By: Latifah Muhammad
The road to stardom for R&B singer J. Holiday is quickly becoming a steady journey. His debut single ‘Bed’ has hit the top of the Billboard Hip-Hop/R&B charts. He has regions of fans both old and young chanting along with him during his sultry performances. And that’s just the beginning.
The D.C. born and bred R&B singer has done his homework. He grew up listening to artists like Donny Hathaway, Sam Cooke, and Marvin Gaye. He knows real music and is more than eager to bring a piece of his soul to what he feels is an industry lacking real R&B.
Now on the cusps of releasing his debut album Back of My Lac (Music Line/Capitol) he is making his signature saying “Everyday is a J. Holiday” a reality. He took time to talk with Spotlight Grooves about who he is and what he has to bring to the table.
Spotlight Grooves: I first saw you perform on the roof of Capitol Records and I know things have been taking off since then, what have you been up to?
J.Holiday: Right now I’m on this Keyshia Cole tour. Just out here selling ‘Bed’ man. I’ve been on the grind getting ready for the album to release.
SG: How has it been on the Keyshia Cole tour?
J.H.: It’s been good. This is my first time opening up for somebody. Well, I opened up for Tyrese but this is my first time on an actual tour with consecutive dates. It feels good. It’s fun. I’m learning the ropes.
SG: I heard that you have a love affair with music. When did you fall in love?
J.H.: I’ve always loved music. You know, first it was just kind of something that I did. You have kids that grew up playing sports, I grew up singing. That was just what I was good at. I really was like ‘this is something that I want to do’ when I was 14.
SG: And what was it that made you want to commit to doing it as a career?
J.H.: I did a talent show and just the response that I got from the crowd. At that time I was going to a predominately black high school so it was just the response that I got that was crazy. I was like ‘this is what I’m going to do!’
SG: You’re one of a few artists on the music radar from D.C., how was life growing up there?
J.H.: It’s different. It’s a real political city. You have the tri-city area (around D.C. and VA) it’s almost a melting pot in itself. You have suburbia, you have the hood and you have the in between. I got a little bit of everything, especially with my mom being a preacher.
SG: How often do you get to go back?
J.H.: I’ve frequently been going maybe once a month, or once every other month. But it’s always for work. I haven’t gone back just for vacation in a while, since like Christmas.
SG: What do you miss about home the most?
J.H.: The seafood. Crabs and shrimp! They have carry-outs (restaurants). That’s usually the first spot that me and my manager hit when we go home. We go get us a steak and cheese from the carry -out.
SG: You said that your mom is a preacher. How does she feel about the single and your live performance?
J.H.: She’s cool, I think she’s enjoying this a little more than I am. She’s seen me go through everything. She’s been there from when I started, when I decided not to go to school. She’s my number one fan. As long as I keep it positive she’s cool with it. She backs me up 100 percent.
SG: It sounds like you and your mother are really close. Since your father died when you were very young; how did he inspire you to become the man that you are today?
J.H.: Not having him made me want to be a better man. I had my homies in the street, they looked out for me. It was hard but most of the things that I learned, I learned on my own.
SLG: How do those life lessons translate into your music?
J.H.: All of my songs if I didn’t write them they’re still about situations that I may have seen or that I may have been through. I have a couple of songs on my album where I’m really trying to make sure that if cats don’t have a role model or a father figure they can always listen to the music. I have a song on the album called “Thug Commitment” that’s strictly for the African American male community. It talks about a couple of things that we’ve got to do better.
SG: Being in the R&B game it’s very easy to get sucked into the superficial sexual content, so it’s very commendable that you’ve gone into something deeper than that.
J.H.: Well I grew up listening to Marvin (Gaye). So you have songs like “What’s Going On” and “Trouble Man.” To me music more than just about love or sex it’s a lot of things that you can talk about with music.
SG: You’re inspired by artist like Sam Cooke and you do an ode to Jodeci in your live performance. What is it about these artists that inspire you as a performer?
J.H.: I think it was the passion that they had in their music. That’s a big problem that I have with music right now. When it comes to artist it’s just about the songs. It’s not really about the passion. You don’t really hear people talking about live shows too much anymore. I’m trying to bring back R&B; to bring back real singing. That’s what those cats did. They sung for real. They were real artist. They were writers, they were singers and performers. The total package.
SG: Your single ‘Bed’ has been climbing the charts. The song is sung with so much passion, what inspired that?
J.H.: I grew up in a house full of women. I have two older sisters and my mom, so I’m very in-tuned with women. I know what they want to hear. There hasn’t been a song like that that really just focused on a woman. It’s always been a two-way street; or fellas talking about what they want to get out of the situation. I think that was the inspiration, making sure that the women felt like women again.
SG: So I’m guessing you’re not in a relationship?
J.H.: Single and ready to mingle!
SG: What is it that you want the world to know about J. Holiday and why is he different from other R&B performers?
J.H.: I’m different because a lot of people try to fabricate stories to sell their music. My stories are real stories. I lost my father when I was young, my mom’s a preacher. I didn’t have it easy going up. And even now with “Bed” I still don’t have it easy. I’m out here grinding. I just want them to know I’m a real cat. I don’t get caught up in my own hype. It’s not about the fame. It’s not about the money, all that is going to come as long as you do your job.
SG: With that said, is it weird for you when female fans are screaming for you?
J.H.: Yes. It’s weird for me because I’m really a private person. I lay back in the cut; I don’t like a lot of attention. It’s like a catch 22 for me.
SG: Judging by your drive and commitment to music we’re sure that you’re here to stay. Spotlight Grooves would like to thank your for speaking with us.
J.H.: Thank you for interviewing me! Like I said, I’m not caught up in this hype. Anything ya’ll want to know ya’ll can ask me. For the most part I’m an open book.
