Artist: Jamie Jones
Location: DMV area
(Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia) by way of High Point, North Carolina.
Influences: Cindy
Lauper, Whitney Houston, Madonna, Pink, India Arie, Mariah Carey.
Why You Should Know Jamie Jones:
In 2000, when BET’s 106 & Park countdown debut, it seemed as if the show would
mainly serve as a platform for celebrities. We see now that it actually does
the same for up-coming artists, longing for a moment in the limelight. The
shows Wild ‘n’ Out Wednesday and Freestyle
Friday segments have opened the door for
many unsigned artists to showcase their talents and connect with music industry
insiders.
A young lady won the 106 & Park Wild Out Wednesday [W.O.W] All-Star final and performed at Blaze the Stage. As a twice a year showcase,
Blaze the Stage features the most popular unsigned R&B acts, Hip-Hop acts,
and Dance teams, who have competed in the W.O.W. competition.
Her name is Jamie Jones; an R&B/ Pop/Rock songstress/songwriter,
and a native of High Point, North Carolina, which also happens to be the
hometown of Fantasia Barrino. Jamie hooked up with her management team while in
high school and since then has shared the stage with a few well-known artists.
She also has worked with an array of producers from Hip Hop icon Kwamé to
Precision and other newcomers in the production world.
Though she is still rather young at 20, Jaime has much
respect and admiration for old school R&B, which can be seen as she put her
own twist on the Stylistics classic hit “You Make Me Feel Brand New.” At the
same time, she deems herself as an ‘80s baby, which is easily reflected in her
music.
For most of Jamie’s life, she knew that she was headed
towards music, but high school is where she really started to take it
seriously. As she looks back on her years in school, she remembers how all of
her elective classes had to do with the arts. She was in piano and in chorus
since the third grade.
Her first solo really set it off and after that she was so
hungry to get back on the stage. She was eager to be in the spotlight and sing
in front of a lot of people; now she wanted to take it further.
Sometimes all it takes is a little bit of luck, and in this
scenario, Jamie would agree. While in high school, a teacher heard through her
peers that she could sing and dance. He approached her one day in the hallway
and he explained to her that his brother manages artists.
It wasn’t too long before Jamie and her parents made a trek
to Maryland to have a meeting. Since then, they’ve been working diligently
making moves on the music front. On weekends while still in school, she
traveled north, so she could record. After graduating, it was obvious that it
was time for Jamie to make the move that would help further her career.
“I moved up here [DC] because the studio is up here. I
work with Reginald Rainey of X-Posure Entertainment, my management company. So
he’s up here, the studios and the producers that I work with are here. It was a
move I had to make in order to get the project going,” says Jamie.
Jamie’s new found fame has many people that she went to high
school with hitting her up on MySpace, Facebook and calling her phone non-stop,
but of course it’s all warranted. Besides her old buddies, there are also
people interested in the movement that her song “Whatever” has created. The
track, which she performed on 106 & Park, speaks about her bi-racial background, as she often refers to herself
as a mutt.
“The mutt thing actually started because of my mom –
she always called herself a mutt. So me being young and hearing her say it,
that’s my mom, she’s a mutt and I’m a mutt too! I kind of embraced it; she
doesn’t really know her background and I don’t either. I have to embrace it, I
am who I am – I’m Black, I’m white, what if I’m Asian? I used it as a
good thing, for anyone else out there that is of mixed race, it’s okay. Don’t
feed into the gossip or the negative energy. Just be you!”
So as of late, she’s been in talks to open up for more
artists such as Rihanna, among others. Jamie’s just happy that so many shows
are forthcoming and she’s in demand from New York to Los Angeles for a variety
of events.
She has visited a couple of major labels, but of course
couldn’t give up too much information just yet. Constantly praying that her
dreams will come true, the rising star claims that hopefully 2009 will be her
year. In the meantime, Jamie is keeping busy recently stepping in the studio
with super producer Swizz Beatz and the two created her next single “Ayo.”
“We went over there for a visit, met everybody and we
just thought it would be a good idea to get Swizz on a couple of records. He
heard my songs, understood the direction of my music and was all for it. He
even wanted to do a treatment to one of the songs that I have. Working with
him, he was wonderful; he was so humble and gave me a lot of insight on the
industry. It was definitely a good experience being around him,” she says.
Now that Jamie is doing more performances and recording,
she’s learning about her edgy side as an artist who’s not afraid to take risks
and loves challenges.
“I’m going to bring a different energy, since I’m so inspired
by the ‘80s. I’m going to try to fuse the ‘80s rock with R&B. I want to
become a crossover artist that’s not afraid to take that edge and just try to
put it in people’s faces. I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I came
from learning that I have to work hard in this world, and I’m determined and
disciplined. So I just want all of that to come out in my music and I want
young girls to relate to me. I’m just hoping that I can really make a mark.”
The burgeoning singer has so much that she is ready for
everyone to see, that is why the one word she chose that could define her is
multifaceted. There are many aspects of her as a person and as an artist, she
claims. She is hoping that it comes across in her music, through interviews and
when she is on TV.
Jamie wants her fans to see her personality, talent, and
understand Jamie Jones, the artist and person.
Realizing that she has a long road ahead of her, she is already prepping for
everything that comes along with stardom.
“You have to stay focused and you have to stay hungry. I
haven’t made it yet; I’m nowhere close to where I want to be. I’m still pushing
and trying to stay on my path. There are so many things that can take you off
that path; you have to want it so bad. There’s a reason why only a hand full of
people make it in this industry, you have to be willing to sacrifice a lot and
bust your butt to get it.”
Follow Jamie Jones on her voyage through the music industry,
check out www.myspace.com/itsjamiejones or www.tygereye.net/jamiejones.
