R&B songstress Alori Joh hails from Carson, California and is an emerging star. Not only is she equipped with a beautiful voice, versatility is also one of her artistic qualities. To add to her singing ability, Alori Joh is also a talented songwriter, with the knack to create various concepts. Currently in the process of cultivating her gift, her music is raw and personal. Her vocals, coupled with her lyrics, make for quite the captivating experience. I got the opportunity to tap into the mind of Alori Joh. Check out the interview:
Q: What were your first experiences with singing? What made you decide to pursue a music career?
A: My first experiences [with singing] were interesting. I've always liked to sing but I've always been a very private person. I would want to sing, but I would make everyone turn off the lights so they wouldn't see me. I was so shy and I used to sing very softly, which is why I still have a very soft singing voice.
Q: So how did you overcome the fright?
A: I think after getting positive feedback from people I didn't know, I felt like my singing voice was embraced more. So I just started to respect my instrument , since others who didn't even know me respected it and enjoyed it.
Q: Who are your musical influences? What do you draw from them?
A: Man, I love Beyonce. She is AMAZING and she's not overrated. I love her! I love her stage presence, I love her personality on film, I love her vocal range, it's out of this world. But, it was a mix between Whitney Houston and Janet Jackson who really inspired me to become an artist. Whitney's voice is surreal.
Q: Describe your songwriting process.
A: Well I do write with a team. Its a duo- me and my close friend JaVonte. We call ourselves the PenHedz. It got very serious and I started exploring the business side of writing when we created the PenHedz duo writing team. Writing, for me is influenced by so many things; personal experiences of course, other peoples' experiences, I draw inspiration from anything! Like colors, billboards, words in magazines, somebody's conversation and I'm just like: "That sounds like a song." It's kind of hard to explain, I guess you'd just have to be there.
Q: I'd like to get into a couple of songs, starting with "Racing Time". Explain the concept behind that song.
A: "Racing Time" is very personal. I was actually having a conversation with a close friend of mine about my music career and how I felt like I was being left in the shadows. I felt it was very important for me to find my lane, who is Alori Joh? It took me a really long time, but now, I feel like I have an idea. That song was pretty much a message I wanted to tell about me personally. We're always so pressed for time, I know I am, especially in my music career, and that's where "Racing Time" comes in.
Q: In "Batteries", you crank up the sexy. Apparently, you're not a shy girl when it comes to lyrical content! How important is sexuality in your music?
A: Well, sexuality in my music is very important. I believe sex is healthy and that's just clear as day! Not physically, but emotionally, when you share that bond with someone [you love], it's healthy. With that being said, I want to express that. I'm not shy when it comes to expressing my sexuality as a woman, as an artist, it's just part of who I am.
Q: What do you think you have to offer the music game right now? Why should people rock with Alori Joh?
A: People should rock with me because I am not something that's been manufactured and put together with a pretty little bow on top. I am very edgy, I am straightforward. I am giving you the best of me as far as my lyrics go. In every single song I put out, I'm telling you how I'm feeling. I won't say that I am an average individual, but I am very relatable. I'm at a stage in my career where everything is developing. Right now is the start of my career. If people listen to my music right now, they can listen to me grow and grow with me. If you're feeling it, you're feeling it. If you ain't, you ain't. Embrace me, because I'm honestly embracing this music right now.
Q: You plan to title your album "That Time of the Month". Why?
A: I feel like that hasn't really be touched on in a collective project. It's a very personal experience. I feel like everybody has experience in one way or another. Even men can relate to the album, as well as females of course.
Q: What are you bumping in your iPod right now?
A: I really love what Top Dawg is doing right now. If anyone is not familiar with them, Top Dawg consists of Jay Rock, Ab-Soul, Kendrick Lamar and Schoolboy Q. I love them. What they have right now is so dope. It's not the stereotypical rap that the industry tries to put on West Coast rappers. They're not limited in content.
Q: Any last words for the people?
A: Thank you so much for tuning in to me, for having interest in me. Stay tuned for "That Time of the Month". I am definitely going to give my emerging fans, (I don't really like to call them fans, they're more like family but) a deeper side of me. Just stay tuned!
Listen to Alori Joh's "Batteries" and "Racing Time" on the Fresh Feen Playlist!
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Follow her on Twitter at:
http://www.twitter.com/alori_joh
Check out her MySpace at:
http://www.myspace.com/alorijoh
