JULLY BLACK

Passion, Power & Perserverance

Jully Black should be an international celebrity.

Throughout her 16 years of navigating the odd landscape that is the Canadian music industry, the Toronto-born R&B soulstress has collaborated on tracks with the likes of Nas, Missy Elliott, and Destiny's Child and shared the stage with mammoth draws like Jay Z, 50 Cent, and the Black Eyed Peas, though in the latter category, her name is never the same size on the billboard.

It's certainly not for a lack of skill or smarts. If the impressive but far-fromcomprehensive list of aforementioned artists isn't telling enough of her talents, simply spin one of her singles like "Sweat Of Your Brow" or "Seven Day Fool" and you'll hear one of our country's most prized voices on a track that wouldn't be out of place on HOT 97. She's a celebrity reporter for CTVs eTalk and her charm and charisma have landed her countless other highprofile public or televised appearances.

There's no question that Black, born Jullyann Gordon, is amidst a successful career - especially for a Canadian artist - though her current success belies both her abilities and ambition.

But Black doesn't like to dwell on the hypothetical; she's as real as they come, and plans to continue carving her niche in her home country for as long as it takes to make her dreams a reality.

(8)ight is Black's Fourth full-length, produced in tandem with longtime collaborator YoungPete Alexander and other members of what Black calls her revolving family" of performers and producers. The album, released in september 2011, finds Black showcasing while sharing her everencouraging and uplifting lyrical themes, though some new elemnets have been ppered in this time around.

I've always loved the drums, so the album is very percussive," shares the singer about her latest effort - a trait she attributes to her and YoungPete's shared Caribbean heritage. "A lot of songs eve have a tribal type of feel to them, wit going all the way there." That underlyir foundation makes the music total movable, and making a "record you can dance to" was one of team Black's priorities. Says the artist: "It's very important that you be able to move to my music, you're not a So You Think You Can contestant."

While Black and Youngf the core of the album's composition, halfway through its construction, the pair started working with Jamaican-born, Torontobred choreographer and artistic director Luther Brown - perhaps best known for his appearances on So You Think You Can Dance Canada. "We've been friends since the third grade, and he's a songwriter as well," says Black of her friend �wfound creative fuel. "Coming toget s, though, was pure serendipity."

The initial fruit of their union was Brown's input mostly completed track "Can You ich the choreographer felt would benefit from its own signature dance. From there, the trio, dubbed The Officials, wrote four new songs (half of the album, as its title implies) to replace four others previously set to appear.

YoungPete is also Black's touring drummer, and has been for the past four years. Joining him on the album from the singer's rotating family of musicians are guitarist Andrew Thompson and longtime backup vocalist D.Shon Henderson. The horns on tracks including "Rebound" were performed by trumpeter Steve Dyte and saxophonist Trent Reschny. "I'll always call them. Even if I'm in Amsterdam, I'll fly them there. They're the best," says Black of the air she's lovingly dubbed her "weapons of bass destruction."

"We're a family," says Black of her band and crew. "It's very important for YoungPete and I to incorporate the people who are on this journey with us into what we do." And the bonds of that "family" seem pretty close to blood. Adrian Porter, for example, is often onstage programming Black's live shows, though more recently he's been occupying the same role for artists like LiI Wayne, Drake, and Keri Hilson."lt doesn't matter how far up the ladder he's gone; he'll always be my programmer," says Black, whose current show has been programmed by Porter. For the singer, it's all about projection and reflection. "You project the positivity - you ask the people you know are down with the movement, and they give it back. Back and forth."

In keeping with Black's seemingly ever-present optimism, the overall lyrical theme of (8)ight is, as the singer so simply puts it: "Love - especially self-love." The album is fairly short - comprising only eight tracks with a running time akin to that of a sitcom - but Black is sure that it will nonetheless engulf listeners: "You're going to be dancing to this record, and it'll make you feel good."

But it's still hip-hop and it's still grungy, so a lot ofthat optimism is laced in, tucked underneath the beats and rhythms - "so while you're dancing to 'Pushin,' it might take awhile before it reveals itself as a love song," says Black.

"Exposed"focuses on the concept of transparency and self-revelation. "I've been talking a lot lately about the power that's in transparency," divulges Black. "A lot of people are afraid to put themselves out there, but that's really when and how you grow."

On the topic of personal growth, the track "Crown Me" features guest vocals from young singer Savannah Re, who Black mentors as part of an at-risk youth program based in the GTA called The Remix Program. "I figured, there was nobody before me to give me an opportunity like this in my genre in Canada, so why not have her on this track?" The song encourages people to "get up on their thrones and take a seat," an anthem of ambition and empowerment - two concepts for which Black could be one of Canada's key ambassadors.

"I was raised by a single mother and knew at a very young age that my ambition and how I conduct myself would not only be indicative of me, but how I was raised," shares Black about her background. "That umbrella has always been over my head: 'You're a woman; know how you're dressing, how you're speaking, how you're sitting.' It's had a profound effect on me."

The title of role model is one bestowed upon her quite regularly, and Black, as humble as she is, fully embraces it. "It doesn't feel like a responsibility anymore; it's second nature," she says. It stems from being comfortable in your own skin, embracing who you are as an individual and sharing your whole self with others. It's an agreeable assertion, though one Black admits to have learned the hard way.

"I did a show for Pride Toronto last year and wore these shorts that I knew I wasn't comfortable wearing," she says with anaudiblecringe.'They were just too short, but I did the whole show in them anyway. For me to set an example for girls looking up to me, I should've just put on leotards. Simple. Because when I'm comfortable, I'm confident, but I didn't perform to my fullest abilities because I wasn't comfortable."

The essence of that example, the artist muses, can be applied across the board. "If you're going into a business meeting and you're not comfortable in your own skin or not fully aware of your environment, you won't present yourself properly. I live by that mandate now - make sure I'm always being authentic. Love me or hate me, I'm going to be authentic."

And authentic she is, even when faced with more serious and delicate topics. For example, does it frustrate Black that after all she's accomplished - both for herself and her peers in the genre for which she's a key trailblazer - she still hasn't received the recognition of so many of her USbased contemporaries and collaborators? It used to. A lot. "I'd be lying to say it didn't," she admits, "but I had to check myself. Complain? Life is not that bad."

What's helped her overcome the disconcertion - even over the last six months - was being able to look at successful artists like Beyonce and get to know them from a distance. "If there's a DVD, I'll buy it; if there's a special, I'll set my PVR. I've gotten rid of those jealousies just being able to admire the drive behind these successful artists and adopting it myself." She's using that insight she obtains to propel her forward towards her goals. "02 Arena? Air Canada Centre three nights sold out? It's happening. I just have to keep going."

Black is in a fairly unique situation in that progress she makes in her career is oftentimes parallel to progress made by the genre as a whole because she, in several senses, is the flag bearer for Canadian hip-hop and R&B. So how does she feel about the scene she's worked so hard to cultivate? "I'm optimistic, but we need a push. We could be selfsustaining."

Part of what's hindering the development of the genre is in many cases nstitutionalized - not the malice or ill-will of any individual or group."l used to feel guilty thinking this, but as my mentor tells me, it's just fact," begins Black. "It's a fact that in 40 years, we've had one bi-raciai host of the JUNOs. 40 years. You call a spade a spade."

It's what the artist calls "simple demographics" - many of the individuals making decisions that affect the industry have been making them for years; however, their children and grand children iving in a time of increased diversity and acceptance. "They don't see colour or even genre; they just love music/'says the singer of the current generation of music fan?.. They can listen to a goth song, and then a JuIIy Black song. A lot of people in decision-making positions don't seem to see that. Those of us that recognize it, though, just have to persevere."

Canadian audiences are always quick to claim their exports as their own, though it's usually after they've been recognized and celebrated elsewhere. It's not just musicians - comedians, film actors, athletes; so many have had to develop their crafts outside of their country. According to Black, that has to change. "Whether you're a comedian, singer-songwriter, whatever - look at what we're exporting. If we could celebrate these accomplishments among the 34 million of us here first, we could be self sustaining. I'm fighting to bridge that gap."

Still, despite some minor hardships, Black isn't going anywhere. She's extremely proud to be Canadian, and if staying here means she has to work a little harder to get where she wants to be, so be it. Hard work yields ample rewards. After all, says the artist, "This is my home. Why should I run away with my art? I was able to build this and groom it right here in Canada, so I feel okay that I'm it TOO percent."

Though she's already fostered plenty of change, she continues to do so and on a number of levels. While her many TV and onstage appearances give her a direct line of communication with the masses, she also operates on a grassroots level, bridging the figurative gap existing between the artist and her I adorers.

The Internet hasn't been totally kind to Black. Her 2005 single "Sweat Of Your Brow" was reportedly illegally downloaded 2.5 million times while Black struggled to sell 15,000 copies of the album that contained it. It's an unfortunate reality, but instead of fighting it, Black and her camp are trying to harness that power for their own benefit.

"What happened in the past is a blessing," says Black.'lt helped us realize there were two-and-a-half million somebodies that wanted the song. That same summer, I toured with the Black Eyed Peas. That same summer, eTalk saw me and picked me up. If we'd dwelled on 'illegal downloading,' we would've been distracted from the blessings flowing our way."

Prior to the release of (8)ight, Black's camp released the track "Zodiac Drug" as a free download forfans, with several others to follow in exchange for e-mail addresses for her mailing list or social network posts. Once they've heard the music, they're then more inclined to buy into JuIIy Black as an artist, and will maybe go out and see a show.

"For artists like me, it's about getting on the road," says Black emphatically. "If I give these people an experience, then they'll run to the merch table. That's the business I'm in. The live experience can't be replaced with a computer. It doesn't matter how many online streams you want to watch; nothing beats being there and seeing the beads of sweat on, say, Tina Turner's lip. Nothing."

She and her team have taken strongly to social networking sites. There's been a learning curve, no doubt, but it's one that's easily overcome so long as you're being true to yourself. "If you can just be real about it, things become really easy," Black believes. "There are so many platforms, so it can become like a science experiment, but it's been a lot of fun."

For the rest of 201 1 and leading into the new year, Black will be on the road, hitting "every corner, eve crack, and every crevice" of this country. "I'm 100 per cent committed to being an artist and a storyteller," she says with an obvious ambition. "I want people to not only see me, but to hear me and feel me."

Though her goal is to reach the entire world, she's starting with Canada, trying to have everyone's hearts beating to the same rhythm - maybe even those found on (8}ight Though despite her hopes for the future, Black is living in the present, and excited by what it's bringing her.

"Do you know how proud it makes me to be in Canadian Musician magazine?" she asks rhetorically. "I'm the youngest of nine kids and the only one born in Canada. My mother chose Canada in 1968. She sacrificed so much, working for $1 .65 an hour, and right at this moment, I'm reminded that it wasn't in vain."

But the reality is that a few pages of ink are only a fraction of the attention she deserves - and a fraction of the attention she herself has drawn to urban music in Canada. But even without that deserved gratification, you can be sure JuIIy Black will continue sweating it out in the studio, on stage, and in the community, working hard for her family, her fans, and herself.

[Sidebar]

#positivity

Like many Canadian artist, Jully Black has taken to social media to bridge the figurative gap that exist between artist and fan. Her Twitter page, for example, is updated several times daily by the singer herself, most frequently with posts directed at specific fans or with universal messages uplifting positively and encouragement. Have a look at Twitter done right:

JullyBlack

"When I feel the heart I remember diamonds are mafe outta pressuer" - Crown me Ft. @SavannahReMusic #(8)IGHT

18 Jul

JullyBlack

Love you more! *hugz*RT@ freshcoastly: @JullyBlack - U are an inspiration. I love U! *3

17 Jul

JullyBlack

You are so right! Thanks for this reminder. RT@JeanetteJenkins: In a state of appreciation all good things will flow to you.

10 Jul

JullyBlack

Thx for the love! So happy you enjoyed the show! @iLuLuOnline: @JullyBlack's set was AHmazing!!! She left EVERYTHANG on the stage!!

9 Jul

[Author Affiliation]

Andrew King is the Editor of 'Canadian Musician.