Mark Anthony Neal's Blog, page 333

Jamla Records Songbird, Heather Victoria Takes Flight with EP 'Boutique Hotel" and R&B Soul

Jamla Records Songbird, Heather Victoria Takes Flight with EP Boutique Hotel and R&B Soul by Lamont Lilly | @LamontLilly | special to NewBlackMan (in Exile)
Born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, R&B singer Heather Victoria is the flagship vocalist for Jamla Records, a Raleigh-based indie Hip Hop label headed by producer extraordinaire 9th Wonder. Late last year, Victoria released a new EP called Boutique Hotel. She has also just concluded the “A Black Woman Created This” Tour with Grammy-nominated NC emcee Rapsody.
In this in-depth interview, conducted at Duke University’s Nasher Museum of Art, Victoria sits down with Durham-based journalist Lamont Lilly. Read along as they discuss the details of her latest EP Boutique Hotel , the rich tradition of NC Soul music, and who she is as an artist and woman.
*** Lamont Lilly: Heather, for those who may be unfamiliar, can you tell us about your music and who you are as an artist and woman?
Heather Victoria: I'm an R&B Soul artist originally from Fayetteville, NC and raised in Wilson. I’m North Carolina born and bred. Musically, I draw from manydifferent inspirations. I was raised on Soul and R&B, but there’s also a little Jazz and Funk fusion in me. My staple, though, is R&B Soul. As an artist, I’m still growing—still learning new things every day.
At my core, I’m deeply passionate about pushing the culture forward—Black culture and the art that Black people create. I'm very intentional about being a vessel for that. My particular canvas just happens to be Soul music. Beyond the music, I'm also a family woman and deeply spiritual. When I'm not working, I also like to have a little fun every now and then. 
How did you end up signing with 9th Wonder and Jamla Records?
After graduating high school in 2007, I got accepted into both North Carolina State University and North Carolina Central University. Initially, I chose N.C. State. During my sophomore year however, I recognized that I wanted to transfer to an HBCU, NCCU in particular. I wanted to pursue music. At the time, I became more knowledgeable about how prestigious NCCU was for their Music Department. Their Jazz Studies programwas quite popular. I also got wind of a History of Hip Hop class there. The professors were 9th Wonder and Christopher “Play” Martin of Kid ‘n Play. Once I transferred to NCCU, I was able to get into the History of Hip Hop class during my first semester. That’s where I officially met 9th Wonder.
At N.C. State, I was singing in the gospel and concert choirs and doing talent shows. By the time I got over to NCCU, I was writing poetry and putting it into songs. Eventually, 9th Wonder allowed me to play him a demo. That's basically how I got signed.
You’ve worked with some of Hip Hop’s most beloved and respected acts: Rapsody, Big K.R.I.T., Jadakiss, the late Mac Miller, Murs , David Banner. You’ve also worked with all-star producer roster, the Soul Council. How does that feel contributing to the music of so many great producers and emcees, even though you’re an R&B vocalist with your own lane and your own ambitions?
I'm honored just to think about that list. Those are great artists; I've definitely been blessed. This really hasn't dawned on me until recently—the list of how many artists I've worked with. It kind of makes me more intrigued about what lies ahead. 
At the same time, it also makes me realize that I'm doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing. I want to build on that list and continue to build within the culture—not only within Hip Hop, R&B and Soul, but Black music in general. Being a part of the kind of music that can stand the test of time is something that is very important to me. It's a daily grind, whether I’m working on a feature for someone else or working on my own material. One week I might work on this project. The next week I might work on a different project. It's definitely a balancing act. There are periods where I keep a pretty tight schedule. It's a continuous working process, Lamont. Daily!
You’re a vocalist by trade, but it almost feels like you’re a Hip Hop girl at heart?
I love Hip Hop! It's a part of who I am. You can’t think of Hip Hop Soul music without the component and contribution of Hip Hop. I’m an all-around artist, but a true R&B Soul girl at heart! From my Jamla Records family, to the producers I work with, I’ve been inspired beyond my imagination by how much I learn daily about Hip Hop. Growing up, my access and exposure to Hip Hop was limited, not only as a form of music, but as a vehicle of culture. I can still remember to this day, my first two references to Hip Hop were Jay-Z and Missy Elliot and the movie Brown Sugar. At the time, my mother would only allow me to listen to R&B and Gospel tapes. She was into 80s and 90s R&B, folks like Whitney Houston, Anita Baker and Mary J. Blige. My dad was straight-up Jazz and Soul music from the 70s and early 80s....Earth, Wind & Fire, The Commodores, Roy Ayers.
One of the things I really enjoy now is going back to old Hip Hop and Rap albums I may have missed. It's a beautiful process because on those old Hip Hop albums you can also hear the influences of Soul, Funk and R&B. So when people think of me as a Hip Hop girl, I appreciate that, too. We can also look to folks like TLC, Total, and SWV. They were R&B, but they were also Hip Hop. TLC was my first concert. I was 10 or 11 years old at the time. Not to mention the Queen of Hip Hop Soul herself, Mary J. Blige. This is the music that raised me. I'm just trying to keep it going.
In late 2019, you dropped a new EP called Boutique Hotel. How did that project come together for you? 
The album came together fairly organically. We took our time with it and worked on it for about a year and a half. We wanted it to be a "feel-good" piece of work from top to bottom. Most of it consists of live instrumentation. It’s personal and authentic. It’s basically me growing as a young Black woman and the raw experiences from my mid to late 20s. The ups and downs, self-discovery, self-worth, and the importance of learning to put yourself first. In reference to the album coming together, these kinds of affirmations were critical.
In the beginning, we did most of the recording over tracks. By late 2018 and early 2019, we took the time to have sessions with the band. They would come to the studio, hear the tracks and then play it back live. It can be time-consuming just to facilitate that. Trying to strategically get everyone's schedules together—that takes time, energy and patience. So we knew we couldn't rush the process. And I think it's that process that made for an amazing project. Sometimes, even when things happen organically, it still takes planning. I’m just thankful everything came together the way it did.
What kind of reception has the album received from fans and critics?
The feedback has been wonderful. It’s a ‘music lover's’ album and that's something that people have really expressed—their appreciation for the live instrumentation and the lyrics. It takes time to bring those things together. Much thanks to 9th Wonder, Khrysis, the band members, the Soul Council and so many others. Boutique Hotel was definitely a team win.
Hip Hop, R&B, Jazz, Soul...you pull from all these genres in one voice. Boutique Hotel is a perfect illustration of this. Was this kind of ‘Soul Fusion’ by design or by accident? 
It was actually a little bit of both. There were a lot of unexpected life experiences that brought me to the point of even starting the album. There was a transition period between me working a 9 to 5 job and doing music part-time, to now doing music full-time after having worked in corporate America for four to five years. It was a very shaky experience, shaky times. But when you're going through things, you learn a lot about who you are, not only as an artist but as a human being. I came out of those experiences more determined, more dedicated. Within that time period, I was able to create new music. I also took two years prior to that to just figure out where I was, who I was going to work on becoming, how I could get better, and where I was going.

The magazine Hot New Hip Hop described your vocals on the track “ One Love ” as ''Honey-glazed…soothing and smooth.'' Do you feel like that’s an accurate description of your specific sound and vocal style?
Honey-glazed makes me think of something sweet, something that is enticing and appealing. So I would just take that as the wonderful compliment that it is and say, “Thank you.” When I think of people that I admire and have studied, I would also consider themto be honey-glazed. Tamia, Anita, Whitney...that's honey and just damn good vocals. On a side note, you know honey is also a healing component to the human body. So yeah, [smiling] I’ll take that! Much thanks to Hot New Hip Hop for the shout out.
People have compared you to some of the greats of R&B Soul—from Anita Baker to Chante Moore—from Mary B. Blige to the legend herself, Deniece Williams . Do these kind of comparisons make you nervous or more confident? Those are high bars. How do you feel about that?
Those are the kind of comparisons that make me feel more confident, for sure. That's an honor to be compared to them! Makes me feel like I'm doing something right. I'm still young. I just turned 30. When I think of legends like Anita Baker, she's had a career that's lasted for over 30 years. When Anita got started, she wasn't too much younger or older than I am. If anything, that gives me courage and inspires me. It's also affirming in helping me to realize I'm right on time. I'm also humbled by those kinds of comparisons because I realize I still have so much work to do. Someone like Chante Moore is timeless. My mother still listens to Chante Moore to this very day. I only hope to do the same thing—to create the kind of music that can stand the test of time. God willing, Boutique Hotel is just the beginning.
Whether seasoned veteran or emerging peer, are there any vocalists that you would like to work with in the future?
I would love to work with Pharrell Williams, SIR, Anderson .Paak or KIRBY. I would also say Devin Morrison and Ari Lennox. My all-time dream collaborations would be to work with Jill Scott, Frankie Beverly and Maze, Mary J. Blige, Toni Braxton, the Dream or even Babyface.
You've been working with Grammy-nominated NC based emcee, Rapsody for the last several years now. I loved the chemistry between you two on Rapsody’s “ The Drums .” You also accompanied her on a track called “The Man,” while Rapsody has accompanied you on tracks such as “Not Taking You Back,” “I’ll Always Be Down,” and serves as a vocal snippet on “Big Momma” from your recent EP. So, are you and Rapsody like real friends or just great working partners who share the same label?
Oh wow! Rapsody, aka Ms. Marlanna, is definitely one of my close friends. We have a great relationship, one of a kind! She's like a big sister to me...someone I truly appreciate. It's no surprise that it shows in the chemistry of our music because we've been sisters and friends for over 10 years now. We've literally grown up together, not only in music but as people and as women. We do share the same label, but our friendship is very real, too. Definitely.

Heather, you've been an intricate part of the North Carolina Hip Hop Soul scene for the last decade now. You’re one of the artists—from Sunshine Anderson to Little Brother to J. Cole—who have literally helped to shape the aesthetic here. Have you ever stepped back to really process that?
That wasn't something I even thought of, Lamont, up until maybe last year. And that's only because I turned 30 and started doing a little reflecting. I was looking back over my twenties. I was asking myself what have I accomplished, and what haven't I accomplished yet? And what is it that I look forward to doing next? I'm extremely grateful for what I've accomplished so far, but I like to stay down to earth. I don't get caught up in the accomplishments because there’s still so much more to do—continuing to get better at my craft, making more music, touching more lives. 
But when I look back, yes, I am proud. Certainly! I’m proud of the journey and who I’ve become on the journey. It definitely requires a certain amount of hard work and tenacity. We’re all still growing right now, though—myself, Jamla Records, my label mates. I’m just glad to be a part of it all.
In a way, you and many others are helping to carry on the tradition of NC Soul music: Nina Simone, George Clinton, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Roberta Flack , Maceo Parker—even folks like Nneena Freelon, Jodeci and Anthony Hamilton. This is Black music straight from the soul. We know this lineage has influenced your music, but how has this history impacted you as a Black woman and human being?
Tremendously! Knowing your roots is important. You need your roots to push the culture forward, to know where you're going. It’s very empowering knowing that the foundation here is so rich in Soul music within itself. In being of fan of this NC Soul music, it makes me want to help continue it for the next generation. Whether it's in the music or in the school system, we definitely have to keep this history alive and pass the baton. We have to keep pushing the culture forward, from within. Whether you're in Raleigh or Charlotte, as a community of artists, we have to keep organizing our own events and helping to create opportunities for one another. And we know much of this is already happening—we're doing it! 
Look at what the Dreamville Festivaldid last year. Young people from all over the state were there. Some of those young people had never even been to a live show before, not to mention an all-day Hip Hop festival hosted by someone from their own home state. Before Dreamville, it was the Art of Cool Festival. I realize now that if we continue to put in what we expect to come out, the culture will only continue to grow here. We want to make Mama Nina proud. We want to make George Clinton and John Coltrane proud. As their descendants, we have a responsibility to continue this history and to build on it. As an artist and young Black woman, I'm very intentional about that now. Yes, very! Consciousness, responsibility…that’s impact.
Before we depart, how can people access you and purchase your music? 
People can find me online by searching "Heather Victoria, Jamla Records." People can hit me on Twitter at @jamlaheatherv and on Instagram at @heather_victoria. I’m also on Facebook. Boutique Hotel is available now on all streaming and purchasing platforms including Apple Music, Spotify, iTunes and Amazon.
Any last words or thoughts?
In closing, I would simply say, long live R&B and Soul music! I would also like to send a big thanks to all the readers, supporters and fans. ■
Lamont Lilly is an independent journalist, community activist and Black cultural organizer based in Durham, NC. Follow him on Twitter @LamontLilly.<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Helvetica; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1342208091 0 0 415 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-priority:99; color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; color:#954F72; mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;}</style>

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