Jully Black is back
R&B singer-songwriter Black sets out on her own
Robert Ballantyne, Staff
It’s tempting to call R&B singer-songwriter Jully Black an overnight success. After all, 2005 seems to be, by most accounts, Black’s year.
So far, she has enjoyed two huge Canadian radio singles, the slinky soul hit “Stay the Night” and the crossover reggae-pop track “Sweat of Your Brow.” Not to mention her cross-country tour with the Black Eyed Peas and the release of her critically acclaimed debut album, This is Me.
But in actuality, Black, 27, has been toiling behind-the-scenes for over 10 years to reach this career point.
“It’s been a journey,” Black said, with some understatement.
Still, despite early stints working at Taco Bell and Future Shop as a youth, the Toronto-born Black’s journey hasn’t been too far away from the spotlight. She started out in the music industry performing with emerging Canadian hip hop talent like Kardinal Offishall, which lead to guest appearances in singles for the aforementioned Offishall, Choclair and Baby Blue Soundcrew.
With her rising profile and raw talent, Black earned a songwriting contract with Warner/Chappell and has written songs for some of the biggest names in the business, including Destiny’s Child and Nas. Black even had a solo career and debut album ready years ago, but that fell apart after her U.S. label, MCA, closed its doors in 2003.
“At the time, I was devastated,” Black said now about her MCA experience. “But hindsight is 20/20 and I see it now as a huge blessing.”
Fortunately, This is Me fulfils Black’s promise and finds her taking centre stage confidently, writing 13 of the album’s 16 tracks. The record also features collaborations with rapper Nas (who guests on “Material Things”) and producers Soul Diggas and Saukrates and Agile.
“I know I’ve been blessed to be featured on other artists’ records and stuff, but 12 years later, it’s great to be here,” Black said. “I think having the power to write and the ability to write basically meant I had the power to make the record I always wanted to.”
Yet, considering how many years it took to launch her solo career, Black has managed to avoid the temptation of becoming jaded about the record-releasing process.
“The whole experience is like, wow, the dream is actually coming true,” Black said with an almost naïve-sounding enthusiasm. “I’m going to be part of the Canadian music industry’s DNA as a solo artist. My grandkids and great-grandkids will always have a point of reference. Whether or not [my record] is in the 99 cent bin by the time I’m a grandmother, I’ll always be part of our industry and the musical history of Canada.”
And what if the record makes it big in other territories such as the U.S.?
“When. C’mon let’s say when,” Black laughed. “No, seriously. I think that’s why it took this long. I’m absolutely ready. If I wasn’t ready, God wouldn’t have let it happen right now.”
