With independent soul music being the in thing right now, I wondered if I could talk with one of my favourite indie soul artists, Yahzarah. Now in 2006, she has reinvented herself as ‘Ms. Purple St. James’, but to me she is always Yahzarah. Songs like ‘Friday’, ‘Baby Love’ are rock orientated, and then to romantic organic soul tunes like ‘Love Is You’ and the more jazzier ‘Natural’ from her debut album ‘Hear Me’, show us how beautiful this talented soul is. Her answers showed love, humour and inspiration, I first gave her an over blown compliment saying that her talents sometimes outshine Erykah Badu’s on stage, she said ‘I ain’t touching the first part man (laughs out loud)’, she continues ‘E’s spotlight leaves when she does. Yah’s (Ms. Purple St James) spotlight leaves when she does as well. I’m sure you were coming from a good place with that statement. But statements like that one breed insecurities in this very competitive biz and make it hard for sisters like me to be treated fairly’. At fist I thought I had offended her, so not a good start to an interview! I meant it with good intentions and luckily she noticed that when she said ‘all with love though’. I followed up my statement with another fairer compliment saying that I will always support her music. I asked her how she was and her music. ‘Now that I’ve got that out the way…my music and I are doing great.

I am enjoying being my own boss and writing music that I feel. I’ve been doing some song writing and production for other artists but concentrating mostly on my EP that introduces my new name (“Purple St. James”) and sound’. She continues with her very full answer, ‘I know your wondering why I decided to change my name and what “Purple” is about. Truth is…I needed wiggle room to be and sing whatever I wanted with no boxes. I used to sing under Purple for different projects and as I have grown, the name has grown to be me’. I was now thinking, well what is going to happen to the lovely Yahzarah? ‘I will always love Yahzarah. For goodness sakes, it is the name I derived from both of my Grandmother’s names. So, I give it much respect. However, I wrestled with life a bit and when I came out on the other side I was Ms. St James. I give no apologies. I just believe that folks will rock with me under my newest incarnation’. She goes on to talk in detail about the producers and collaborations of her new EP. ‘Look to hear me giving you the best of me on this upcoming EP. Some of the producers involved are Ski Beatz (Jay Z, Camp Lo, Fat Joe, 50 Cent, Jean Grae, Lil Kim, www.skibeatz.com), Steve McKey & Tone Witfield (Kindred, Vivian Green and Bilal Oliver), and Nandi Willis (Donell Jones, Carlos Santana, Anthony Hamilton, 9th Wonder, Little Brother, Destiny’s Child, and Jay Z) I am looking forward to giving the music to my fans. If you want to hear more of the new music go to www.myspace.com/yahzarah. And look for the show in your city soon’. Then I wanted to ask her if she had any UK planned. ‘I am working on putting together a UK tour as we speak. I would love to do the Jazz Café. So keep checking my site (www.myspace.com/yahzarah to see what I’m doing and when I’ll be in the UK’. After mentioning Badu in the first paragraph of the interview, I wanted to find out if she ever stays in touch with Badu and also was interested to know what her current life situation, Yahzarah says ‘I don’t stay in touch with Ms. Badu much but I have been enjoying the direction she’s going in and wish her much love in life. And about my current situation…I lovingly and respectfully say that I do not discuss my personal life. Ya’ll get enough of my biz in my music (laughs out loud)’. What are Yah’s thoughts on mainstream black music I wondered ‘I believe that every story should be heard so I don’t have much to say about the music of others; I believe that the stories of my people are broad and colourful, some to be proud of and some not to be proud of, but all to be told with balance. What I believe the problem is not in black music; it’s the lack of balance in what stories are being allowed to be heard and which ones are not’. She proceeds, ‘If all you are allowed to hear is candy music, then all you want is a candy life filled with things and no substance, pimping with no promise. I believe, however, that a revolution is coming and folks will want more soon and will demand it’. I referred to her music saying that I appreciate her honesty and organic sound, being a musician I wanted to find out if there was a method to making this music, she bluntly replied ‘There is no method. I’m just a bad liar. So, I better tell the truth or it comes out in the music’. She starts to discuss with me her thoughts on financial living for independent soul artists, ‘I’ll say this…in order to gain the type of notability that opens the door to financial stability in this business, you need mass media and distribution, and a megawatt team, three of the things that mostly go to candy music because it can be branded and used to advertise. So, it’s important to not always have your complete focus on just being the artist because the mass media route can be rough if you want to have complete freedom. Secondly, some of the fault can be found in the insecurities of other artist. I have friends in the industry who have had nightmare experiences just trying to work with other artist. Sometimes the artists are scared that you may steal their spot or shine too bright, and will not want you on a bill, or will work to try to keep fellow artists from getting heard’. She continues ‘While I am not suggesting that "their ice is colder", it's interesting that white artist don't seem to be as afraid of endorsing, touring with new talented artists, or putting one another on, and I believe that is why you've seen them be able to continue to work and thrive together. I believe that if "we" can get pass this issue and pull our energies together, black music of all kinds will thrive and we all can eat’. I end this conversation with my last intimate question, I fancied Yahzarah as soon as I saw her on the front cover of ‘Hear Me’, and suggested if she should do any modeling because she is a very beautiful lady, she replied, ‘I’ve done a little but I’m only five foot-one and I think that will kill my dream of becoming ‘Americas Next Top Model’, (laughs out loud) but I’m open to anything new exciting and lucrative…that’s legal and doesn’t involved pasties and dropping it like it’s hot’. This left me, with an impression better than I began with; Yahzarah is a strong, confident, real and creative woman; that is much needed in this music industry.

Matthew Daniel [Just Soul]

Sexy but also endlessly talented, with vocals that compare to the energy of Tina Turner; and the sassiness of someone like Julie Dexter, her style is a wonderful thing to witness. Her poetic rhymes on top of organic soul driven tracks are also something special. ‘Hear Me’ gets you hearing what her soul has to say, what her heart feels and also her experiences. She puts all her business into her song writing, so you almost feel like you know her, if you were ever to meet, her before hand, as her music is personal and touching. Efforts are noticed on tracks like ‘Same Page’, a timeless organic soul number, which Yah seems to naturally give to the listener. All this is probably due to her tight band; ‘Rooftop’ is the first personal favourite of mine because she sound’s very cool, the instrument arrangement, to chords, and atmosphere, is all grooved up. ‘Blackstar’, ‘Guillotine’, ‘Laugh’, are all high standard Funky/Jazzy songs, the interlude you will find her singing the famous ‘Amazing Grace’, with no instruments behind her vocals, giving you raw Yah-Za-Rah talent. ‘Natural’ is another great, Jazz influenced song. ‘Nova’ and two others were hand picked by Soul Brother Records in London for one of the ‘Organic Soul’ series. ‘Urgency’ is an enjoyable number, sexually stirring lyrics over a hypnotic rim shot and fender Rhodes. ‘Feel Me’, again, fabulous song, representing her strong side and that she takes no shit, which is admirable. ‘Friday’ a soulful number, pretty good attempt, nice groove, and then the album ends in an energetic rock style number called ‘Baby Love’.

Matthew Daniel [Just Soul]

‘Blackstar’ is the other Yahzarah album the music-lover can purchase, and experience an album that has other songs on it but also songs from the debut album ‘Hear Me’, which can be misleading, but it should be noted. If you’re looking for something refreshing you don’t really get much else, because you would have already heard it on ‘Hear Me’. ‘Blackstar’ does have ‘One Day’, ‘Wishing You’, ‘So Amazing’, and more. So I mean there are more offerings but over all the majority of the record has tracks taken from the debut CD. ‘One Day’ is an R&B sounding song, with rap at the end, the rapper reminds of Jadakiss, who’s lyrical skills are inspirational to the listener. ‘Wishing’ is a stunning track, one that I really feel close to, as the lyrical content is romantic and heart felt. ‘So Amazing’, again, another love tune, with a unique R&B vibe going on. ‘Bury It’ is probably the worst Yahzarah song I’ve heard, out of all her songs she’s released. The vocals are awful, they sound like a howling pack of wolfs, on top of a confused beat, blended with hip-hop, jazz and R&B, even rock. ‘Baby’ is an interesting experimental number; I’m not too fond of it, but whatever…it’s cool. ‘Blackstar (remix)’ has this Indian thing to it, which is extremely refreshing and you end up nodding your head to it while listening to it, what with the bongo drums and cool Yah vocals.

Matthew Daniel [Just Soul]