By: Jessica Hatchett
Photo By Karen Santos
Q) Regarding memories from growing up in Flint, Michigan, you have described yourself as a granddaughter of the Great Migration. How would you say your early life and family history has shaped you?
A) My early life was shaped by my grandmother. My grandma was part of the Great Migration and moved our family from Mississippi to Michigan for the automotive industry before I was born. I lived with her during my childhood because my mama worked second shift. My youth (four to eight years old) was shaped by attending church and listening to music, primarily gospel, country and blues and R&B. I was singing in church at the age of three and participating in choirs and theater during my formative years. I’ve had various earthly angels swoop in and guide me and care for me and nurture my gift like my second grade teacher, Ms. Barnett, who heard me humming in class and decided she wanted to gift me piano lessons.
Q) You’ve said that depression and isolation became a part of your life before you found your way back to joy. Was there a particular person, moment or realization that helped with this?
A) I would say that it was not a particular person or moment that helped with this. It was a culmination of childhood trauma, self-sabotage and divorce after twenty-nine years that played a big part in my spiral. Since all of that, I have found happiness within and a new way forward.
Q) Country, gospel, blues and soul have all been part of your musical journey. How do you tend to describe your sound?
A) I would describe my sound as a gumbo of all of my influences. It’s hard to pinpoint one particular sound as I was exposed to so many styles of music on my journey, even classical and jazz, that there are subconscious elements of them all. At its root, gospel is my foundation and all the other elements I absorbed over time.
Q) “Hell or High Water” comes from a period of enormous personal change. Looking back now, what did that period teach you about yourself?
A) Looking back, I can say that I am stronger than I thought and I am not on this path alone. I’ve learned that more will be revealed and the light shines a little bit brighter everyday. I am learning new things about myself and about what I want to put out into the world through music. I’ve learned to lean into the healing aspects of music on a personal level.
Q) The songs on this album lean further into the blues. What did the blues allow you to express that perhaps another musical style couldn’t?
A) I would say that I’ve been allowed to express myself in all of my music. However, I don’t think my younger self would have been able to be as open as I am now. Having lived a life with ups and downs and experiences and have found a new appreciation for the rawness of the genre and felt that I had something to offer at this point in my life.
Q) The title track is incredibly personal, but also universal. How do you decide what parts of your life belong in a song?
A) I have been tapping into my life story throughout my career. Each release has offered more. I believe time and experience have been the deciding factors for me. I’ve become more open about my journey which is freeing and powerful. What I held shame around has actually fueled my motivation to heal. When I get to share my truth, others can relate and it reinforces the power that music has to unite.
Q) I love the imagery of the “stone in my pocket.” When did that idea first come to you, and did you know immediately what it represented?
A) I have been tapping into the spiritual realm and my Ancestors for quite some time and it’s been a part of my music since returning to recording in 2022. I have been on this journey and in the past year have started carrying a mojo bag that I take everywhere with me. It has things in it from my mama, sister and grandmother that I hold dear and I believe in its covering and protection. A stone is one of the items in my bag, so that line was literal.
Q) You’ve described “Hell Or High Water” as being about “acknowledging the darkness without surrendering to it.” Was that theme something you wanted the album to have from the beginning, or did it emerge as the songs came together?
A) The phrase “Hell or High Water” came out of my mouth organically in a jam session with my bandmates at Redtone Records. It came out of the time where I was going through loss, separation and transition. It is a song about personal struggle and the strength and will to make it through whole.
Q) “Death Rolls Like Thunder” uses the Battle of Little Bighorn as a backdrop for a much broader story about resistance and rebuilding. What drew you to that particular piece of history and made you want to use it in a song?
A) The use of the The Battle of Little Bighorn was an idea from my writing partner Justin Phipps and it speaks to the power of the people for today. We see it as not only essential history to be remembered, but also as a powerful metaphor for victory over an oppressor, even against overwhelming odds. I feel like we are in a time where we need to summon this power as our country is in a fight for justice, humanity, morality. We need the strength of the people to prevail.
Q) You describe the “spirits all around me” as your ancestors and loved ones. When you’re writing or performing, in what way do you feel a connection to those people?
A) It’s a guidance unlike any other. Most times, when I’m performing I can feel the presence of my loved ones that have transitioned all around me, lifting me and communing with me. I perform one of my songs “Ancestors” (from my album Our Country) at almost every show and before we start the song I invite the listeners to bring in their ancestors by thinking about them and saying their names outloud. It is so powerful when I feel the shift and their presence can be felt as well. There is almost like a jubilant service that happens. There’s joy, praise and laughter in the atmosphere. The spirits are called to celebrate with us and they do!
Q) You sing about the wisdom that the people who are important to us leave behind. If it’s not too personal, what is one piece of wisdom you’ve carried with you that you would love to pass on to somebody else?
A) One piece of wisdom that I would like to pass on that was passed on to me is to slow it all down and to be present. Life is moving fast enough. Also, a new way of living is possible.
Q) What do you hope lingers with audiences that explore this album Hell or High Water as a whole?
A) I want listeners to feel uplifted. I want both the sound and the message to convey a sense of joy, strength and hope. We feel uplifted, ourselves, every time we get to perform music and I hope that feeling pours out through the album as well.
Q) Who would you love to collaborate with on music in the future?
A) This is a hard one as there are so many artists that I would love to work with – Mavis Staples, Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, Chris Stapleton, Jackson Brown and so many more!
Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?
A) Thank you for allowing me to share my experience, strength and hope with you.