Growing up in the church, gospel has defined the creative development of singer Jazmine Sullivan.
She struck gold after emerging on the secular scene with collaborations including Missy Elliot for the hit “Need U Bad.” Critics called her sultry vocals the return of traditional R&B. After taking a five-year hiatus from the music industry, Sullivan has returned triumphantly to release “Reality Show.”
Sullivan is letting the audience into her world on “Reality Show” with songs like “Masterpiece” that delve into the pitfalls of the music industry accompanied by an artistap drive for success.
Ahead of her performance at the Gothic Theatre on March 22, we talk to Sullivan about Stevie Wonder, perfect moments on stage and more.
Your voice and style is so unique, tell me about your influences and music that inspires you to write.
I love Stevie Wonder. He’s like my all-time favorite and a legend. He has a way with words and a career that I’d like to model. I went to his concert and was so amazed that he has three hours’ worth of material and everyone knew all of the words. He covers so much depending on the space you’re in. There’s a song for every feeling.
When you first came onto the scene, people were really taken with your sound and its elements of hip-hop that were included. How much has hip-hop influenced your style?
I listen to hip-hop the least of all the genres, actually. I grew up strictly on gospel so itap always interesting the style people say they find in me. When people say they hear a jazz element, I think thatap interesting because I didn’t listen to a lot of jazz. Itap the type of ear that I have, if I hear something and am inspired, it will make its way into my repertoire.
What are you listening to currently that you love?
Lately I feel like I’ve been hearing a lot of Drake on the radio. I love Drake and he’s great but he’s everywhere. Before I started working on the album I was really into Lana del Ray and Frank Ocean. I love how great they are about mixing the genres.
You took a long time off in between albums. What was the creative process like for “Reality Show?”
My creative process was more about choosing what I thought was dope. I didn’t have a lot of people around me, I’d just have a bunch of songs on a CD and pick out what appealed to me. When I did have people around it was mostly Anthony Bell. I’d start off with an idea that I had at home and I’d bring it to Anthony Bell and we’d go to the studio. It was a really personal time. A lot of time of being on my own and working it out.
How do you know when a song is finished?
Being a writer, you never think that a song is perfect enough and with me, they had to get me out of the studio or I would just critique until I think itap perfect. And itap never quite perfect. I always want to change something.
What is it like to translate your studio sound into a live show and interact with the audience?
Thatap the best part, the interaction between the audience and being able to talk to them and see how they embrace me at the shows. When they know all the lyrics to every song, itap like the dream of a songwriter.
When you’re performing, are you perfecting a moment or creating a moment with styles of improv and such?
Itap all about the feeling and yes, there will be a lot of improve. I grew up singing in the church and everything is about the feeling and the Holy Spirit. I sang at the open mic at Black Bully being able to watch Jill Scott, The Roots and all those people doing it every night. I felt like I was learning so much about live show then.
Who are your favorite gospel singers?
Kim Burrell, The Clark Sisters, Karen Clark, all the Clark Sisters I grew up loving. Of course Yolanda Adams and Mary Mary.
What have you had to compromise in the industry in order to be accepted?
I think that people accept me the way I am. I know it sounds cliché but I came in as fearless and with so much I wanted to capture with my sound. I let everyone know that this is what I do. You can’t put me into a mold because I can do anything and my fans accept me wherever I go.
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Ru Johnson is an arts and culture music writer living in Denver. You can follow her on
