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NAO Talks Vulnerability & Being Black And British At ESSENCE Fest

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"With the change of how music's been listened to and the fact that we do have the internet, artists like me are able to find our way and sell out tours around the world... It's a really amazing thing," the singer/songwriter told the Recording Academy
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Jul 8, 2019 - 10:43 am

British artist NAO was all smiles backstage during her first time at ESSENCE Fest. Although from across the pond, the "Another Lifetime" singer brought perspective to the event celebrating black culture in New Orleans.

"I'm British, we have a whole different scene out over there. To be black and British and a singer is actually quite new," she told the Recording Academy. "There's only a handful of people that have really been able to stand out, but with the change of how music's been listened to and the fact that we do have the internet, artists like me are able to find our way and sell out tours around the world... It's a really amazing thing."

NAO On Being Black & British, Vulnerability & More

Through her two albums, For All We Know and Saturn, the singer has transitioned from a sound she callled "wonky funk" (because there was no other way to describe her mix of R&B, electronic and funk) to what she called a more solidified sound on her sophmore effort.

Throughout her music making, she has been afraid to be raw.

"How I wish perfect was enough/ For my own heart/ Sometimes I swear it was enough/ For my own heart/ I guess I'll wait another lifetime," she sings in "Another Lifetime."
 
Regarding being open and honest in the studio, she said, "Being vulnerable is really easy when you're in the studio on your own, and I guess I kinda forget that. But in general what we understand about being vulnerable is how much it helps other people. I really understand now the power of music and the power of healing and the power of sharing your story in your words and how it can comfort  so many people."
 
NAO hopes to start working on her third album soon and that will probably mean more songs from the heart. "I'm happy to be vulnerable if it helps somebody get past a difficult time in their lives," she said.

Afrobeats Artist Ayoinmotion's Journey To ESSENCE Fest: "Hard Work Pays"

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Mary J. Blige

Photo: Erika Goldring/Getty Images

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The Magic Of ESSENCE 25th Anniversary Celebration: "It's Like A Family Reunion Even Though You Don't Know Everybody Here"

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"Being able to celebrate black culture at this magnitude means everything because we've never had anything like this," MC Lyte said
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Jul 8, 2019 - 5:57 pm

New Orleans' Central Business District looked starkly different Monday morning as city locals hurried to work in ties and business attire. Gone were the crowds of people walking around in the heat of the southern city in their most fabulous summer outfits as R&B, hip-hop, soul and more took over the Big Easy's Superdome once again for ESSENCE Fest 25th anniversary. 

This year locals and those from far and wide came together to watch performances from iconic artists like Missy Elliott and Mary J. Blige and hitmakers like Pharrell Williams and Timbaland to emerging artists like Normani and H.E.R at the biggest festival celebration of black culture in the country that took place July 5–7. But the festival was more than just music, it was a space where conversations around food, politics, business and more.  

ESSENCE Fest 2019: Recording Academy On The Road

While the fest has happened in New Orleans since its inception, this year was different for great reason. The fest, born out of ESSENCE magazine aimed mostly to its black female readership, celebrated 25 years of brining different parts of black culture under one roof and the musical artists performing reflected on the milestone. MC Lyte, who curated one of the ESSENCE events that took over the venues all over the city, with women in hip-hop broke down why the fest means so much. 

"Being able to celebrate black culture at this magnitude means everything because we've never had anything like this. Growing up, we certainly didn;t at least in my era and even now to date. The ESSENCE Music Festival is truly one of a kind," she said. 

For some performers like New Orleans native  PJ Morton, the 25th anniversary was a very special moment as it brought him back full-circle.  

"I've been going to this festival since I was 14 years old and really changed my life as far as wanting to be a musician and seeing how it was presented, " he said. "When ESSENCE asked me to be a part [of the festival] again, I said 'I just don't want to play it again, I've played it before, let's do something special. Especially to kind of commemorate all these things, winning the GRAMMY award this year and me being able to come home. Part of winning that GRAMMY and writing those songs and making that album was me leaving L.A. and moving back home to new Orleans three years ago, so for me it was just a perfect full-circle moment to do a recording."

The singer made history during the night of his performance by recording a live album at the fest for the first time ever.

But he wasn't the only local with special ties to the fest. Rising star Normani, also a big easy native and first time performer at the fest, shared why the fest is so special to her.

"I'm grateful that I can finally be a part of it. For as long as I can remember growing up ESSENCE was ESSENCE and it's just really coolfor me to be a prt of it. My grandmother, she came, my nanny came,  my uncles they came out too and it's beautiful for me to be able to really represent my city in such a way, she said."

The opportunity to talk and have conversations with other women in particular is what excites singer Mumu Fresh the most about the festival. "[Women] who are affirming you and just sharing their stories."

"It's like a family reunion even though you don't know everybody here.They've shared your experience and everyone's just loving and gorgeous, all day long I've been walking by strangers who have been like 'YES hair, YES shoes YES face' and I'm like 'Awww heeyy, you too.' It's really fun, it's really beautiful."

NAO Talks Vulnerability & Being Black And British At ESSENCE Fest

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BJ The Chicago Kid

Photo: Daniel Mendoza/Recording Academy

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BJ The Chicago Kid On Rick Ross, His New LP '1123,' The Honor Of Playing ESSENCE & More

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GRAMMY-nominated singer/songwriter BJ The Chicago Kid says he loves ESSENCE Fest because "We get to rock with our people" - hear the details on his new album in our exclusive backstage interview
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Jul 6, 2019 - 5:15 pm

GRAMMY-nominated singer/songwriter BJ The Chicago Kid brought a sense of urgency to ESSENCE Fest with him this year. "Ya'll need to know how important this album is," he tells us about his new album 1123, which comes out July 26. 

BJ The Chicago Kid Talks New Album At ESSENCE

"I've always been fans of a lot of the people I've actually had a first chance to work with on this album, from Cool and Dre to Danger to Afrojack, and then you have people that I've always worked with, that I've always created magic with as well," he said. "Rick Ross is a new guy that I've always wanted to work with as well, It was an honor to actually have Rick Ross on the album."

The Chicago native said he wanted fans to see another dimension of him on his upcoming album.

"I've always put my life experiences [in my albums,] the new stories, just the new chapters of life I've always included into the music and I think it's always been the best thing for me, so you will see a big difference between 1123 and In My Mind."

When it comes to what it means to him to perform at ESSENCE, but be part of its community, BJ said, "ESSENCE has always supported soul and R&B music." He talked how it's variety of stage sizes, rooms and genres provide something for everybody. "ESSENCE always gives you more than what you need."

PJ Morton Makes History With Live Album At ESSENCE Fest, Reflects On Impact The Big Easy Fest Has Had on Him

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Brownstone

Photo: Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images for SiriusXM

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Brownstone Celebrate 25th Anniversary Of 'From The Bottom Up' At ESSENCE Fest

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"We were here 25 years ago and we're now celebrating our 25th anniversary of 'From The Bottom Up,' our first album, and to be here with ESSENCE means everything," group member Monica "Mimi" Doby said
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Jul 6, 2019 - 4:07 pm

ESSENCE Fest may be celebrating 25 year of bringing one of the biggest celebrations of black culture to life, but they're not the only ones with a reason to party. GRAMMY-nominated R&B group Brownstone, signed by Michael Jackson in the mid-'90s, is celebrating their own milestone: 25 years since they released their debut album. The now quartet reunited at the festival to commemorate their anniversary.

"We were here 25 years ago and we're now celebrating our 25th anniversary of From The Bottom Up, our first album,and to be here with ESSENCE means everything," group member Monica "Mimi" Doby said. "Essence has supported us and been there. They were there since the beginning and now to have us back means a lot. Thank you Essence."



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The Los Angeles group's debut featured one of their biggest hits, "If You Love Me."  The song landed members at the time, Doby, Nichole "Nicci" Gilbert and Charmayne Maxena "Maxee" Maxwell on the charts and earned them a nomination for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal at the 38th GRAMMY Awards during a time that where R&B ruled balck music.

Throughout their career, it has been their sisterhood that has kept them tight. "We know how to gravitate to one another in a way where we could help heal one another when we're down. We can be that shoulder, we can be that ear. We can be that friend," Teisha Brown, who joined the group later, said.

"As real sisters do, you may have a moment where there's a hiccup," she admitted. "But when you love someone you know how to revamp, start over, re-group, 'hey that didn't work, but we're going to try it this way' and that's what we do as sisters, we're always trying to empower one another. We're always trying to uplift one another. We're always pushing each other forward."

She continued: "That's what you do when you're real sisters, you care about your sister and that's what we do and we're trying to make sure that comes across and it reads to our audience, especially the young ladies that are watching us. That's very very important for us."  

Years later, while the group's bond is tighter than ever, the group itself has changed. Maxwell, one of the original members died in 2015. Gilbert said that although not physically present, Maxwell continues to be a part of their bond. 

"Our sister Maxee. The fact that we're here, knowing that she is here with us in spirit continuing the legacy, honoring her even thoughs she is not here with us today is a really really big part of our sisterhood," she said.

Brown added that Maxwell continues to be with them in spirit: "She has been with us every step of the way, to this very moment standing in front of you all." 

In 2019, Brownstone continues to look forward despite tragedy. Now the group is looking to rebrand.  

"Brownstone is known as a three-member group and now you see of course there are four women here today, Gilbert said. "What we are doing is pushing the envelope, putting our millennial caps on and rebranding. As the group has grown and our legacy has continued, what we're doing is introducing the Brownstone Experience and what that is just women who are incredibly talented coming together in hamony. We are introducing Ms. Arin Jackson to our experience."

The group hopes to continue their legacy through the new Brownstone Experience, which will have many women signing along with them on stage. At the end of the day, they will continue what they've been doing since the beginning, as Gilbert put it: "Brownstone has always been about girl power. Brownstone has always been about women uplifting women."

Party With A Purpose: 5 Things To Get Excited For At Essence Fest 2019

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Rotimi

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Rotimi On Performing At ESSENCE Fest, Growing Up African-American & More

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The Nigerian-American singer and actor sat down with the Recording Academy to talk about what inspired his latest album, 'Walk With Me'
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Jul 8, 2019 - 11:04 am

In 2015, Rotimi stepped into the New Orleans Superdome for the first time to experience the magic of ESSENCE Fest. Four years later, in 2019, the "Love Riddim" singer returned to the celebration as a performer, something he said was spoken into existence.

"Last year me and my manager had a conversation and I said, 'Listen, I'm going to be on the [ESSENCE] mainstage this year. 365 days later, we did it," Rotimi told the Recording Academy at the 25th annual ESSENCE Fest.

Rotimi On Growing Up Nigerian-American

Rotimi, also an actor on Starz' "Power," has evolved since his last album, 2017's Jeep Music, Vol.1. The singer said he really hit home with its follow-up, the recently released Walk With Me, a project he worked hard for, putting in hours in the studio after filming on set.

"Walk With Me is the first time I actually felt like I was giving myself as an artist, and personally I feel like with everything else I have going on I wanted to show people that this is really what I do," he said. "I wanted people to understand who Rotimi is, who Rotimi was before, who I want to be and just understand my growth and the journey and my passion for what I do."

Part of why the album felt like such a representation of him is because it embodies beats of his African roots, something he said was very present growing up Nigerian-American. 

"I grew up with a lot of Fela Kuti and I grew up with Bob Marley," he said of his musical roots. "But I also grew up with Carl Thomas and Genuine and Usher, so there was a genuine mixture of who I am and what I've grown up to listen to. The actual Walk With Me project was a mixture of influences of Akon and Craig David."

Mumu Fresh On What She Learned From Working With The Roots, Rhyming & More