people’s opinion of it.

My beauty must-haves:

I’ve been doing this brown lip gloss kind of thing. It’s MAC Chestnut lip liner and then I use NARS Supervixen lip gloss.

On heartbreak at a young age:

I’m growing into a young woman. I’m going to be 20 this year and my sound – and really just my life – is changing dramatically. My love life is changing dramatically too. I went through a whole relationship and that was all cool. I was young and in love. Now I’m older and there’s still a lot of experiences I’m going to go through in life, but now I’m well-aware and not so naïve. During the first EP, I was in a relationship and it was the introduction, like ‘Hey guys, I’m signed to Atlantic Records, and I’m in love, and everything’s great.’ Now, I’ve been through some hard times. I’ve been through a heartbreak and seen the business side of the music industry. Now I see things clearer.

On learning social media boundaries:

What really drew the line was when I was in public and someone grabbed me and said, ‘Hey, what happened with you and [your ex] Glen?’ I got confused. This person grabbed me like I knew them and I was going to lash out like, ‘Why would you ask me something like that?’ I had to remember that my whole relationship was public. I learned I got to scale back if I’m talking to someone new and I can’t be so open in public with it. This is my life. Emotions are involved with this and this isn’t healthy to have people coming up to me asking me about this all the time. I kind of had to find a happy medium between talking to new people and still keeping my fans in the loop. It doesn’t matter if you’re famous or not, you want to acknowledge your significant other and be like, ‘Hey, I’m happy’ and post things, but I’m not going to be as open about it like my last relationship. It’s definitely a lesson learned.

On comparisons in the music industry:

It’s the worst thing ever. There’s always competition in the world, but you don’t have to be enemies. You can empower each other. I feel like it’s coming back though, like in the ’90s, when female R&B singers empowered one another, got on each another’s songs, and did tours and shows together. I feel like that was super cool. Me and this other artist, Kehlani, talked about it the other day. We’re going to get in the studio. We were saying we should go on tour with these female artists and do this whole “woman empowerment” thing. That would be so dope and I don’t know why people, especially women, always want to compete with each other and bring one another down. If we come together and support one another, we could be so powerful and men would have no say in anything (Laughs).

Mentors-in-my-head:

I definitely look up to Rihanna. She doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her and she’s not afraid of taking risks, and trying different things whether it’s fashion or music. She’s all about what makes her comfortable. Meeting Rihanna [at the Roc Nation pre-Grammys brunch] was a crazy huge moment for me. She already knew who I was too, which was really, really crazy. I walked up to her friend Melissa [Forde] and she goes, ‘Hey, Justine,’ and I go ‘Wait, hold up. You know my name? Is this real? Am I tripping?’

Another person is Beyoncé. She’s really the hardest worker in the music industry, and just in life. She’s always pushing her limits and always keeps her fans entertained. Aaliyah, too. She inspires many female artists my age. Just her swag and how chill she was, and Missy Elliott. When it comes to writing, her melodies, her phrases and metaphors, she’s really creative—it’s crazy. When I’m in the studio, I try to get as creative as she does.

What to expect from my upcoming Emotionally Unavailable EP:

There’s a fun, party song called “On & On”. I feel like it’s a great representation of me. Travi$ Scott is getting on it too, so that’s really dope. The EP’s coming out in May and I feel like it’s also a great time too, because [my fans] are like, ‘You went through a breakup and we need answers.’ I’m not going to blurt out my whole life on the Internet, and just be all crazy emotional. I’m not that type of person, but it’s in my music. All the answers they’re going to be looking for will be through that.

Best advice I ever received:

There’s a quote that I live by, and it’s “Never argue with a fool because onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.” I feel like I’m still struggling with following that quote, but that’s something everyone should live by because a lot people like to fight back and argue, and don’t chose their battles wisely. When you’re arguing with a fool, you’re the fool for even going back and forth. You got to learn when to be the bigger person, especially in the entertainment business. When you’re in the limelight, you can’t always lash out.

http://www.vibe.com/2015/03/womans-worth-justine-skye-interview/

Justine Skye Discusses Changing R&B, Self-Confidence and Jay Z’s Support, Performs ‘Collide’ for ‘Next Up’ [EXCLUSIVE VIDEO] By Georgette Cline February 23, 2015 1:59 PM

Last time Justine Skye looked in the mirror, she didn’t have a spiraling horn protruding from her head nor white hair cascading down her back, but if you ask her, the singer is a unicorn – a purple one to be exact due to her lavender-colored hair. That might sound crazy to some but she’s not insane in the membrane by any means; Justine is just trotting off the beaten path trying to share her magic with the world.

“I believe I’m a unicorn. Unicorns are very magical and powerful and strong,” she tells The Boombox. “They have healing powers [and are] very positive creatures. People think unicorns are very childish, but they’re very majestic. I feel like my Unicorn Nation, my army, they’re inspired and they feel comfortable and safe. They just want to want to build their strength with me. It’s like a journey that we’re all in together, from the beginning to the end.”

The Unicorn Nation, the name she dubs her legion of supporters, is following Justine’s current journey through the music industry, experiencing every twist, turn and triumph she shares on social media. That’s where the 19-year-old Brooklyn, N.Y. native has succeeded in cultivating a loyal fan base. From Tumblr (where she has over 1.8 million page views) to Twitter (her followers are climbing past 84,000) to Instagram(more than 296,000 people are creeping through photos), Justine’s presence is felt through an endless amount of notes, RTs and likes.

At 16, she embraced the Tumblr world as a way to showcase her around-the-way girl persona – from Fort Greene specifically – early demos covering songs from artists like Drake and everyday living with her creative crew.

“I’m not just a pretty face, I want to pursue something. I surrounded myself with a lot of different creative people and ambitious people. We’d always be out in the city, networking and meeting other kids who just wanted to create and do photo shoots or videos,” the self- described “indecisive” individual states. ”Other kids who are in Idaho or Wyoming, or other middle-America places where they don’t get to be in New York City or L.A., those people have Tumblrs and they saw us and we were the New York Tumblr kids. I incorporated my talent with that. It’s a great way for me to let everyone know that this is what I do.”

Aside from her model good looks – the #NextUp artist has a smile perfect for a Crest commercial – Justine’s singing skills are now taking center stage. Four years ago, at a BMI panel she stopped being a “fly on the wall” and flexed her vocal prowess in a room full of industry bigwigs by singing Sam Sparro’s ‘Black and Gold,’ her go-to song. Then the magic happened when the labels began calling. Backed by her momager, entertainment attorney Nova Perry, Justine landed a major label record deal with Atlantic in 2013.

She dropped the ‘Everyday Living’ EP that same year, and her first official single, the DJ-Mustard produced “Collide” featuring Tyga, soon followed in 2014. Her silky tone and put-it-on-me lyrics are highlighted on the track; this is no little girl subject matter.

“I’m confident in who I am and I’m not doing anything wrong. I’m just being myself. Being comfortable with my body, comfortable with my sound and I’m figuring out who I am. I’m growing up,” affirms Justine, who cites Aaliyah, Beyonce, Janet Jackson and Kanye West as influences.

This young woman’s goal is to change music by creating her own sound of R&B. She aims to work with the likes of Missy Elliott and Timbaland (because they collaborated with Aaliyah, of course) and Drake ranks high on her wishlist of dream studio sessions. Justine is already well on her way to crafting a unique lane with her “brothers” the Phony Ppl, a funky Brooklyn band serving as the soundscape for her distinctly sweet voice.

2015 is just unfolding and she’s already received a morale boost from one of hip-hop’s finest MCs. In January, Justine was selected to sing the National Anthem at Roc Nation Sports’ first boxing card event. “The most exciting part about it, Jay Z really stood up and clapped for me. I heard him. I physically saw him. This is crazy, now I really have to be on my stuff. I really gotta show out now.”

Like Jay Z before her, Justine wants that career-defining seat on the music industry throne. “I’m trying to make history,” she explains. “I want to be a legend.” Speaking it into existence is the first step.

Watch above as Justine Skye shares stories of her rise to stardom, her goals to change R&B and performs “Collide” in addition to “Hard Work” for The Boombox’s #NextUp series below.

http://theboombox.com/justine-skye-collide-interview/

NOVEMBER 5, 2014 11:09 AM

TALKING TEXTURE WITH: JUSTINE SKYE

WRITTEN BY: CHRISTINA BROWN // FILED UNDER: FEATURED, TALKING TEXTURE WITH // LEAVE YOUR THOUGHTS

There’s no shortage of young sultry songstresses on the music scenes these days but very few of them capture our eyes and ears quite like Justine Skye. This budding R&B singer-songwriter makes waves in the studio and on social media (@JustineSkye), putting her vocal talent and beauty to work for the world to see. After meeting her for the first time, not only were we taken by her perfectly purple strands and bright smile but also enchanted by her warm and engaging personality. We caught up with the budding starlet to talk about everything from her hair texture and beauty faves to her chart-topping new single”Collide” featuring Tyga . Check it out:

Are you relaxed, natural or transitioning? Natural.

How would you describe your tresses? Spontaneous! I’ve bleached my hair alot. My natural hair is curly but I bleached it to get my hair purple. It lost its original curl after that because of the bleach so now I rock hair extensions.

We LOVE your purple strands. What went into your decision to go purple? Would you consider another color? I definitely wanted to die my hair green in the beginning because that’s my favorite color. But my mom wouldn’t let me. She let me do purple because it was more subtle and then I just stuck with it. As far as other colors, I’m going to stick with shades of purple like lavender and deep purple. I don’t think I’ll ever experiment with other colors like green or blue.

What are some challenges you’ve faced with your hair texture? Well I have alot of dryness because of the bleach. Also my grandmother is Indian so my hair has volume but it’s very fine. When I used to braid my hair it literally wouldn’t last for more than 2 days or so. But other than that, I really love my hair!

What’s your current hair regimen? Before I go to bed I twist my hair so it doesn’t get knotted by morning. I wash my hair around once a week or every two weeks depending on what I’m doing with it. If I have a photo shoot and they use a lot of product in my hair, I’ll wash it. I deep condition it all the time. Anytime I wash my hair I use a deep conditioner. I have this theory in my head that it will make my hair really healthy (laughs).

Tell us about your proudest hair moment. It would have to be the BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards in 2014. I really loved the way my hair looked then. It was really on point. Long, curly and purple. The wind was blowing and it just looked great.

Describe your personal style in 3 words. Spontaneous. Unique. Dark. What are some of your favorite beauty products (i.e makeup, skincare, etc)? I use Clinique on my face. And I love Essie nail polish!

Describe your go-to hairstyle. I just go with a fro. I wash it and let it rock out.

One piece of advice for others with your hair texture? You only live once. Also, try not to bleach your hair too much because it definitely destroys your hair.

Tell us about the new single “Collide”. How was it working with Tyga? I’m very proud about it. I just released the video and it’s been getting great feedback. And they’re playing it on the radio so I’ve been getting alot of love from my hometown. America’s got my back and that’s just great to know. The song was already written. I had a session with DJ Mustard and he was just playing a few beats. And there was this one song he said “You have to hear this”. Elijah Blake wrote it and when they played it I said “Wow, this is my song. This was written for me”. So I cut the song and I met Tyga for the first time and he loved the song and did a verse on it right away. The rest is history!

What was the best part about shooting the video? My favorite part about doing the video was being in the desert. That was my first time there and it was literally like being in an episode of “Breaking Bad”.

What’s coming next for you? I don’t want to make any promises but I think I should be going on tour starting in December. I’ve been doing alot of homecomings for homecoming season and that’s been awesome. I just got off of a BET College Tour which was a great experience. Because I didn’t go to college and I’m not in college right now, it’s great just being at all these homecomings and being in the college atmosphere with these kids. It’s so cool.

Have you fallen in love with Justine Skye yet? If not, you will after seeing this video. Check out Justine’s newest single “Collide” featuring Tyga:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AgYGrXxEIg http://www.talkingtexture.com/justine-skye/

August 20, 2013 http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/5657817/justine-skye-debuts-everyday-living-ep- celebrates-with-family-and

With a promising EP, the new Atlantic Records songstress appears to have a long career ahead of her.

Surrounded by a pack of adults—some publicists and managers, others journalists and bloggers, and her mother, Justine Skye watched a full private room in New York City’s Philippe Restaurant raise champagne flutes in her honor. The lady of the hour, celebrating the release of her debut EP “Everyday Living,” couldn’t have a sip of the bubbly. “I'm underage and can't do that stuff,” she said with a gracious smile after thanking everyone for their presence. Justine turns 18 this Friday (Aug. 23), three years away from popping bottles for herself.

The Brooklyn, NY native can confidently file "Make quality ‘90s-era R&B" under her Can Do list, though. Throughout the evening, youthful cuts featuring her sultry vocals rang over the room. Unlike other teen stars that bop and sing lyrics seasoned listeners will figure they’ve yet to experience, Justine tightropes the line of age-appropriateness with ease in her Converse sneaks.

Instead of some overdone songs about impassioned love, there’s “Messin’ W/ You.” “Ain’t in a hurry/ Just living life/ So we chillin’, we chillin’/ Keep it trill…,” she sings. Nice, light, and real. The rest of “Everyday Living” falls in line. There's a solid cover of Aaliyah's "I Don't Wanna." “Never Leave” is another highlight. It's a silky midtempo about staying true to the guy she’s dating. Coincidentally, Justine’s actual boyfriend was present last night— bouncing around, stealing hugs from Skye when he could, goofing off and making funny faces in other people’s pictures. Together they looked like how her music felt: sweet.

Surely, there will be a time for heavier songs and even sadness. But for now, at 17, light is just fine. “Everyday Living” can be purchased here.

March 13, 2015 Vixen Giveaway: Win Tickets to See Justine Skye Live at SOB’s

New York City, are you ready for rising star Justine Skye? The songstress is hitting the stage at SOB’s on Monday, March 16 for her very first headlining show, and VIBE Vixen wants you there. We’re giving one lucky individual a chance to win two tickets to enjoy the self-proclaimed Purple Unicorn live in action, performing her hit single “Collide” in addition to new, never heard before material from her upcoming EP entitled, Emotionally Unavailable.

Join our Instagram contest from now until 11:59 pm on Sunday, March 16 to win tickets to the concert courtesy of Atlantic Records.

All you have to do to is:

1. Follow @vibevixen and @justineskye on Instagram.

2. Read Justine’s VIBE Vixen #AWomansWorth feature, and find out her four “mentors-in-her-head.” 3. Post Justine’s #AWomansWorth photo on Instagram with your answer in the caption and the hashtag #VibeVixenJustineSkye.A winner will be randomly chosen on Monday, March 16, at 10am and contacted via Instagram DM. Good luck , Vixens!

To enter you must you be 18 years or older and live in the NYC area.

http://www.vibe.com/2015/03/vixen-giveaway-justine-skye-sobs/

August 21, 2013

http://www.vibe.com/article/interview-justine-skye-everyday-living-ep-repping-brooklyn-style

Justine Skye is living out her dreams everyday. The 17-year-old Brooklyn songstress serves up a retro-futuristic sound infusing classic 90s R&B with trippy head-nodding beats reminiscent of the days of Brandy and Aaliyah. Sure, the beautiful singer/songwriter is not of legal age yet, but her level of maturity speaks volumes.

On her debut EP Everyday Living, which dropped today, she teams up with producers Eric Hudson and August Rico (who has worked Kanye West, Mary J. Blige, Sean Kingston), she channels her talent with the pen and voice harmoniously. Whether navigating the ups and downs of life in her hit "Everyday Living" or professes her love for her significant other in "Messin' With You" featuring Joey Bada$$, Skye sings that real talk. Here, the pretty girl with purple curls sits down with VIBE to discuss her new music, style and who's she looking forward to collaborate with in the future. --Andrew Asare

Now that your EP Everyday Living has been delivered, what’s the typical day-to-day for you now? Now, well today has been my most cluttered day, I had so much to do today, but right now I’m just trying to chill with my friends and do as much normal things as possible before like things start getting really hectic.

You hair styles change from time-to-time. You had a bob cut a few weeks prior now you're rocking violet curls. Why the switch-up? Well the purple hair is my natural thing, I have purple highlights that’s been my thing for two years now. That haircut was for a shoot I was doing with “Messin’ With You,” and it's this theme to it like we’re in different worlds, so that was just a different look I was giving. It wasn’t something I’d be doing all the time. Just for the video [laughs].

Speaking of switching up cuts, what do you think about Beyonce’s cut? It’s really different. She’s had her luxurious long blond hair for a really long time so I guess it like struck people like 'Whoa, we’re not used to this Beyonce' but I think they’re going to get used to it. I mean, hey it’s what she wants at the end of the day. I don’t think it’s that bad, I like it.

What’s your definition of style? My definition of style is like whatever you’re feeling. If you want to wear this, then you wear this, that’s your style. Everyone has their own style it’s unique, no one person style is wrong. Back to the EP. What was the inspiration for the EP title and the lead single? This is my first body of work coming out from the label so I want people to understand who I am, what I’ve been doing, what I’m going through everyday and to connect to it. Whether you're in a relationship or not, or if you have a crush on someone, everyone has that feeling of love at some point in their life. It’s nothing too out there in which people will be like 'Ok I don’t know what she’s talking about, I’ve never done this, I never done that, I don’t wear this or that.' The EP is very universal.

You've worked with esteemed producers Eric Hudson and August Rigo. Any dream collaborations? My dream collaboration would be to work with Drake. Honestly, he’s an amazing songwriter, and I feel like if we got the opportunity to do a song it would be the most amazing thing to ever hit people’s ears. Now that all this stuff is coming to play and it's a reality now, and people are asking me is there anyone I would like to work, it would be Drake, that's my ideal person.

Now you stated in recent interviews that your songs are very personal, what song do you consider to be the most personal on Everyday Living? The song I feel is the most personal is “Good By Now.” It’s about my dad but metaphorically, I wrote it [as] a relationship so that more people can connect to it. Sometimes, people have issues and you just wish sometimes that it could be good.

On Everyday Living, you talk about being in L.A. Which do you prefer: Brooklyn or LA? Brooklyn, 100 percent. I like L.A., but I’m definitely a Brooklyn girl, I’m a city girl. I need the cars honking. I need the bright lights. I need people yelling in the middle of the night screaming at each other. I need all of that. When I'm in L.A., I kind of go crazy in the middle of the night when it’s like completely quiet. I’ll always be a Brooklyn girl.

Speaking of Brooklyn, that was the birthplace of Aaliyah, there’s a lot of comparisons made between you and her, how do you feel about that? Wow, I feel that’s an honor. She was a legend.

Your music is very nostalgic of '90s R&B. Who are your top three favorite '90s artists? It's so hard to choose just three, I love the old school sound, but if I have to choose right now I love Aaliyah, SWV and TLC. I used to sing SWV’s “Weak" everyday when people would ask me to sing.

What are five things you must have with you at all times? Well, I definitely have to have my phone. That is a must. My red bracelet. It’s a bracelet that my boyfriend gave to me to keep people’s evil spirits away. I never leave anywhere without my watch because it’s a very special gift given to me by one of my managers. This a new thing; I never leave my house without deodorant, because you never know (laughs) and I never leave without with my mascara.

Describe how you're feeling right now. I feel very blessed. There was a time I thought none of this would happen, and then all of a sudden it just came to me, and I'm like 'Whoa, thank you God, you've been answering my prayers.' It’s very overwhelming but exciting. I can’t wait. It's just the beginning.—Andrew Asare

Everyday Living is now available on iTunes here. Check out her video for "Everyday Living" below

December 23, 2014

Justine Skye had a festive 2014, musically, and now she’s basking in her productivity through the holiday season. With only two major celebrations to engage in before 2015, we chatted with the “Collide” singer about what she plans on doing the last two weeks of the year.

See Related: #WCW: 25 Hottest Vixens That Are 25 and Under

A true Brooklynite, the purple-haired starlet talks family traditions “every year my family gets together and we make a Jamaican rum cake,” and her new years resolution.

Before you put out your milk and cookies for Santa on Christmas eve, learn more about what Justine Skye’s holiday traditions are. http://www.vibevixen.com/2014/12/justine-skye/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9P7w_F4vhxE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29MQWQzvz7U

http://necolebitchie.com/2014/10/behind-the-scenes-of-justine-skyes-collide-video-featuring-tyga/

October 30, 2013

Direct Link: http://singersroom.com/content/2013-10-30/Justine-Skye-Talks-Aaliyah-Inspiration-Being- in-Love-Next-Project-Drake-More/

Justine Skye Talks Aaliyah Inspiration, Next Project, Making a Masterpiece With Drake, More New York native Justine Skye documented her life for the world on her latest EP, Everyday Living, a project that showcased her funky style, vocal ability and carefree attitude. Signed to Atlantic Records, the 18-year-old singer-songwriter is bringing a fresh new energy and swag to R&B while maintaining her transparency with her fans. We recently chopped it up with Justine about being a huge Aaliyah fan, her creative process, wanting to work with Drake, her next project, and more.

On How It All Started: It started ever since I was a little girl. My mom put me in acting, singing, dancing and all that stuff, and then I realized that singing is my passion. This is what I wanna do; this is what I’m great at, and I just wanna share it with the world.

On Her Creative Process: I make sure I’m always in the studio when a song is being written. I like being in the studio when the beat is being made as well so I can sort of guide them on where it should go and the vibe that I’m in right now. Usually If I don’t have writing ideas I go in the booth and lay down some melodies, and then I add words to…that’s my process. My writing is kind of spontaneous.

Being a Huge Aaliyah Fan: My mom used to play Aaliyah a lot in the house, she used to play a lot of 90’s old school R&B music, and I guess Aaliyah is who I picked up on. I just been a fan of hers ever since I was a little girl. She’s made such an impact on R&B; she helped it be what it is, and I kind of want to be that person to bring back that funky vibe in the R&B world.

On Having a Huge Social Following: I think what they love about me the most is I just keep it real with them. I don’t sugar coat things; I just give it to them how I see it.

The Feedback on Debut EP Everyday Living: A lot of people gave me great comments and feedback from it. I feel like it’s doing pretty good, especially for my first body of work coming out from the label.

On Her Next Project: I’m getting back in the studio; I’m going to LA to start working on a second EP and then the album. A lot has been happening in my life, so you get to hear it all on that EP.

On People She Would Like to Work With: I’m definitely looking forward to working with Drake. When that opportunity comes I will not disappoint; I definitely will make a masterpiece with Drake.

On Life Now: It’s just changing; I’m experiencing new things. I was just on national television; I was trending worldwide on Twitter, some friends are drifting away, and some friends are getting closer. My circle is definitely getting tighter as I progress in my career.

On Her Motivation For Fashion Style: My motivation comes from how I feel when I wake up in the morning. I just put something on; that’s how I go. If the world like, that’s great, if they don’t then that’s great. It’s just what I wanna wear. Aaliyah is definitely one of my biggest fashion inspirations as well as Rihanna; she’s absolutely one hundred percent fly. But I have my own individual style, when you wanna set trends, you have to look within you and figure out what statement you’re going to make.

October 31, 2013 http://www.vibevixen.com/2013/10/vixen-next-artist-justine-skye/

Vixen Next Artist: Justine Skye Name: Justine Skye Instagram: JustineSkye Twitter: JustineSkye

Interesting facts about Justine: I’m extremely scared of bugs—especially spiders. I don’t like the word “recess” and I hate mustard.

Dream Collaboration: It would definitely be Drake. I feel like we’d have a lot in common melody wise and he would have a lot to contribute to my writing. I feel like when I have the opportunity to create with him, we’ll make something great.

Justine’s Sound: I would describe it like late 90s early 2000s R&B vibe but also with the 2013 A$AP Rocky like vibe to it. A lot of people say if Aaliyah and A$AP Rocky got together it would be me.

Biggest Inspiration: [Aaliyah] is just amazing. She made it look so effortless but it was a lot of hard work but she put her everything in it.

Justine’s Style: It comes from the way I’m feeing. When I try to hard that’s when I look absolutely ridiculous. There’s no right or wrong to style. It’s whatever you think it is.

Justine’s Signature Hair Color: My favorite color is actually green. So I wanted green hair all my life and my mom said no. I used to hate the color purple and I wanted to dye my hair really bad and it was the one she said yes to. After a while I felt purple really looked good on me and it’s now one of my favorite colors.

Justine’s Story: She’s the voice for young females all over the world. Right now there isn’t a voice for them and I feel like I’m speaking for them, what’s going on in my relationship and my life. I’m striving for the best and fulfilling my dreams and I want to make sure that people understand to always believe in themselves and never give up because there was a time that I wanted to give up but I didn’t and now I’m here.

Relationship Status: Taken

Her Boyfriend: He’s very supportive always there and encouraging me. He is always helping me out creatively because he’s into fashion.

On Fans: I want fans that are dedicated to me. Die hard, like Beiber fever fans.

On Her Music: It’s all coming from the heart. A lot of people say they can relate to my music and that’s great because it’s real life where it’s not like sugar coated in anything. The next EP is going to be deeper because I’m growing up and going through things in my life.

Legacy She Wants to Leave Behind: I just want people to remember me as someone who always kept it honest and real.