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She
can’t be put into a box, and if you try your efforts will be
for nothing. Born,
raised, and reppin by the way of Philadelphia BKA the City of
Brotherly Love, RES (pronounced Reese) is as mythical and
mysterious as the elements of Sufism. Defying definition, rejecting societal norms, and exploring
uncharted territory all through the power of love are the main
ingredients that allow this songbird’s music to soar against
the landscape of today’s musical mishaps.
Breeding a kaleidoscopic blend of hip hop, acid jazz,
funk, rock, reggae, and everything else in between, RES has
more than proven her sonic worth.
When
she sings the earth seems to move on a whole other vibration
and manages to touch parts of you that you may not have known
existed. I was
first introduced to RES’ sound scape via her 2001 debut
album How
I Do (MCA) and let
me tell you, I’ve been a fan ever since.
She never ceases to amaze me.
Be it her classical training which had her dropping
Italian arias since the age of 14 or the diversity of styles,
rhythms, and audiences that she attracts, RES is one bad
mamajamma and until you experience her ‘live’ you won’t
be able to grasp the full effect of her world.
Currently
signed to Geffen Records, RES has gotten quite used to
allowing her creative juices to run wild; a luxury that many
artist don’t have. With
a new album set for release within the next quarter and a
consistent tapestry of ill tracks that run the gamut from
societal, relational, and everyday issues under her belt, RES
is ready to show us one more time just how she do.
I had a chance to cop a squat with RES on two different
occasions (1. after an electrifying performance at the Temple
Bar in Santa Monica and 2. at a park across from her beach
front home) where she waxed poetic about how golden she really
is… so sit back and see what her soul taste like.
LJC:
You are at Geffen now. How
has this experience differed from when you were signed to MCA?
RES:
MCA
was a cool label for me, they believed in the whole initial
concept based on the demo I gave them.
They let me do what kind of record I wanted to do, no
strings attached, not telling me what to look like, how to
dress, to get in
the gym, none of that shit in addition to not being in the
studio telling me what kind of music to make.
So I’m not mad at MCA.
I’m one of those artists that liked their label…so
MCA went under and all the artists that they wanted to keep
they put them on Geffen like The Roots, Mary J. Blige, and
myself. Now, I’m at the new label where Jimmy Iovine is like
the invisible hand and basically I ‘m glad that I’m here
because they are going to blow the shit up, allowing everybody
to hear it, without
telling me to make it commercial, they are still like hands
off. I don’t
why but I’m like the princess of the shit.
Geffen is about helping you get to the point where you
need to be.
LJC:
Tell me about your recent and upcoming projects.
RES:
Well
I’m finishing up my album, writing with a lot of other
artist, and I’m actually starting up a girl rock band with
myself and three other girls.
One is Graf Nobel from Toronto–she’s under
management by Doc who also produced her album and my first
album, another girl named Promise Smith, Janae Wallace on
drums, and myself on guitar.
It’s BGR-Black Girls Rule.
LJC:
Who have you collaborated with?
RES:
Just Talib Kweli mostly.
Right now I’m just trying to do my shit. I guess
I’m trying to follow in the steps of like an Outkast.
You know Outkast did their records and Outkast was on
them. I got a record deal because I’m me so I’m like let
me just do what I do. If people like it cool, if they don’t
cool.
LJC:
What are your goals career or otherwise?
RES:
Honestly
to just sell enough records to be happy financially, lifestyle
wise in addition to that having millions of people listening
to my records. I’m not trying to save the world but any
positive thing that I do have to say if it can affect somebody
that’s dope. Basically
I just want to live life, chill, sing and travel the world.
LJC:
If there was one word to describe your life right now, what
would it
be?
RES:
Trying.
Trying to balance a lot of things, balancing working on a record, trying to get people to hear it,
trying to perform, write new songs, do this do that,
really I need an assistant.
I’m conquering certain goals though, it’s cool, but
I’m being pulled in a lot of different places especially
being far from home. It’s
good though, that’s what life is about.
LJC:
In everyone’s life there is a time when things get stagnant.
What do
you do to overcome those times?
RES:
I go on vacation straight up.
When I’m upset about something and I feel like my
life ain’t going right I’ll figure out a place to go quick
and cheap. In the
past year or two I’ve been from Cuba, Turks and Cacaos,
Hawaii, Jamaica etc., I
just travel when I’m happy, sad, stagnant, mad whatever. I
also go home and see my family and get grounded.
Just to be around people that love me because I’m
Shareese Ballard not because they bought my record.
LJC:
If you could create a dream album who would you collaborate
with?
RES:
I
probably would do a song with Prince, Stevie Wonder, Bjork,
Tricky, Run-DMC, the people that I admire the most musically.
LJC:
How have you grown since “How I Do?”
RES:
I’ve
grown because I started playing the guitar, writing music on
the guitar, and working with other producers.
I just really branched out more so I could create a
sound within myself that I could give to other producers that
I’m working with.
LJC:
What do you want your fans to know or think about?
RES:
I’m
not a one hit wonder. I m’ back doing good music. Sorry it
took so long. I’ve
been in LA doing shows and writing songs from my personal
experiences. It’s
funny because they (songs) all relate to everybody cause the
same shit happened to them just on a different day. Just come
out to the show and have a good time and rock with me, don’t
let me be the only one dancing and singing.
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