This is REESA RENEE.
What makes a voice different? What makes a voice stand out? Aren't we all different? Well, when it comes to singers, no not quite. Needless to say, most crooners have become carbon copies of each other. Even certain voices that do happen to be different have a contrived sort of originality about them. So when I happened to be at the Village Underground, NYC last week Sunday and Reesa Renee came up to the stage, I didn't expect to hear the sound that she produced. She has a projected raspy quality, forcefully sliding between low and high notes; yet the jumping around still holds melodic nature. It's a staple for certain Jazz singers, but her sound has hints of Neo-Soul (notice how the band chimed in too! They hadn't heard the song before either!).
The 23-year-old from Largo, MD recently branched off from the semi-charmed college life to pursue her music career, and is expecting to debut her album independently in the Summer 2011. It is called Reelease, and it is a project that her brother, P.Kay, and other locals have produced. Her first single is "Got Me Loose (above)." I recently had the chance to chat with Reesa on the phone--and we got to talking about her influences, and her song-writing inspirations, having some fun at the end with some quick "sonic facts." Get all that and more, below. --GB
Q: When did you start singing?
A: Professionally or just for fun?
Q: Just for fun, and then tell me when you started singing professionally.
A:Well when I was a kid, me and my brother used to have the old school karaoke/recorder machine with the yellow microphone and cassette player. He used to beat on boxes and old tambourines while I'd make up songs. We actually still have some tapes from that...
Q: Do you remember what the first song you wrote was called?
A: No, but it was about my family. It was actually a little rap.
Q: When did you realize that you wanted to do it professionally?
A: I probably realized that two years ago, summer of 2008. A month or two prior I was going through some hard times and I started venting by writing poetry. That poetry ended up turning into melodic melodies; it turned out to be very convenient because my brother made beats. So I just jumped on and started writing.
Q: You didn't go to performing arts high school or anything like that?
A: No not at all. I actually played, I was a basketball player. I played sports!
Q: Did you play any instruments?
A: Yes. I played the flute, the trumpet, the piano, and I think that's it. I've had classical piano lessons since the age of five. Drums, I play the drums too.
Q: Wow. That's cool. So before you wanted to sing, did you have other career plans?
A: Career plans...before? No, not so much...I've always been somewhat of a "free-spirit" always anti rules and boundaries; maybe that is why college didn't work out so well for me. I made the decision to stop wasting my money on out of state tuition and follow my gut by returning home to Maryland. Best decision I could've made!
Q: Who do you consider your influences?
A: Definitely Jill Scott, definitely Erykah Badu, Herbie Hancock, Noel Pointer, Jean Luc Ponty, Lauryn Hill, the list goes on and on. John Legend... A bunch of people.
A: No, but it was about my family. It was actually a little rap.
Q: When did you realize that you wanted to do it professionally?
A: I probably realized that two years ago, summer of 2008. A month or two prior I was going through some hard times and I started venting by writing poetry. That poetry ended up turning into melodic melodies; it turned out to be very convenient because my brother made beats. So I just jumped on and started writing.
Q: You didn't go to performing arts high school or anything like that?
A: No not at all. I actually played, I was a basketball player. I played sports!
Q: Did you play any instruments?
A: Yes. I played the flute, the trumpet, the piano, and I think that's it. I've had classical piano lessons since the age of five. Drums, I play the drums too.
Q: Wow. That's cool. So before you wanted to sing, did you have other career plans?
A: Career plans...before? No, not so much...I've always been somewhat of a "free-spirit" always anti rules and boundaries; maybe that is why college didn't work out so well for me. I made the decision to stop wasting my money on out of state tuition and follow my gut by returning home to Maryland. Best decision I could've made!
Q: Who do you consider your influences?
A: Definitely Jill Scott, definitely Erykah Badu, Herbie Hancock, Noel Pointer, Jean Luc Ponty, Lauryn Hill, the list goes on and on. John Legend... A bunch of people.
Q: What kind of up and coming artists do you listen to?
A: Up and coming artists...I don't think...I can't say that I do. Right now I'm so enveloped in trying to create my own project ...Actually I ...I try to stay away from...I studied music a lot in college I guess you can say. Now I'm just more focused on getting my project done. I haven't really listened to up and coming artists.
Q: What type of things inspire you to write your songs. Where do you get your inspiration from?
A: Life, I get my inspiration from life. And change. Change does a very good job of birthing musical expression. It's not always the easiest thing to cope to. You can say, coping with life and it's different directions and things is my inspiration. And also, coming from, building from nothing I guess you can say, and being able to be where I am today, encouraging other people so that they can get out of that hole, and just [to] know that there is hope is inspiring for me as well.
Q: You said you used to write poetry and the poetry would turn into song. Is that your writing process now?
A: It depends. Sometimes I'll be playing the piano and I'll get a melody on the piano, and I'll try to play that out. From there it can become a song. It really depends--sometimes it comes out as just a melody, and from the melody I get a cadence, and then from the cadence I create the words; which in a way I see is poetry. Poetry is a cadence and then you just add the music and then you put a melody on it, and you have a song. [Laughs]. And with my brother doing music, we're just on the same frequency. Sometimes when he writes music to it, automatically the words just come to me. We're just on the same frequency.
Q: You also did say you don't listen to other new artists. Is that what keeps you sounding original like nothing you've ever heard before?
A: [Laughs]. I wouldn't say that. I would say it's a mesh of everybody that I do listen to, because I stay in the genres in what I listen to, like Jazz, Neo-Soul, a little bit of rock, a little bit punk, and various like that. If you add that with my background from DC, whether it be the go-go, just our culture here, I think that is what creates it. It's like a new aged neo-soul type of hip hop mix feel, you know.
Q: Let's talk about your album. On Sunday I heard your song it's called, "Get Loose" is that correct?
A: It is "Got Me Loose."
Q: "Got Me Loose." Is that your first singe off of your album, coming up?
A: Yes it will be. That was the very first song I wrote! I actually first recorded it with a band I used to be with [Achosen Generation]. I re-made the song and I plan for it to be the main single on my album.
Q: Okay. Are you signed to a particular label or an indie or anything like that?
A: No I am unsigned, looking for, shopping for record deals.
Q: What subjects will you be delving into on your album?
A: My album is pretty much a diary. It's entitled Reelease, with two "E's," which is a play on my name. It's pretty much just the journey of what I was. I was just a regular Joe Schmo, going to school, playing sports, and all of a sudden I discovered my purpose and my gift. And completely delving into that head first. Speaking of my journey, I'm just maturing and becoming who I am today. I would just stay in those subjects there.
Q: Can you name some of the producers and artists you are working with on this album?
A: I'm working with my brother, his name is P. Kay., a whole bunch of local producers from here. I'm working with a artist named Kamila. That's with a "K" and one "L." That's all I have right at the moment. I've [had] the opportunity everyday to meet local artists and musicians, and certainly am never against collaborating with!
Q: Your album is it in the early stages, would you say?
A: Yeah, I've got about 89% of it recorded. I still have to mix and master and make sure we get all the paperwork and stuff together.
Q: Is it slated for a summer release. Summer 2011?
A: Yes Summer 2011.
Check out Reesa's Sonic Facts!
Zodiac Sign: Virgo
Favorite Color: Red
Favorite Restaurant in DC: Oh man! I would have to say Asian Spice. Better Yet Matchbox.
A song that makes you cry: "Fix You" by Coldplay
Song that gives you the chills: "I Yield" by Fred Hammond
Song that you cannot completely understand: Any of Erykah Badu's
Song you wish you have written yourself: All of Jill Scott
Best Songwriter of all time: Stevie Wonder
Best thing that has happened to you this year: Launching my music career
Favorite Clothing Brand: HTDOGWTR
Something that you learned that has made you stronger: Change is a building process as opposed to being negative. It is not always a negative thing.
Place you want to go: New York
Favorite Movie: A Goofy Movie. Disney
Celebrity that would leave you starstruck: Probably Jill Scott
Party Anthem: "Say Ahh" by Trey Songz, I like that song.
Motto: Lord bless my footsteps and those who follow.
Add Reesa on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fanreesarenee
Thank you again for the LOVE and Support! I wish you the best ;)!!!
ReplyDeleteAnytime, Reesa!
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