By Staff
Welcome to Heart and soul Jswiss and Congratulations on a truly stellar project. Before we get into our questions i must state that we are impressed not only with your positive but real lyrical content but it was very refreshing to hear such clear articulation, in my opinion missing from contemporary hip hop.
That being said who are some of your lyrical and flow influences?
-One of my biggest influences lyrically as a kid was Black Thought, not only for what he did with The Roots, but also his collaboration with Soulive sticks out to me too. That whole “Next” Soulive album was an influence with the instrumental tracks I loved and also how they weaved in features from Black Thought and Talib Kweli as well. And J Dilla is more known as a producer, but he’s influenced me with the feel and pocket he sits in as an MC, which definitely comes from the unique feel he had as a producer.
We are very impressed that in spite of having several guests and various producers it feels like a well thought out project and everything flowed . How involved were you in the actual production, could you go into why you chose the producers you did for each song ? What was the goal?
-I really appreciate it, “You Never Really Know” was definitely crafted and not thrown together. I was as hands on as an artist can possibly be in the production without playing any notes or beats myself. A lot of the foundation of the project comes from production from Paul Bloom and we sat together, in-person, dozens of times over the past 3 years, starting ideas together from scratch and then going back and fine tuning them. I would start guiding him in the direction I was feeling that day, or humming an idea, and then go from there.
Once I had an idea of the overall vibe and theme of the project, then it became easier to get music from the other producers I’m close with, like CARRTOONS, Marcus Machado or Vicky Casis, after giving them a basis of how the project felt and sounded. The tracks with Sly5thAve and BLVK SAMuRaI are unique because they started while I was out of the country with them to either tour or work on music, so that brings a new energy.
In the final stages I kind of obsessed over the song order, and where each song started and ended, to flow into the next. I believe the songs can stand on their own individually, but when you take in the whole project, I want listeners to really feel that each track and moment serves a purpose in a complete body of work.
On your guest features did your guest vocalists add their vocals after they heard your verses , how did each collaboration happen and why were they chosen? Each collab sounds very well thought out and fit each song
-I’m fortunate to have so many talented vocalists and musicians I could call on, and I wanted to make sure the artists I featured were on songs where their styles and personalities fit the best, and they were needed. So when I reached out to Carmen Rodgers and Eric Roberson to sing on the songs “For Your Consideration” and “Superman”, it was because after I said all I needed to say, they were the specific singers I knew could bring the tone and delivery the track needed, as well as the words to match what I wrote for my parts.
Same thing with Amma Whatt and Demi Grace, who are both on songs that I agonized for weeks with to figure out the right missing piece. BD3 is the only MC on the project, not only because I respect his lyricism tremendously, but because I knew having another voice at that moment was needed, and I could hear him specifically fitting on the instrumentation in “Beaming”. ArinMaya is such a positive light as a human, so beyond being a dope singer, I knew she’d be able to embody what I was looking to convey on “Beaming” too. Those are the type of decisions I could make because I know all the artists I’m collaborating with as people.
Who are you listening to now that is moving you ? in any genre and why? Who is your dream producer or artist that you would like to work with that you have not worked with yet? How would you categorize your music? We hear a strong Jazz influence that is natural and not forced? Who is your target audience for this album
-To start, it should go without saying that everyone on my album moves me with their music, so that’s several less names to list. Right now I love Little Simz, Saba, Cleo Sol, Tall Black Guy, Kendrick Lamar and Malaya. Some of my favorite artists in the world who I happen to know personally are Marcus Strickland, Nate Smith, Ben Williams, Butcher Brown, Claire Renee, and Morgan Guerin. All of my favorite artists sound like themselves enough that if you hear 2 seconds of a song, you know it’s them. I think between myself and all of those artists, radio programmers would separate us into even balance of hip-hop, jazz and R&B, but it’s all soulful music at the end of the day. That’s how I see my music: it’s soulful, musical, Awthentic hip-hop for an audience of people who appreciate layers in their music, so they can love it on the first listen and be infatuated on the 10th. And oh, I’m really looking forward to working closely with Q-Tip, Raphael Saadiq, Pharrell and Lenny Kravitz sooner than later.
As you know the focus of our magazine is Health & Wellness! What do you do to keep healthy with such as busy lifestyle? In particular with your diet what is your most important meal of the day for you? And what would that be ?
-I love leaving my cell phone at home and doing calisthenics workouts in the morning in the park nearby where I live. Early in the morning is my preference, before I start my day. And 90% of what I drink is water. I honestly don’t even keep juice or soda at home, I’d have to be out to get that.
Outside of listening to music, my go-to when I need refuge is either reading a book, going for a walk, or praying or meditating. Anything that gets me to be present, which is a big theme of the album too.
About JSWISS
“[JSWISS’] whole vibe and energy, it’s now, but it’s reminiscent of what I loved about hip hop . . . It’s a pleasure to be working with someone who’s bringing that part of the music forward and making that statement today. It’s needed” – 2x Grammy-winning trumpeter, Nicholas Payton
A native of Dobbs Ferry, New York, JSWISS is a global artist who just might be the most versatile emcee on the scene today, with a career unlike any of his peers. He has both recorded and performed with the likes of Elvis Costello and Nicholas Payton, graced the legendary stages of The Apollo Theater and Blue Note Jazz Club multiple times, and received the coveted hip-hop stamp of approval of having his music videos played on Video Music Box.
Since releasing his first mixtape in 2009, while a freshman journalism student at UNC-Chapel Hill, JSWISS has received praise from notable music authorities such as The Source, NPR, Complex Magazine, Hip Hop DX, Ambrosia For Heads, BBC Radio 6, FIP Radio, Soultracks, and Weekly Rap Gods.
A writing and journalism background has been an asset toward crafting his keen approach, and thought-provoking content. A dope delivery and his lyrical prowess take centerstage on his own projects, but also make him a favorite collaborator of standout bands and musicians at the intersection of hip-hop, soul and jazz.
Accomplished talents like Maurice “Mobetta” Brown, Ben Williams, Marcus Strickland, Keyon Harrold, Nicholas Payton, Nate Smith, E.J. Strickland, Marcus Machado, Daru Jones, DJ Logic, Chris “Daddy” Dave, Mark Whitfield, Casey Benjamin and more, have astutely pegged JSWISS a lyricist who can effortlessly fall in where most MCs can’t. Two notable examples of this are his Bona Fide collaborative project with Grammy-winning trumpeter, producer, and composer Michael Leonhart, and Somebody’s Gotta Do It project with Grammy-winning saxophonist, producer and composer Sly5thAve.
“JSWISS’s pen game is one of the sharpest out. Pay Attention!” – Grammy – winning Drummer Daru Jones, (Jack White, Nas, Pete Rock, Black Milk, Jamie Lidell)
JSWISS is also a seasoned performer with a must-see, live show. He’s routinely backed by a live band of top-notch instrumentalists, and has graced the notable stages of the Apollo Theater, Blue Note Jazz Club, Nublu, The Jazz Standard, Preservation Hall, international festivals, and more. Even the landmark New York Botanical Garden welcomed JSWISS as the first ever hip-hop artist to perform there in its storied history.
JSWISS has proven appeal to hip-hop purists and new hip-hop audiences alike, with emcee/producer Erick Sermon of the legendary duo EPMD saying he’s “what hip hop needs” immediately after catching him perform for the first time. Hip Hop specialists, 2DopeBoyz also proclaimed “JSWISS has incessantly proven time and time again that he has both the skill and diligence to carry the torch of his esteemed idols.”
His music can also be found prominently placed in Ubisoft extreme sports video game Riders Republic, the Red Bull TV-backed documentary “Raise Up: The World Is Our Gym”, the NBA TV-premiered “Hoops Africa” documentary, and more.
Purchase or stream “You Never Really Know” at link below
https://jswiss.bandcamp.com/album/you-never-really-know
