George
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Post by George on Nov 17, 2011 15:45:12 GMT -5
Jean Baylor (of Zhané) has released two solo albums ( Testimony: My Life and Light Up the World), and most recently has joined with her husband Marcus Baylor on a R&B/jazz album titled The Journey as The Baylor Project which was released in February 2017. 1. Block Party 2. Great Is Thy Faithfulness 3. Tell Me a Story 4. Tenderly 5. Our Love Is Here To Stay 6. Again 7. Summertime 8. Voice of The Drum (Interlude) 9. Afro Blue (Dream) 10. Laugh and Move On 11. Journey
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George
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Posts: 21,389
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Post by George on Nov 17, 2011 15:51:53 GMT -5
Soul Flashback: Zhané’s Jean Baylor Talks About Life as a Solo ArtistNovember 17, 2011 Zhané was the group in the mid-90s that was a brand apart from the rest. Twenty-somethings Jean Norris and Renée Neufville hit the music scene in party mode giving us the party anthem “Hey Mr. DJ”, and with their debut album Pronounced Jah-Nay broadened the musical landscape with a classic sound that extended outside New Jack club brand the 90s made popular. Sporting short bald ‘dos before they were all the rage and showcasing natural hues in a classy form that didn’t linger on T&A was Zhané’s signature style. Pure vocals, heart-felt lyrics, and rich instrumentation laced their ballads “For a Reason” and “La, La, La”, while up-tempo tunes like “Crush” and “Sending My Love” could make you both nod your head and clasp your heart with their tender words. Jean and Renée had a formula that worked. So, when they mysteriously disappeared after enjoying minimal success for their music, folks were certainly scratching their heads wondering what went wrong. On the cusp of a musical playing field that would soon hand us the likes of Maxwell, Jill Scott, and India.Arie, Zhané vanished. And, we missed them dearly. Still do. In this Soul Flashback interview, SoulTrain.com caught up with former Zhané member Jean Norris—now Jean Baylor—and got some insight on what she’s been doing since leaving Zhané, how she’s now a truer image of herself since leaving the group, and why she continues to make music despite the obsession folks have with asking her about Zhané as she passionately presses on to create music as a solo artist. SoulTrain.com: What was the vision behind creating the group Zhané? Whose idea was the name?Jean Baylor: At the time, Renée and I were attending Temple University in Philadelphia and we used to sing together at talent shows and other events. Although we were not a group, we collaborated on each other’s songs. We met Jazzy Jeff and our first professional recording together was “Ring My Bell” on the same album that featured Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince’s “Summertime”. Former Warner Bros. executive Benny Medina suggested we become a group. So, we did. For our name, Renée had the idea of using the French pronunciation of our names Jean and Renée, which sounded like “Jahnay”. We added a Z for a little flavor and we came up with Zhané.SoulTrain.com: The songs you co-wrote with Renée when you were a part of Zhané became anthems for many with their poignant lyrics and melodic arrangements. My personal favorites– there were tons– include “La, La, La”, “Crush”– basically every song on your first and second album! What were some of your favorite songs performed/written from your Zhané days?Jean Baylor: It was so long ago, I can’t honestly remember all of the songs, but my favorites definitely include “Sending My Love”, “Crush”, “For the Longest Time” remake, and “For A Reason”.SoulTrain.com: I’m sure people ask you all the time if there will be a Zhané reunion. What do you tell folks when they ask you that?Jean Baylor: Although I’m focused on building my career as a solo artist, I always tell them, “ You never know”. Since Zhané, I’ve been blessed to have gotten married to a wonderful guy, an awesome musician and producer, Marcus Baylor. We produced my first solo project, Testimony: My Life Story together on our own label, Be A Light. We also started our production team –The Baylors–and are really enjoying this new phase of music production. Coming from Motown Records to owning our own independent label has been a true learning experience. In each situation there are pros and cons, but there’s nothing quite like being the master of your own domain, and we are loving it!SoulTrain.com: Didn’t you start out solo doing gospel music?Jean Baylor: There have been other people who have asked me that. There are definitely songs I have that could go inspirational–my husband and I are people of faith–but the music I create is really R&B mainstream, maybe a little more pop. But I really tend to make them purpose-driven. The majority of the music we write and create, even within the R&B sector, is still done with a purpose to be given out to the people. People are starving, thirsty, with so much music out there that is not saying anything. We like to say things that uplift people and heal their spirits. Music is such a powerful tool and people don’t tend to understand how it is a tool to use for whatever and we like to use it to create positive vibes. We are currently finishing our first Christmas project, which will be available on iTunes by Thanksgiving. Stay tuned at ILoveJeanBaylor.com.SoulTrain.com: A Christmas album? That sounds exciting! Is it a cover album?Jean Baylor: No, they are all originals. They are not traditional Christmas songs but definitely inspirational songs and songs relative to the holiday. There is one song I am extremely pleased about. My boy Eric Roberson is performing a song with me in the vein of Donny Hathaway and Roberta Flack.SoulTrain.com: You have such a wacky side that didn’t seem as public when you were a member of Zhané. One part of the equation that is different now is your husband who seems like a crucial ingredient in your happiness right now. The videos of you two being silly are very heart-warming. Tell us how your husband and your marriage impact your music.Jean Baylor: (laughs) Well, I’ve always been pretty silly. I used to get kicked out of class for making everybody else laugh! I guess that’s what you’re seeing now. During my Zhané years, I probably wasn’t as comfortable with who I am and took a back seat, which is why you didn’t really get my personality. Age helps with that! Now, there’s no turning back. Laughter is truly good for the soul and I’m very happy at this stage in my life. Marcus is definitely a big part of that. And don’t let his serious disposition fool you–he is hilarious! We spend a lot of time laughing. I’m really thankful for him and his presence in my life. He is a wonderful covering and always wants the best for me.SoulTrain.com: It sounds like your husband is your new music collaborator and that the bond between you two is incredible. Why do you think people are still so connected to the music you created while part of Zhané?Jean Baylor: I don’t know. That’s a good question. Maybe because we were two sisters rocking short cuts and…SoulTrain.com: No, no, no. Are you serious? You really don’t know why we adored you all so?Jean Baylor: (laughs) Not really.SoulTrain.com: You all were everything. Musically, you were everything. You all made songs for every single emotion, every experience, every mood. I had an experience attached to every song on your first album. And, second. The musicality of your albums, also, was incredible. The classical training you both had was so evident and matched with the lyrics created a sonic experience. You all were dopeness personified.Jean Baylor: Wow. Thank you so much for that.SoulTrain.com: I’m an admitted groupie. I can tell you that “For a Reason” was a song that I played on repeat when I was in college and a summer was ending where all of my friends I met during a fellowship at Marquette University were leaving and I was missing them terribly. That song had me bawling for a week on end. How were you two able to capture such emotion and infuse that type of soul while so young?Jean Baylor: I was definitely more self-conscious then. It’s been an evolution musically, spiritually, coming into more decades of your life. I’ve grown, though I’ve always been outgoing and never been a quiet person. I remember I met Mary J. Blige in the studio one day and I was bugging out and she was like, “Wow, I thought you were really quiet.” (laughs)
As you get older and grow you become less conscious about how people see you. Then you get to a point where, look this is how I am end of story and that’s where I am. Back then my style didn’t fit into the book per se. I just developed it over it over time. I didn’t write a lot of songs with Zhané–Renee did most of the writing. I wrote a few of the songs like “For a reason” and “La, La, la”. Ballads are like at the heart of me. When I was with Zhané, I wasn’t able to write too many upbeat songs.SoulTrain.com: Were you able to write more of the songs, the ballads you wanted when you left Zhané?Jean Baylor: I had gotten a publishing deal with EMI. I just stopped and really wanted to focus on my work as an artist–that’s my first love. I can’t stand the game of it all.SoulTrain.com: Has being an indie artist been challenging–particularly after having mainstream success with a big label?Jean Baylor: It’s a grind. Being with a popular group can actually be a hindrance sometimes, like if I’m in a meeting to pitch a project and I’m trying to talk about it and the focus always seems to come back to…SoulTrain.com: It comes back to “tell me about Zhané”.Jean Baylor: (laughs) Exactly!SoulTrain.com: Well, I know your fans still adore you and what you’re doing. I can witness that just by checking out Facebook.Jean Baylor: Yes. We didn’t have Facebook back in the day and that type of interaction. When MySpace first started I thought it was a dumb idea and then I saw how it was like fifty million users and I was wrong about that…now I can interact easily with folks. I just started my new website ILoveJeanBaylor.com. There is a fan chat page that I started, thinking how cool would it be if they could ask a question. They can email a question, I’ll pick one and at the beginning of the week, I’ll post their question and my answer. It’s a one stop and shop to get updates and interact. It’s like my own little world. I wanted to create a centralized location just for my fans.SoulTrain.com: Is there anything you would like to tell your fans now?Jean Baylor: Of course. I want them to know that they can find my first solo CD Testimony on iTunes. It took forever to get there for some reason, but it’s there and they can buy it to help keep it circulating. Also, I realize that the fame and fortune has the ability to come quickly and to leave just as quickly. I’m really glad to still be able to do this, what I love so much.
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Kishi KCM
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Work In Progress
Joined: March 2007
Posts: 11,307
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Post by Kishi KCM on Nov 17, 2011 16:27:40 GMT -5
I love Zhane.
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George
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Post by George on Nov 28, 2017 14:11:05 GMT -5
Nominated for TWO Grammy Awards:
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George
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Posts: 21,389
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Post by George on Nov 26, 2020 11:04:36 GMT -5
Another Grammy nom!
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SHOOTER
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3x Poster Of The Year!!!
Typical of those in power to stay worried about the *wrong* shit.
Joined: April 2006
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Post by SHOOTER on Nov 27, 2020 2:45:03 GMT -5
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George
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Posts: 21,389
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Post by George on Nov 15, 2022 12:57:28 GMT -5
More GRAMMY nominations:
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