A ConcerningWomen.com Interview with J. Soze

J. Soze is a Harlem-based musician who is taking the urban music industry by storm. Writing her own lyrics and crafting a distinctive sound, J. represents a new breed of urban MC.

CW: Do you think being a female artist in the music industry today has had a positive or negative effect on your career?

JS: This is a question that I am asked a lot. In some senses, being female has helped my career and in others, not hurt it, per se, but slowed it down. Being female in the rap game makes you unusual, as there are far more male artists. This can work to your advantage because people want to see what you can do- are you as good as the male rappers out there? However, there are people who still think that females can't hold there own and they are not as open to listening to a girl rhyme. So, sometimes, you have to pry their minds open before they will give you a chance.

CW: I really enjoyed your style. Who did you grow up listening to that influenced you musically?

JS: I wasn't listening to anyone who had a specific influence on my music. I enjoyed the music of a lot of people: Black Moon, Rakim, KRS-ONE, Led Zeppelin, Pat Bennitar, Billie Holiday, Dean Martin, Dolamite, Marvin Gaye. A really strong influence on my music though, were the real people I knew and the struggles they lived through. My Mother is my absolute biggest influence- I feel like I am everything she was born to be.

CW: How do you feel about performing live?

JS: Performing live is my therapy. I work long hard hours in the studio expressing my vision, which really doesn't fit into the status quo. Getting positive feedback from the audience is confirmation that people understand me and feel where I am coming from.

CW: In reading your bio, it mentions that you had studied film making and >screen writing. Do you have any interest in getting back into that >eventually?

JS: Definitely. I think it's a natural progression for me, seeing as I am a storyteller (through my music). I'd like to see these stories expanded onto the big screen.

CW: You're working with some talented people on your new CD. What is it like in the studio?

JS: Crowded, but I think that we all work together well. In order to make a good song, there are a lot of people involved- and everyone has their own idea of what it should sound like. The challenge becomes keeping everyone focused on realizing and creating the sound I want.

CW: What was your inspiration for the song "If Only You Knew"?

JS: I've had a lot of crushes in my life, as I think that everyone has, but I had one (when I was younger) that grew into an obsession- I thought it was love at the time. However, in retrospect, it was an unhealthy longing, which I have since gotten over. Everyone goes through unrequited love sometime in their life and this was my experience with it.

CW: When is your new CD going to be released? Are you planning a tour?

JS: I'm still in the process of finishing my album, but I am hoping to have it drop sometime this year. You can check out some songs on my website at: www.jsoze.com. Although there is no formal tour planned, I am performing in various venues. An up-to-date listing is on the site as well.

By Jacqueline Evans

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