Exposed Vocals just caught an interview with singer/songwriter J. Sariah
Out of the Heart of Georgia with a sprinkle of Texas Swag, New York Attitude and UK properness comes a force to be reckoned with in the industry. Jasi Witherspoon, musically known as J. Sariah, is a singer/songwriter bringing an old school storytelling style of songwriting and mixing it with a blend of Hip Hop beats and Neo Soul vibe. Her unique sound showcases the true emotional experiences that surround each song.
After graduating from Macon’s Howard High School in 2013, J. Sariah accepted a tennis scholarship to Barry University in Miami where her tennis team won the NCAA DII Women’s Championship her freshman year. She stayed at Barry U for two years before accepting a full tennis scholarship to California University of Pennsylvania where she graduated in the Summer of 2017 with a Bachelors in Psychology. Everyone expected her to immediately start training for a professional tennis career and become the next Serena Williams but music took J. Sariah in a different direction.
J. Sariah was born and raised in Macon, Georgia but has also lived in Long Island, New York, Cardiff Wales (United Kingdom) and Houston, Texas. She is well traveled having been all over the contiguous United States, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand (where she received the warrior wounds on her arm from a battle with a 3-foot bell jellyfish during a scuba diving session). She is currently splitting her time between Macon, GA and Houston, TX.
“I write what the beat says”
A music lover from an early age she has been inspired by artists like Aaliyah, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Chris Brown, Ashanti and many more. Neo-Soul is the sound she identifies with most but her writing/singing style can easily mesh into R&B, Hip-Hop, Pop, Gospel and more. Listeners will find a nice mix of styles in her music and with melodic hooks and catchy phrases spread on top of crisp beats that catch your ear immediately.
A passion for music has always been present in this 22-year old’s life, she began writing songs in middle school after going through her first heartbreak. Writing was her way of escaping emotionally stressful times with any situation, positive or negative. From these experiences, she wrote “Victory” and the gift of writing blossomed into regular undertaking which lead her to win the Director’s Award in the Paramount Songwriting Contest at the age of 15. As a teenager, she began working on songwriting projects with her cousin Airplane B the founder of AMG (Airplane Music Group). This unique experience cultivated her knack for writing to beats instead of finding a beat after the song is written, “I write what the beat says,” is J. Sariah’s stance. She comes from a musical family and has also worked with her cousin, producer/engineer E-Brad in Florida.
“music is the universal language we all speak”
The Path, her debut EP, is composed of six tracks that describe the progression though some key points and relationships in her past and the various ups and downs that follow all relationships. The opening song “NYB” (None of Your Business) covers the gossip that surrounds most young love. This track is sure to get the attention of any 90’s R&B lovers that will instantly catch the sampled tracked in the background. The second track covers a newly blossomed relationship that has progressed to the point where she is asking “Are You Ready” to take this love seriously. By the third track “Swish” the couple is clearly head over heels in love and not ashamed to show it to the world. Trouble in paradise is evident in the fourth track (inspired by Drake’s 2013 Too Much), “Overthinking” where she is starting to question what her man is really up to out in the street. “Revenge,” the fifth track on the album is sure to be an attention grabber with its strong vocals and karma filled lyrics. The album ends with “Whippin,” a catchy party song that reflects on her first years of college in Miami and freedom from the constraints of a serious relationship.
J. Sariah recorded “The Path” over the 2017 New Year’s weekend produced/engineered by Houston duo 3Bubble & J. Gray of LFTP, and is set to drop in March 2018. The EP is a precursor to her LP coming later in the year entitled “The Journey.” Both albums tell her story of her life experiences through love and hate and the successful progression to where she is presently. Her full-length studio album will feature songs produced by Houston duo 3Bubble & J. Gray of LFTP and DJ Silk of Middle Georgia.
https://soundcloud.com/lftpentertainment/friendzone
Exposed Vocals Score 8.4/10
Music Review: ‘Friend Zone”
For those who don’t know the term, “the friend zone” refers to a situation where one individual in a friendship develops more intense feelings and wants to become “more than friends” with the other person. More often than not, the other person is unaware of the friend’s desires and quite happy in the friendship-only arrangement. As a result, the person is “stuck” in the “friend zone”, unable to transition from just friend to girlfriend or boyfriend.
J. Sariah breaks it down in her hit new single “Friend Zone” – Hit the SoundCloud link above and check out our exclusive interview with J. Sariah below
Exclusive Interview
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
I am technically from Macon, GA, but I feel like I grew up in many different places like Long Island, NY, the UK and Texas. I was good at writing and I grew tired of my music just sitting around waiting for another artist to sing it. So with the encouragement of my family I started to sing my own creations.
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
Keeping pushing, do not let a “no” keep you from continuing to pursue your goals and doing what you love.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
YES of course, who doesn’t make mistakes. I play it off because no one else knows I made a mistake but my dancers or management team. I just have to control my facial expressions when I do make a mistake on stage.
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
YES, I am preparing for an international tour now and prepping some new songs in different languages. Currently I am working some local gigs around Texas and the most recent was the big Los Magnificos Car Show where I was able to capture some amazing new contacting and collaboration opportunities with other artists.
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
My label has a really nice studio now, we are trying out some different microphones. We are also looking at building a new studio that would have a space for recording and a dance studio to have everything centrally located.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Social Media Social Media Social Media, its HOT… it’s the main way to get things out along with sending out your EPK to various contacts and networking.
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
I would love to perform at Madison Square Garden in NYC because I feel anyone there has MADE IT. I would love a big show with Aaliyah, Beyonce, Rihanna, Kehlani, SZA, J Cole, Drake, Bryson Tiller and if Chris Brown would stop by for a quick song that would be cool too (
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
My EP, the Path, is dropping very soon and it tells a full story of some relationships that I have been through. Some key songs will be featured on my LP The Journey. I am dropping my first official music video for my first single, FriendZone. I am also working on my 2nd LP called Wandering Thoughts that will showcase random thoughts I have throughout the course of one day.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
I would be pursing my Master Degree in Sports Psychology and coaching in Tennis… as well as writing music.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in the next year or so?
A LOT OF GOOD MUSIC, DOPE PERFORMANCES AND HOT VISUALS
Exposed Vocals: Any Shout-outs?
Artist: Shout to my label LFTP, Shout Out to my parents, Shout to my bestie Yatta for always supporting me nonstop and everyone else that has supported my journey thus far! My circle is small… BUT POWERFUL.
