S02 E07: Syleena Johnson: Grammy-Nominated Singer, Songwriter, Actress & TV Host on Sister Circle

NikiMarie Radio™

Syleena Johnson's highly anticipated book shares her compelling journey toward self-love and discovery, while chronicling her battles with body image birthed in adolescence and carried throughout her music career. An ode to obstacles faced and conquered, this self-help book sets an indelible tone for reflection, resurgence, and redemption. Syleena Johnson is one of those undeniable talents whose unfaltering truth shines through every note she sings. Undoubtedly one of the best singers of her generation, Johnson has collaborated with everyone from Kanye West and Common to Anthony Hamilton and R. Kelly. In recent years she has enjoyed mainstream exposure appearing on such television shows as TV One’s “R&B Divas: Atlanta” and WE TV’s “Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars” and as of September 18, 2017 Syleena is featured on the new TEGNA Media/ TV One daily live talk show “Sister Circle.” On November 10, 2017 Shanachie Entertainment will release REBIRTH OF SOUL, a recording that Syleena has long wanted to bring to fruition. Conceived and produced by her father, the legendary soul/blues singer and producer Syl Johnson, whose original hit version of “Take Me To The River” was covered by Al Green and Talking Heads. Everyone from Jay-Z and Kanye West to Wu-Tang and Usher has sampled Syl Johnson’s recordings. REBIRTH OF SOUL features Syleena Johnson’s searing interpretations of classic R&B songs, mainly from the Fifties and Sixties, recorded in real time with live musicians just the way “real music” used to be made. As Syl Johnson notes,“people don’t use live musicians much anymore; but every musician brings his heart to a recording.” Recording in Chicago, Syl Johnson’s long-time base and Syleena’s hometown, the sessions include musicians who played on hit R&B recordings there over the years and a majority of the album features songs associated with Chicago artists, songwriters or record labels. Syleena shares, “The inspiration behind REBIRTH OF SOUL is my father. I wanted to honor him and classic soul music in a time when auto tune and electronic beats reign supreme. While I am not against this kind of creative musicianship, there is so much more to the real thing. True Soul music tells stories…stories that can heal a nation.” As an artist who came of age during the 90’s hip-hop era and broke through in the early 2000’s, Syleena had never actually recorded live in the studio previously. “The difference with this album,” Syleena relates, “ is that I had the opportunity to record with live instrumentation as well as actual musicians from the (classic) era. On this album I didn’t write any of the songs and it was the first time in a while that I worked with my father. I had to tap into the soul and spirit of the era of each song to bring authenticity to the project.” The songs on REBIRTH OF SOUL, hand-picked by Syl Johnson, run the gamut from lesser-known gems such as Betty Everett’s “There’ll Come A Time,” Syl Johnson’s “We Did It” and Bettye Swann’s “Make Me Yours” to such landmark hits as “Chain of Fools” and “I’d Rather Go Blind,” done definitively by Aretha Franklin and Etta James respectively. Syleena manifests an uncanny ability to get inside of each song, digging deep to deliver passionate performances that bring a fresh spark to even the best known selections. “For each song I channeled the emotions of the record,” Syleena confides. “I put myself in the mind of each storyteller and in doing this I was able to merge myself into the story of each record. This is how I was able to put my own personal stamp on each record.” "The Weight is Over" is now available through Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HRQM89Z/ https://www.syleenamusic.com http://www.sheleanlife.com Social media @syleenajohnson *Thank you Syleena for taking time out of your busy schedule to speak with me. Many blessings to you; I hope to work with you again soon. Warmest Regards, NikiMarie @nikimarie_radio (IG) --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/nikimarieradio/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nikimarieradio/support