Jada
7-2-07
SSM is proud to present this follow up interview with Jada, one of the hottest rising acts in the music world.
JADA: Yeah! With The Plain White T's at the Pheasant Lane Mall in Nashua NH on July 22, with Lloyd on August 12 in Deluth, GA and with Brooke Hogan on 2 Sept. at the Laguna Hills Mall, Laguna Hills, CA!!! Come on out! Besides, some shows, our focus right now is getting the album finished and releasing a single! Since signing in October to Universal/Motown we have been VERY busy recording our first album!! So far we have been to LA, ATL, Miami, and NYC working with JR Rotem (Rihanna, Britney), Novel & Dallas Austin (Joss Stone and all the legends), Danja who has worked with Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake, The Clutch (Omarion, Usher), Swizz Beatz who has worked with JoJo, Toby Gad whose Fergie single is all over the radio right now, Ric Poulin who has worked with Dropkick Murphys, and Wyclef who has worked with everyone!! Haha whew!! It's kind of surreal working with all of these amazing people and it has been such a great experience. We are looking to have a single release by the fall and an album release by January. YEAH!
SSM: If you could perform anywhere in the world, where would you want to perform?
Jacyn: I would say Madison Square Garden in NYC. I feel like once you have performed there,you have "arrived" as a performer. Everyone knows Madison is one of the biggest arenas to play, so in my opinion the bigger the better!
Lauren: I watched a John Legend concert series live at Wembley Arena in London and I would love to perform there. That place looks so beautiful!
April: I don't think I have seen enough of the world to really answer this, but I do have to agree with J on this one and say Madison Square Garden. If you ask me this question in a year I might have a different answer, but I think Madison Square Garden is an extremely respectable gig! ;)
Elle: I would love to perform at The Gorge in Washington State. Dave Matthews Band performs there every year and the pictures and footage I've seen from their shows are just so amazing. Of course, I can't wait to perform at Madison Square Garden too and my back yard.
SSM: Is there a specific show you did that sticks out in your mind as more fun or memorable for some reason?
Jacyn: I'm not just saying this, but all of our shows are memorable for one reason or another and sometimes not in good ways,lol. For times sake we'll stick to the "fun" ones.I would have to say Hershey Park in PA was a fun AND memorable show.It was in the middle of the summer in their amphitheater. We were so psyched because we had a HUGE crowd! I remember it well, Elle wore these rad hair extensions and one of them almost fell out in the middle of our set!
Lauren: My most memorable show was when we performed at America's Camp in MA a couple of years ago. The camp was created for kids whose parents or loved ones were victims of 9/11. The kids were so excited to see us perform and we felt the same way about being there for them. It was probably one of the best crowds we ever had. I was so touched by how much love they showed for us! They made signs, would not stop cheering, and we had an autograph line out the door! The camp counselors were just as enthusiastic -they made some hilarious signs!! It was incredible and I will never forget that show!
April: For me, the most memorable performance we have done is when we did our first real label showcase for Epic Records. We ran into some problems with our contracts the night before the showcase and we were up on the phone with our lawyer until 5am which is when we left Boston for NY,for an ELEVEN AM showcase-YIKES! We arrived in the city at exactly 10am and checked into our hotel, everyone jumped into the shower, RACED around getting ready and walked out the door at 10:30am. It was insane! We showed up to our meeting, ON TIME, on NO sleep and honestly is was probably one of our best performances ever. We were so tired that we didn't even care but at the same time so jazzed- we just threw it all out there and it was awesome. I will NEVER forget that day. haha. We all went back to the hotel and crashed after that.
Elle: We did a show in Pennsylvania a couple years back and it was one of the first times that most of my family was able to come. They finally got to see me doing what I do and they loved it so it made me that much happier. Good times!
SSM: What goes through your mind when people ask for pictures with you and autographs?
Jacyn: They must think we're cool or something...lol It's weird honestly because here we are, a bunch of silly girls who sing and people want our autographs! For real, it's so cool. we are really happy when the line for autographs is long. It makes us feel like we did our job and entertained everyone. It's also great to meet all the fans and let them know we appreciate them!
Lauren: It's kind of surreal! I feel really honored that people look up to us like that. I know what it feels like to really love an artist or an actor/actress and to be overjoyed when I got their autograph, so I feel pretty special when someone feels the same way about JADA!!
April: I think, wow someone thinks I'm cool enough to want my autograph. The same way I would ask for a celebrity's autograph. It's weird for me to think that my signature could make someone else happy. I'm like, hey that's pretty hot. lol
Elle: It's so weird! I feel like I'm such a nerd and why would they want a picture with me. It feels really good to know that people love our music and look up to us enough that they want our autograph. I love this business and wouldn't change what I do for anything. I love our fans -they are the best fans in the world!
SSM: Can you give us a hint about what your CD will be like?
JADA: Our album is turning out really well. We want to come out with a bang and the music we have recorded so far definitely fits that criteria!! The music has lots of big vocals, harmonies, and hot beats, making us sound unlike any other artist out there today! We are so excited because we have written lots of our own music and can't wait to hear some of them on the album!! The producers we are working with are Toby Gad, Wyclef Jean, JR Rotem, Novel, The Clutch, Ric Poulin, Swizz Beatz, and Danja. The song styles are all quite different but somehow they all work well together! Working with JR in LA was a lot of fun! We recorded at Chalice Studios where lots of major artists record. Right next door to us Chris Brown was recording his new album! We were so excited to meet him, (especially April) and we even got to hang out with him! His trainer got him working out in the lounge and Lauren ended up doing push ups with him!! On top of being in great shape : ) he is really nice and is so talented, but we think you already know that! haha PS: Lauren challenged him to a push up contest and they both won:)
SSM: Out of all your songs recorded to date, which one means the most to you and why?
Jacyn: At this very moment, I would have to say "Me and my Shadow", this crazy ballad we wrote with our friend and producer Toby Gad in NYC. It's one of the craziest songs I have ever heard! It's powerful and soulful and makes my arms get goosebumps. I really really hope it makes the album. I think people will like it as much as we do!
Lauren: I love "Is it Love" which we wrote with Toby Gad. I can't go into major detail on why I love the song so much, but I'll just say that it is based on someone very special that I have known for a long time. ;)
April: I really like "Me and My Shadow". So far it's my favorite song. It just really has a special place with me. I can really relate to the song, and I think most people can. It has this haunting vibe to it, yet it's really pretty. It was interesting to write because when we started writing it, the topic we picked completely applied to a situation one of my best friends and I had just been talking about. As we kept writing though, I realized how it actually really applied to a certain situation in my life and I was like WOW, Ok.....Let's go with this. It's turned out to be a really powerful song.
Elle: I love our song "We're Comin' Up", which we also did with Toby Gad. I guess we love him!! It's a really fun song and we had a great time writing and recording it. You can check out our writing session on our video blog on our myspace at myspace.com/bostonsjadamusic. Check out our funny and crazy selves!
SSM: What is the biggest difference to you, between being unsigned and signed to Universal/Motown?
JADA: We definitely have more access to the people that are helping us make hit songs! This business is a whole lot of breaking down doors and meeting good people. We feel really lucky to have done that over the past few months. The label is great. It makes things more of an adventure too--getting to travel more and really focus on what we love to do. We couldn't be happier! When we were in NYC a few months ago we went to see Fantasia's concert. We got in right away and were lead to the VIP room to meet Missy Elliot!! It was crazy! We couldn't do that before we were signed;)
SSM: What are you looking forward to most this summer?
Jacyn: We are crossing our fingers that our first single will come out late summer!
Lauren: Laying out by the pool and working on my tan..haha jk!! I can't wait to finish our album and hopefully go on a radio promotion tour around the US!!
April: I am looking forward to wrapping up the album!!!!!!! YAY! I am also really excited about my sister's graduation. She is graduating high school 1 whole year early. I'm so proud of her!
Elle: I'm excited to keep recording songs for our debut album and to get more involved in the whole process of releasing the album. Also, I'm looking forward to all of the promotional appearances that go along with it. Of course I'm excited to start performing again! We've been taking time off to record the album, but I can't wait to get out there and perform. We're also meeting with a stylist soon. We LOVE clothes! But I probably didn't have to tell you that!
SSM: If you could switch lives for a day with anyone who would it be and why?
Jacyn: Giada DeLaurentils from the Food Network. We have one thing in common: the love of food! She's got one up on me though; I'm still trying to figure out how NOT to burn the toast! I'm working on my skills with the skillet. Lauren tells me my lemon squares are ammmaaazziing. I think she's lying though.
Lauren: My cat Remington! I would love to know what it feels like to sleep all day and be patted:)
April: I would switch lives with the Little Mermaid. haha Oh wait. She's not a real person. I don't know I just always thought it would be cool to be a mermaid. haha.
Elle: My dog, Peanut, cause that puppy is spoiled beyond belief! I love my Peanut!
SSM: What is one thing you would love to do, but you’re too scared?
Jacyn: Go to Europe--yeah--I'm going to have to get over that one fast! LOL! I hear it is amazing! I wish we could teleport ourselves places so I wouldn't have to fly..:)
Lauren: I would love to go sky diving, but I am terrified of heights!! My sister went skydiving and said it was so exhilarating and freeing. I definitely want to try it one day!
April: I'm too scared to go on the SUPERMAN ride at Six Flags. Everyone says it's great, but it scares me. AHHH!
Elle: I'm really not scared to do anything, I love trying new things and I'll try anything once. I want to go everywhere and do everything, bring it on!
SSM: When you get a snack attack, which snack is it you reach for?
Jacyn: Dry cereal,I know it's weird,but for the longest time I had this love affair with Kashi Go-Lean Crunch cereal.If I didn't have to think about sugar content--I would pick Cinnamon Toast Crunch. There is something so addictive about it. It's like they put something illegal in it. Delicious!
Lauren: Oreos!!! I looooove Oreos. They remind me of freshman year of college because one night my roommate and I had a contest to see how many we can eat and though we felt so sick it was a lot of fun and so good. :)
April: Anything Chocolate. I am a chocoholic!!!!! Like, no joke. I can eat chocolate for days. It's actually a problem. I have a problem. I'm serious. I need help. I'm seeking professional help. JK lol!
Elle: I have to say any type of cookie, I love cookies!! They are so good and there are so many different kinds. They're an every mood kind of treat; you can eat them when you’re sad, happy, at parties, meetings, family events, and everywhere else. Mmmmmmmm!!
SSM: What is the one interview question you always prepare yourself to answer but then it doesn’t get asked? What is your answer?
JADA: Do we write our songs? The answer is yes. That is where all the money is, or so they tell us. It makes the songs that much better when we write from our own experiences and put the JADA touch to it.
SSM: If you had to choose one word to describe yourself, which word would you choose?
Jacyn: Hungry.
Lauren: Hypo Gly. I have to eat all the time or I get cranky. lol
April: Unexpected
Elle: April says complicated but I don't think I'm THAT complicated, so I have to say PINK!
SSM: If you could have one super power, what would it be and why?
Jacyn: I think teleportation would be cool. If I could just picture where I want to go and blink and then be there. That would eliminate the whole flying thing, which I don't like.
Lauren: I want to be able to read minds because there have been so many times when I wish I knew what a guy friend or boyfriend was thinking. They can be so confusing sometimes!
April: I would like to fly. Yeah, imagine every time you want to get away or just peace out. You can just fly away and no one can catch you. That's pretty sweet. Plus, I think it would probably be really invigorating.
Elle: I would want to be able to read people's minds cause I'm not interested in hanging out with people who are fake and have other motives.
SSM: Do you have anything you would like to say to your fans?
JADA: Our fans are unreal. We are so lucky to have made so many friends over the past few 'formative' years and we LOVE seeing them at the shows and getting to know them via emailing, etc. Thanks to all! It's a lot more fun when you have friends everywhere you go! You rock! Definitely check out our myspace and website at: www.myspace.com/bostonsjadamusic and www.jadamusic.com. We have new video blogs up on the sites all the time so you will always be updated on what we are doing in Jada land!! Oh, and come on out and see us perform with The Plain White Tees at the Pheasant Lane Mall in Nashua NH on July 22, with Lloyd on August 12 in in Deluth, GA and with Brooke Hogan on 2 Sept. at the Laguna Hills Mall, Laguna Hills, CA!!!