I got to chat with Jessica Greene a coupla weeks ago and had a SUPER fun convo.
Jessica entered the industry taking no prisoners (in a holy way, of course), receiving Stellar Award nominations for both Female Vocalist Of The Year AND Best New Artist Of The Year, the latter which she won in January.
In this interview, she talks about her ministry, what her Stellars experience was like, and what’s next for her… she also shares some random “getting to know you” tidbits, which I always enjoy!
People, here’s Jessica Greene…
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EJ: Thanks for taking a quick minute to chat with me!
JG: Absolutely!
EJ: First, I wanna congratulate you on your recent Stellar Award win– Best New Artist. That’s incredible!
JG: Thank you so much.
EJ: How did that feel?
JG: Oh, man. I can’t even really describe it. It was like a dream. The whole weekend was very exciting and that was the cherry on top.
EJ: Yeah. Were you kinda expecting it at all?
JG: No, in fact, the expected winner was The Murrills, I think.
EJ: I actually assumed you were going to win, to be honest.
JG: Really?!
EJ: Well, yeah… there was a lot of buzz circulating about you, I think. Even as we were watching the nominee announcements, you had 2 nods– one for New Artist and one for Female Vocalist Of The Year– and that kinda turned a lot of heads to say “wait, WHO are we talkin’ about here?” So, I thought you might kinda be a shoe-in for the Best New Artist deal.
JG: Wow. I really wasn’t expecting it. I think I took it as if, either way, it would be good. That whole weekend, I was in the company with the likes of Beverly Crawford, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Shirley Caesar… and when you think about that, these are people we grew up listening to. So, it was just so overwhelming and so fun. It was like, “wow, if I don’t win, I still cannot re-live an experience like this EVER.”
EJ: That’s true. We got a chance to see you perform on the Stellars this year, too, as part of the medley with the other nominees for Best New Artist. How was that performance experience? You were performing on TV, but also in front of the industry’s greatest… what was it like?
JG: Well, it was the first time that they did it. And when we got the call, it was like “wow, are you serious?” Leading up to the night, it was a whole experience of “wow”… it was just one door opening after another, so when we actually got there for the rehearsals, it all started coming together and I thought “this is gonna be something else.”
It was funny because the stage director said “I don’t know if I really like it because it kinda leaves people, with your song, wanting more.” And I said “I think that may be the point!”
EJ: *laughing*
JG: *laughing* So, to actually be there and see all the people… to see that this is what I’ve watched all my life and to be there in that moment– it was breathtaking.
EJ: I can imagine! You know, a lot of gospel consumers might think of you as an overnight success– your name kinda popped up and then you were immediately everywhere. But you’ve been doing this for YEARS, right?
JG: Well, I’m 25. I was born and raised in church, so I’ve been singing since a very young age. But it wasn’t until after I graduated from Morgan State that I really started to pursue my ministry vocally. And so, God just started to open a lot of doors. When I signed to Habakkuk Music, which is the first label to sign with Universal Christian Music Group, things just took off from there.
It was kind of difficult, I have to say, because I had no connection with a “name” in the industry. I really had to start from the ground up, which wasn’t an issue for me because I never sought a Stellar, so to speak– it really is about ministry for me. Like David, he never sought to be king, he sought the heart of God. Becoming king was a result.
EJ: Right. That’s good that you bring that up, too, because I was gonna ask you about it. You’re a new artist who has gotten a great degree of respect without having someone else’s name attached. And that’s not to say that artists who DO that are in any way lacking, or wrong for doing it. A lot of times in the industry, you kinda connect with someone and they endorse you, but you didn’t have that kind of endorsement from anyone.
JG: No, not at all.
EJ: But you were still well-received?
JG: Yeah. In the beginning, I must admit, it was like “well, who are you and why do you want to come to my church? What is this about and who have you worked with?” And the people I had worked with, nobody knew.
My record was produced by Fontez Camp Productions. And it’s a production company in Baltimore that doesn’t have national recognition, particularly in gospel. So, it was difficult to get in the door, but God made ways. And I know He’s so strategic in how he sets up things because, at the end of the day, no one will be able to get the glory but Him. So, I can’t get up and say that I wanna thank some named artist for helping me along the way, or mentoring me along the way, because the mentorship and helping came from God.
EJ: Absolutely. That’s awesome stuff! I mentioned you on GospelPundit.com a few months ago when I recapped the ASCAP Stellarbration event. I was just so impressed with your ability to command the attention of that room. Folks were mingling and snacking, some weren’t paying attention to the music, but you got up and made that whole room turn their heads.
Where did that ability come from? Because you seem to have commanded it in a way that seasoned artists do, not necessarily “new artists.”
JG: I think it comes from experience. When we started the album, it was a lot to deal with because as a new artist, seeing so many veterans who “got it,” you look at yourself and what you lack. But what I appreciate most about working with my manager, Kevin Branch, is that we would go to venues and churches… I’ve come a long way. I would just sing and sit down. Literally!
EJ: *laughs*
JG: And I realized that it was not because that was expected of me, but it was because I doubted who it was that God called me to be and I doubted my ability. I really had to grow to a point where I saw myself as God sees me.
And once you can really understand who you are– the purpose that you have– and understand that you are not your own… it’s almost like there’s a release that takes place that is almost contagious in a room. And it draws the attention, not to yourself as a performer, but there’s that SOMETHING– it’s the anointing of God– something pulling people’s attention to not only the words you’re saying, but to how you’re saying it.
I had to grow to that point, and I’m still growing in so many areas, to reach that pinnacle in which God can truly and fully use me in any kind of atmosphere, not just the church venues.
EJ: Well, you’d better PREACH!
JG: *laughing*
EJ: Lemme get my sermon notes together.
JG: The sermon notes! *laughing*
EJ: *laughs* But I think that’s a good word. A lot of aspiring artists need to hear that because it’s so easy to think that, coming into the industry, you have to pay your respects in such a way that you end up losing yourself.
JG: Right.
EJ: But there’s a confidence– a humble confidence– that even new and developing artists need to have. And it’s based not on their status or experience in the industry, but who they’ve been called to be by God.
JG: Absolutely!
EJ: That’s awesome. I’ve also gotta say that I’ve peeped your fashion style…
JG: *laughing*
EJ: You’re kinda holdin’ your own in a sea of established female gospel vocalists that are always dressed to the nines. Who’s styling you, ma’am???
JG: Currently, who’s styling me is Shania “Kina” Hundley. She’s based here in Baltimore, she’s up and coming as well… church-based. But you know, we all sat down and said “there’s a certain regal look that I must maintain” because, number one, I’m gospel. Number two, I wanna feel comfortable in what it is I’m ministering in.
And I really love dresses. First of all, they’re easy!
EJ: *laughing* Right.
JG: It’s just one piece with accessories. I do pieces every now and again, but I really enjoy dresses. So, we’ve been able to take that idea and really modernize it and make it, in a sense, an eclectic yet respectful look that the youth can embrace and the older [people] can respect.
EJ: Very cool. I think it’s clear to people that a lot has gone into your artistry– it’s not just the vocals or the album… it’s the presentation and the image. It’s how you’re branding yourself on stage and all of that. I think you do a good job with that.
JG: Well, thank you!
EJ: No doubt. Now, I’m sure you’re still more than able to ride on the success of this album, but are you already back in the studio?
JG: Umm, I’m actually scheduling to go back into the studio at the end of this month. [Editor's Note: This interview occurred at the end of April, so she should be in-studio right...about... NOW!]
We’re continuing to ride on the New Artist Of The Year platform for as long as we can, and we’re currently working on a crusade for the third or fourth quarter of this year.
EJ: Nice.
JG: I can’t really say too much about it yet, but we are working on these artists to really put it together and it’s really a crusade dealing with HOPE. The hope of the people– not just the church, but outside of the church as well, which I think is very vital in this season. So, we’re working on a few things and we’re gonna move forward with the sophomore album.
EJ: Very cool. I’m looking forward to hearing more about it. You have time for a quick “getting to know you” game?
JG: Absolutely.
EJ: Ok, so you have to fill in the blanks.
JG: Oh, goodness. Can I plead the fifth on any part of this? *laughs*
EJ: *laughing* You can try, but it’ll only prolong the interview.
JG: *laughs* Oh my gosh!
EJ: Nah, I’m jokin’. You can if you want to, it’s not that deep. Okay, folks would be surprised to know that Jessica Greene loves ____________.
JG: Oh gosh…umm… *pauses* there’s nothing really outrageous.
EJ: It’s ok, we can come back to it if you want.
JG: Ok.
EJ: Okay. Since I’ve been in the gospel industry, I’ve been disappointed to learn that ___________.
JG: Ooooooh! That… WOW. I could get in trouble with this one!
EJ: *laughing* You don’t have to name names.
JG: Wow. Ok, well… I’ve been disappointed to learn that it’s still so limited in its reach.
EJ: Interesting. What do you mean by that?
JG: We still are more comfortable singing on the inside of church as opposed to reaching the masses. There are 6.6 billion people on this Earth, yet we have become so territorial in church.
EJ: YES.
JG: I really applaud Marvin Sapp and James Fortune, most recently, for being able to create songs that are universal. At the end of the day, it IS God breathing on these songs and allowing them to crossover, but they are able to do it without compromising who they are, and I appreciate that. At the end of the day, I believe that gospel as a whole has become limited and too comfortable singing to ourselves and each other.
EJ: Maaaan… that’s a good word! Gimme one hour in the mall and I’ll spend most of it at ___________.
JG: Oooh. Can I just say “shoe store”?
EJ: *laughing* Yes– let it be known–any and every shoe store.
JG: That’s it!
EJ: *laughs* Cool. If I weren’t singing gospel music, I’d probably be _____________.
JG: I’d probably be an attorney.
EJ: Yeah? I’m an attorney.
JG: Wow! Good deal!
EJ: Mm-hmm. Okay, we need to go back to this one. Folks would be surprised to know that Jessica Greene loves ________________.
JG: Hmmm… I love… THE DOLLAR STORE!
EJ: Nuh-uh! *laughing*
JG: LOVE it. *laughing*
EJ: Why?
JG: Because there is a sense of “I’m getting SO much more for my dollar at the dollar store!” *laughing*
EJ: *laughing* I hear you. I am amazed by the quality of items at the dollar store, for just a dollar! I’m not mad at the dollar store.
JG: *laughing* No, not at all!
EJ: Well, Jessica, that’s it for me. I thank you SO much for chatting with me.
JG: Not a problem, it was my pleasure.
EJ: Thanks. I’m followin’ you on Twitter, so I’ll see you there.
JG: Yeah, I’m on there!
EJ: Cool. And, don’t be a stranger.
JG: Alright, talk to you soon.
EJ: Take care. Bye-bye.
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So that was my chat with Jessica Greene! She’s super cool and rather hilarious. We went IN about that dollar store business, for real. I had to cut some of it out cuz y’all probably would’ve been like “ok…” 
Make sure you follow her on Twitter and visit her MySpace page to connect.
What did you think of what she had to say???
I’ve been rockin’ to his single, “Follow Thee,” for MONTHS now and I 
First, I need to say that 2008 has been a REALLY good year for Habakkuk Music. Their artists collectively got a truckload of Stellar Award nominations (particularly Isaiah D. Thomas & Elements of Praise and Jessica Greene)… they’re pummeling through a bunch of the other indie gospel labels and firmly placing themselves in the game.
