Exclusive | Singer Jhamasa Talks Being an Advocate for Foster Youth and Music Influences

By: Omar Cook

This week's "Who's Hot?" Artist of the week is west coast R&B singer Jhamasa! Jhamasa Noel Lewis-Adams is originally from Orange, California but moved around as a youth, and spent most of her childhood in Los Angeles, California. She has a biological and adopted family, mentors, and friends who have become family. Jhamasa was a student of Black Eyed Pea's and Peace4Kids Peapod Music and Arts academy located at the Boys and Girls Club in Watts, CA. She graduated from Jackson State University in 2013, receiving her B.A. in Entrepreneurship with a minor in photography and mandarin. During college she also studied abroad and explored new art mediums.

She eventually moved back to California with a goal of financial and personal independence. She earned a certificate in fashion design at LA Trade Tech while building a career in the non-profit industry. During the past five years, Jhamasa has put focus into the community in health and nutrition, financial literacy, progressive education, and professional development post college.  

In 2014 she released a mixtape Retro Love Arcade with Corinthian Washington and in 2016, she put out an independent EP, titled 24K. On this project she talks about her experience in the foster care system. In April of 2018, Jhamasa hosted an independent art show focusing on sexual trauma foster youth face through art therapy. In addition, she released a single off of her debut project 11:11. In her free time she volunteers and advocates for educational and civil rights for foster youth.

This singer brings a soulful vibe to her music and is definitely someone you want to add to your playlist! Jhamasa has an authentic sound that makes you feel good about the future of R&B.

We talked with Jhamasa in an exclusive interview, check it out below!

Jhamasa - “ESF (Every Single Flaw) Official Music Video

QUESTION: How long have you been making music and how did you get started?

Jhamasa: I have been making music since 16. I was first inspired at 6.

QUESTION: Musically, who has been your biggest influence in helping you along your journey and who are your favorite musicians?

Jhamasa: My biggest influences have been projects that are painfully authentic. To list a few: Lauryn Hill MTV Unplugged, Alicia Keys As I Am, Ambre Perkins Wanderlust, Gucci Mane Chicken Talk, Erykah Badu Baduizm, Bjork Human Behaviour, Sade Love Deluxe.

QUESTION: What artists would you like to collaborate with and why?

Jhamasa: I think the people I’m aligned to collaborate with aren’t known artists. I don’t even think I have met them yet or are aware of their physical presence.

QUESTION: What do you feel is your best song/project ever released and why?

Jhamasa: The one I’m working on currently. Nothing is better than the present.

QUESTION: What projects can we look forward to in the near future?

Jhamasa: Neon Soul produced by Aqeel The Nubian

Jhamasa - Beautiful Day (Official Music Video)

QUESTION: How do you generate new ideas for your music?

Jhamasa: I generate new ideas by continuously moving forward in my personal life. Creativity is directly associated with ability to leave your comfort zone.

QUESTION: What motivates you and how do you define success?

Jhamasa: Life motivates me. The idea that we get to try again every day is inspiring. I define success by what you have to do to reach a goal and how one chooses to do so.

QUESTION: How do you describe your music to people?

Jhamasa: Spiritual, and raw.

QUESTION: Do you believe there is a formula to being a successful artist?

Jhamasa: You have to be yourself. That is the job.

QUESTION: Who is your greatest inspiration?

Jhamasa: My ancestors.

QUESTION: In your opinion who is the most influential and successful artist in your genre today and why?

Jhamasa: Chance The Rapper, because he is socially conscious and a forward thinker through his personal life and career.

QUESTION: Which emotion more than any other, currently dominates your music? Joy, sadness, anger or passion etc., and why?

Jhamasa: Love, because it always wins and is the source for all that I do.

QUESTION: What sacrifices have you had to make, to make your dream a reality?

Jhamasa: I’ve made many financial sacrifices as well as personal sacrifices to live my truth.

QUESTION: What aspect of the music making process excites you most, and what aspect discourages you the most?

Jhamasa: What excites me most about making music is collaborating and relating emotionally to others. The most discouraging part is perfecting the recording process and trusting that it will come out as intended.

QUESTION: Where do you see yourself and your music in 10 years?

Jhamasa: In 10 years I see myself more independently built, perhaps with my own record label and a consistent workload that relates to the creation of music. I also want to start producing my own sound.

QUESTION: What advice would you give to other up and coming artists or people looking to break into the music industry?

Jhamasa: Become self sufficient. Don’t be afraid to get burned. Creativity is not masculine, you can’t force it, its feminine, you have to endure, you have to let it flow.

QUESTION: Is there anything else you would like people to know about you or your music?

Jhamasa: I am an advocate for foster youth, and if God willing I make it, I hope to help others reach their potential in music as well.

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Exclusive | Lauryn Harris Talks the Release of Her Debut EP 'Inside My Head'

By: Omar Cook

Lauryn Harris is an up and coming singer from from Houston, Texas! At 21, she is currently attending Texas State University and getting her degree in mass communication with a minor in music. Fashion and beauty is another avenue she want to pursue in her career along with music! She just dropped her first project called Inside My Head, but don’t sleep on this artist as this is someone you will want to keep an eye out for in the future!

Check out her new Ep Inside My Head!

Lauryn Harris - “Sometimes” Song

We talked with Lauryn Harris in an exclusive interview, check it out below! 

QUESTION: How long have you been making music and how did you get started?

Lauryn Harris: Well I’ve always wanted to sing since the age of four and that dream has never left me. As for making my own music I started about exactly this time last year, I never really was much of a writer but I ended up loving it.

QUESTION: What was your inspiration for the title of this project?

Lauryn Harris: My thoughts are always so scattered and I felt that the songs on this project perfectly reflected that. I had no clear vision on where I wanted to go on this EP I just sang and wrote about what was on my mind at that time.

QUESTION: What do you want people to gather from listening to your music?

Lauryn Harris: I want people to get to know me and who I am as an artist. With each song I hope listeners feel the emotions I put into a song and enjoy the overall experience.

QUESTION: What do you feel is a song that people MUST listen to on this album?

Lauryn Harris: Butterflies. This song is about that feeling you get when a new person comes in your life and you just can’t contain yourself. It’s just an overall happy song and makes you wanna dance

QUESTION: Musically, who has been your biggest influence in helping you along your journey and who are your favorite musicians?

Lauryn Harris: I’d say Jill Scott, Alicia Keys, Erykah Badu, and Sade. All of these women have voices that captivate you and they all tell stories in their music.

QUESTION: What do you feel is your best song ever released and why?

Lauryn Harris: I’d say “Chaos” because that was the first full length song I wrote and recorded when I got started making music. I was going through a lot at the time, my grandfather had past away at the time, I was going through depression, so I grabbed a pen and wrote away.

QUESTION: How do you generate new ideas for your music?

Lauryn Harris: I just have to be inspired, and it happens at the most random times, like when I wrote “5 AM”, I was supposed to be studying for an exam.

QUESTION: What motivates you and how do you define success?

Lauryn Harris: I am blessed with an amazing family that has always supported my dreams. My parents have been with me through this journey between paying for vocal lessons when I was younger, never missing my recitals, and constantly lifting me up when I feel down.

QUESTION: How do you describe your music to people?

Lauryn Harris: I’d say an alternative r&b mixed with neo-soul.

QUESTION: Do you believe there is a formula to being a successful artist?

Lauryn Harris: Honestly, this might sound cliché but good ole hard work.

QUESTION: Who is your greatest inspiration?

Lauryn Harris: My mom, she is amazing, when she wants something she goes for it and gets it done. She inspires me do that with my music.

QUESTION: Which emotion more than any other, currently dominates your music? Joy, sadness, anger or passion etc. , and why?

Lauryn Harris: I think my music is a mix of happiness and sadness, mixed with some attitude. I feel like I have to have a good balance.

QUESTION: What sacrifices have you had to make, to make your dream a reality?

Lauryn Harris: I don’t really think I’ve had to sacrifice anything yet, I’m a college student, I work, and I do music. Yes, it gets difficult but life is all about balance.

QUESTION: What aspect of the music making process excites you most, and what aspect discourages you the most?

Lauryn Harris: I think writing and recording go hand in on making my music. Some days I come up with great material writing and some days my mind is completely blank. I am such a perfectionist when it comes to my singing so when I’m recording I redo something I don’t like about a million times.

QUESTION: Where do you see yourself and your music in 10 years?

Lauryn Harris: In 10 years I’ll be 31, I hope to be established in the industry by then and hopefully have a couple grammys. I’ll still be making music and hopefully make my mark in this world.

QUESTION: What advice would you give to other up and coming artists or people looking to break into the music industry?

Lauryn Harris: I’m still trying to break into the industry and I’m still learning but if I could give advice it would be when you get discouraged trying to create sit back, take a break, and come back to it. Whatever you were struggling to find will come back to you.

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