Sassy Singz has got some smokey vocals. Want to know how smokey? When she sings her song “Control”, she brings to mind records by 1990s and early 2000s R&B artists and groups like Sparkle, Mokensteph, Xscape, Monica, and Kelly Price.
Sassy Singz, however, appears to have some major edge to her, judging from her flashy mohawk and intricate zig-zag hair designs. The singer-songwriter is all about her music, but she isn’t about to neglect the visual appeal part.
She’s what an observer would call an organic singer. During a stop at Atlanta Web Radio, at the prodding of her interviewer, Sassy starts to belt out some of the verses of the Shirley Murdock classic “As We Lay”, and kills it. Her a capella delivery makes you wish this was a full cover, as opposed to her just singing some snippets.
“What Do I Do?” one of her self-written songs tells the story of a distraught woman who’s on the verge of a breakdown over a dysfunctional relationship. She’s a victim of verbal abuse, and she’s come to realize that the man she loves is out to hurt her, but can she forget all the great moments? The song features the dynamic rhymes of rapper Jimmy Dade.
The singer-songwriter has opened up for Trina and Marsha Ambrosius. But one day, look for her as the headliner.
Lots of singers had their beginning in church, was that the case with you?
In all honesty, that is the way I started literally. I’m not one of those singers who have been singing since five, and always knew she’d be a star. [Laughter] My story is quite the opposite. The first time I ever sang in front of an audience live, was at church and that was in my early twenties. I was terrified.
And how did you manage to calm down your nerves?
[Laughter] I prayed. Before every performance, I pray.
Who was the first person who made you realize that you could sing?
I always knew I could hold a note but it wasn’t until my a friend of my boyfriend (at the time) asked me to join the worship team, did I realize I could sing. I never really thought much about being an artist honestly but the church members would encourage me all the time [Laughter]. So I took a step of faith and here I am.
The artist Michael Jackson always professed to admire Stevie Wonder and Jackie Wilson. Which artists have personally inspired you?
I have so many artists that I look up to but I must admit Mary J. Blige has been my biggest influence. I always loved her unique ability to transform a hip hop beat to a love song. If I had to describe my sound, I would say it’s a clash of Mary J. Blige and Chaka Khan. I study all genres for inspiration but R&B is where my passion lies. Faith Evans, Missy Elliott, Patti Labelle are a few that inspire me and my music.
Have you ever hurt your vocals?
Oh yes, I have. But, thankfully not permanently. I’ve never had a vocal lesson before so in the beginning I didn’t know how to sing properly without hurting my vocals. But I taught myself—YouTube—[Laughter]. And now, I work hard to avoid that happening again.
That’s great…What are your parents’ thoughts regarding your musical career?
My mother passed when I was four and my father passed in 2012. Prior to my father’s passing, I told him about my music endeavors and he didn’t believe me at first [Laughter]. I performed at Barry University once—think it was 2011—and I invited him to see me perform. He was soooo proud! It’s a memory I hold dear because it was the first and last time he saw me perform. He would take my CDs to Haiti and pass them out for me. He called the family to tell them, “Non, nou gen atis! [We’ve got artists]” [Laughter]. I miss him.
So sorry that you have lost both of your parents. Now, in terms of performances you’ve had thus far, which has been the most memorable, in terms of how personally satisfied you were regarding your performance?
The most memorable performance for me was a concert I recently did with Bank of America. Bank of America 36th Annual Starlight Musicals. I had such an amazing time! It was a 3 hour event with only me as the entertainer and live band. The crowd participation is what made the event so memorable. It was aOn outdoor event at a park but the crowd and I were having such a good time I almost forgot we were outside and not at a club lol. It’s one thing to sing to people, it’s a whole other thing when they participate and jam with you. Loved it!
When was the last time you went to Haiti?
My last trip to Haiti was in 2012. Sadly, it would be the last time I saw my father alive. He suffered a stroke while working in the fields. I am a Registered Nurse, so I flew in to tend to him for about a week before he passed.
What are we to expect from you musically in times to come? That voice of course, but in terms of an album, what…and when?
I’[ve] re-released my last EP, The Revival: R&B Is Not Dead (Remastered). I will also be releasing my new music video for my current single “Control”. “Control” is #6 on the National Airplay Top 50 R&B/Hip-Hop charts so you can expect a whole new album in 2015!
[Photographer Credit: Aman Lexidor ]
Control – SassySingz (Official Music Video) from SassySingz on Vimeo.
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