Classic R&B
Myracle: These ladies have been
so welcoming and kind to me, and
I love them both. I feel honored
to be selected by Joi and Tonya to
continue the legacy of JADE.
You certainly have what it
takes, vocally. You sound great,
Myracle! I’m looking forward to
the the new album, “Continuum”.
You ladies are certainly off to a
good start with the single, “Baby
Luv.” Tell me, what can we expect
to hear with this new project?
Tonya: We have decided to only
release singles right now. We didn’t
want to come back after being gone
for so long and overwhelm people
with a full album; we wanted to
reaquaint ourselves with our fans
and give them a little at a time. With
the singles, and eventually with
the full album, fans are going to
hear some classic r&b, some pop,
uptempo songs—a little something
for everyone.
Joi: We had great songs in the
90’s, but I feel like we’ve grown
even more, musically. I’m more
aware of who I am as an artist, and I
am a real artist. I had to remember
that I grew up in the city that is the
birthplace of R&B music [Chicago]...I
really needed to embrace what that
truly meant. You know, the Beatles,
after coming to America, the first
label that they signed with was an
independent R&B label, VeeJay
Records, ran by a Black woman in
Chicago, IL! Artists in the UK have
always had a deep appreciation
for soul and r&b music. I grew up
listening to the greats, listening to
live instruments; this is a part of
me. Music is engrained in me, and
so I feel a responsibility to give our
fans real music, real lyrics, etc..
With all of our new music I want
fans to hear the harmonies that
JADE has been know for; I want
them to fall in love with real music
again...that’s the inspiration behind
this new project.
Now, many R&B artists have
decided to go the indie route in
terms of releasing their projects,
and I understand that you ladies
will be doing the same. Do you
feel this [indie] is the better way
to go?
Joi: Oh, beyond a doubt! I’m much
smarter about the business today
than I was when I started out; I
wish that I knew then what I know
now. I studied this industry while
we were away, and I actually wrote
a book titled, “Answers to the 20
Most Asked Questions About the
Music Business.” I felt that it was
important to take what I’ve learned
and share it with others so that they
can be better educated about the
business than JADE was starting
out.
I watched the TLC biopic and of
course, they went through some
of the same things as you ladies,
Toni Braxton, New Edition, etc. It
seems label execs were counting
on signing acts who were young
who simply wanted to do what
they loved [performing], while not
necessarily understanding the
business of music at all...
Tonya: That’s exactly right! In fact,
they counted on you being clueless!
(Laughs). It seemed the harder we
worked, the more ‘they’ earned,
while we had hardly anything to
show for it. I was tired of always
feeling undercompensated for my
work.
NI grew up in the
city that is the
birthplace of R&B
music [Chicago, IL] .”
-Joi Marshall
Joi: We didn’t have any money, and
what’s worse is that we would actually
end up owing the label! I remember
thinking, “How can this be? We
hardly have anything and we’re the
ones recording and performing the
songs, hitting the stages on tour...
and we owe you!?” I started to feel
like people thought we should just be
grateful that they were instrumental
in making us famous; nevermind that
MYRACLE Holloway
we should be paid for our hard work,
and that simply was not going to
work for me anymore. So, I learned
everything that could about the
politics and business of the music
industry, and I feel far better prepared
for this next phase.
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amn magazine