Jojo – Interview

A singer. A songwriter. A prodigy. With just a few notes, she’s made some of the most influential men and women in America stop in their tracks to find her, and meet her. She possesses a rare talent that has enchanted talk show hosts, celebrities and audiences throughout the United States. And she’s determined to take the music world by storm. Her name is JoJo and we interview her!

I liked “Baby It’s You” because the message is clear—be yourself not what everyone else thinks you should be. And you have a style almost like a rapper.

A rapper? (Laughs) I think the whole album is influenced by different things. I try not to limit myself to one thing or another. Its definitely R&B influenced, too.

How did you got where you are now?

I’ve been singing since I was two and I’ve done tv shows like Rosie O’Donnell and “Kids Say The Darndest Things.” About two years ago I moved to California and was on a show called “America’s Most Talented Kids” and a guy in the audience saw me and introduced me to Vincent Herbert, the executive producer of this album. I was shopped to a bunch of different labels and got an offer from Blackground/Universal. Then I went in a recorded my album this summer and it was the best summer of my life. It was incredible.

Did you have a plan or did it fall into place?

I knew I always wanted to do music professionally—although I’ve been a professional since I was six because I was doing television. I couldn’t do well in school because I was always thinking about music. I’d be scribbling songs in my notebook when I should have been paying attention in math class. (Laughs) It was always on my mind. It was so right when it happened.

Blackground is different because you have a hip-hop producer in Timbaland who knows how to make hits. Did the label want it to create a certain style for you?

He didn’t actually produce the record but it was great because they were interested in my input and I got three songs that I wrote on the album.

Did you get to meet Missy Elliot?

I did get to meet her in Miami when I was recording with Static. We were this close to working together but our schedules were conflicting. She is very nice. I did work with Timbaland, but we didn’t include it on the album.

How different was recording an album compared to doing television where you’ve had most of your experience?

It’s very different. When you are in the studio and performing they are two different things. When you are in the studio it is more laid back, but when you are onstage you have one chance to show them your thing. I’ve always dreamed of going into the studio and I took the record deal seriously. I never wanted to leave the studio. I didn’t want to go home until I would get the song right. Sometimes I’d be in the studio until two in the morning.

As a singer, what do you think of American Idol?

I think its great television and very entertaining. You can’t deny that. It’s so interesting.

Would you have been on it?

You have to be sixteen and I’m not sixteen yet.

Say you were sixteen—would you have auditioned?

I probably wouldn’t have. I would have tried to do it on my own and have gone through a record company. Fortunately that is what happened. (Laughs)

Did you already know the sound you wanted when you got the record deal?

My sound has always been urban influenced. Blackground knew the direction. Some labels wanted me to be bubble gum pop and I didn’t want to do that. Blackground understood. It was a coming together. It was so moving. I was crying at the studio because I was so happy that they actually got it.

The beats are very urban. I kept expecting someone to come in and start rapping.

That would be cool. Maybe on the next album we can do that and get some collaboration.

I expected you to be bubblegum pop.

I know. When people see the pictures it throws people off, but that is a good thing.

Who do you listen to?

Kanye West. I love Beyonce, Ludacris, and the Darkness. I listen to a lot of different things. I actually like the Hilary Duff album.

How has your family been about all of this?

My family is very supportive. I don’t know if some of my uncles and aunts fully believed it, but now they understand what is going on. They are very supportive now. It was so exciting to go back to Boston to see them—that is where I’m from.

How has Boston shaped you?

I live New Jersey now, but grew up in Boston and New Hampshire. I grew up in Foxgrove near where Patriots play.

Yuck.

You don’t like the Patriots?

I hate them, I grew up in Buffalo and the Bills as you know are their biggest rival.

I guess I can let that slide. (We both laugh) It shaped me. We made the commute into Boston weekly and I did shows there. It’s incredible there. It’s pretty and nice. I grew up in Foxgrove in a one bedroom apartment with the smallest bathroom you’ve ever seen. It was a decent area, but we were the poorest people there. It was hard because my friends would want to do things like go to the movies and I couldn’t go because we couldn’t afford it.

Did you spend that time home singing?

I would always be writing stories and songs. I would put together bands with my friends but they’d never last. (Laughs)

What do you still dream about?

I want to be number one and have people know my name, but I want to win a Grammy. That would let me know that I made it. When you win a Grammy it means something. Most of all I want to make a difference.

With your record it seems to be realer than most albums you hear today. Do you think in a world where Janet Jackson shows her breast and Christina runs around half-naked that girls need a real influence? A good influence?

Yes! I think girls can’t relate because she is taking off her clothes and taking things too far. I’m definitely edgy and I have things to say. They need someone who is real.

+ Charlie Craine