Grammy award winning singer-songwriter Jill Scott discusses her collaboration with The Roots, her journey in the world of soul music, and her ventures in television and film. Topics include working with Jesse Jeff, developing a singing style, the emotional impact of performing sad songs, the Black Lily music showcase, reflections on acting, and casual banter and jokes.
Jill Scott's breakthrough hit 'You Got Me' propelled her music career and album 'Who Is Jill Scott?'
Working with the Touch of Jazz team brought joy and success despite financial struggles.
Jill Scott developed her singing skills by imitating artists and emphasizes her simplicity and love for nature.
Deep dives
Jill Scott's Journey to Success and Career Beginnings
Jill Scott shares her journey to success, discussing how she first started working with Jesse Jeff and her initial struggles to break into the music industry. She reveals that her first song, 'You Got Me,' became a breakthrough hit and led to her album 'Who Is Jill Scott?' She reflects on the challenges and expectations that came with fame and highlights the importance of staying grounded.
The Magic of Working with Touch of Jazz
Jill Scott reminisces about her time working with the Touch of Jazz team, including producers like Dre and Keith. She describes the vibrant and energetic environment where they would work on music, sharing laughs and creating magic. She emphasizes the joy they experienced, despite their financial struggles, and attributes their success to their passion and dedication.
Jill Scott's Evolution as an Artist
Jill Scott discusses her voice and musical style, revealing that she developed her singing skills by imitating various artists like Anita Baker and Kathleen Battle. She expresses her surprise at being labeled as 'earthy' and emphasizes her simplicity and love for nature. Jill also talks about her foray into acting and shares her approach to preparing for roles, including the focus on being present and authentic.
Reflections on Performing Emotional Songs
In the podcast episode, the speaker reflects on the emotional impact of performing a specific song. They discuss how this particular song brings people to tears and the speaker's own experience of sobbing on stage. They also mention the importance of providing music for different emotional experiences, such as love, mourning, cooking, and cleaning. Despite the emotional toll, the speaker expresses their commitment to performing these songs and connecting with the audience.
Experience with Hidden Beach Records
The podcast episode touches on the speaker's experience with Hidden Beach Records. They express disappointment with the label's handling of their career, particularly feeling unheard in decisions regarding other artists on the label. The speaker also discusses feeling unsupported during the time of President Obama's election and how it affected their radio presence. Ultimately, they decided to leave the label, leading to a legal dispute. However, they reflect on the growth and opportunities that have come since their departure.
One of Questlove and Team Supreme's most anticipated interviews, Jill Scott, is finally here! Her relationship with The Roots introduced her to the world through a Grammy award winning song called, “You Got Me”. Hear the story of how a talented girl from North Philly joined forces with some of Philly’s finest to stake her claim in this world of soul music and take it far beyond expectations into the lands of television and film.