Five Minutes with Jaguar Wright: Music, Melodies & Marriage + Her DC Performance

April 1, 2011 by Kellie Williams in Latest News with 3 Comments

I had lost touch with Jaguar Wright and like most of you “discovered” her soulful voice back in 2001 when she sang on Jay-Z’s hit “Song Cry.” Since then she released two albums, ‘Denials, Delusions & Decisions’ in 2002 and ‘Divorcing Neo 2 Marry Soul.’ I hadn’t heard much from her since then and had no idea that she was releasing music on Myspace and touring relentlessly in Europe utilizing her connections with Jigga and The Roots. But when she entered sound check for performance at The Park at Fourteenth I realized that she had never left.

I’ll be honest – I was very apprehensive about interviewing Jaguar Wright. To be frank I heard she was very difficult to work with and had heard horror stories from industry heads that she was “out of control.” This was not the person I met.

I observed her in her element during sound-check. She rocked a pair of Ugg boots and comfortable sweats. For more than thirty minutes she sang through sound-check effortlessly. She paced the floor, gave direction, and cracked a few jokes while instructing musicians. At one point she joked, “I’ve been in the car driving for four hours, can I get a drink?” Mid song check she also gave some of the female observers a mini tutorial on the convenience of weaves. But I digress, after her sound-check I had a brief conversation with Jaguar. Peep the conversation.

Where have you been? I’m illusive. I’m not one of those artist that need to be in your face. I have a life. I’m here when I need to be.

How do you feel about the state of music, neo-soul specifically? Neo-Soul is basically dead. In the end there will be three genres 1) soul 2) rock and 3) jazz. I’m going to make music that is timeless, that lasts.

What’s next for Jaguar Wright? I have a new album and single coming out in April called, “Switch Make Change,” featuring Peedi Crack. Also, I have a new novel coming out called “How Didn’t You Know?” It’s about life and it will be out this year.

Two last questions that I have to ask. One, I hear you’re extremely difficult to work with. Is there any truth to that? Some of that is true and some of that is false. I’m from North Philly and I don’t play. I value my time. Are there times when I’ve kirked out, zapped out? Absolutely. But I’ve grown. I don’t let people get my emotions, my reactions as much.

I read in an old interview in Blues&Soul magazine that you had issues with your mother-in-law (Back story, Jaguar was allegedly quoted as saying that her mother-in-law was “f**king nuts. Seriously, I think she’s a paranoid, delusional schizophrenic.”) How is your relationship with her? I’m no longer married to him. I’m actually engaged. (She beamed ;-))

Fast forward to a few hours later, and Jaguar Wright hit the stage to perform live for her Unplugged series. Peep the footage.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeIgcusXcog[/youtube]

Special thanks to Beny Blaq Entertainment, the DC based promotion company, who are the master mind’s behind the Park Unplugged series.