You may not know her name yet, but that will soon change. Suai (pronounced “sway”) is a hot new Universal/Motown artist who is sure to set the airwaves on fire with her unique sound. Having already made an appearance on BET’s hit show, Baldwin Hills, as well as being one of the esteemed artists featured on the “Yes We Can: Voices of a Grassroots Movement” CD for Barack Obama, this Detroit native is ready to take the music world by storm.

Check out my Q&A with this talented new singer:

BGG: Is Suai your birth name? If so, what does it mean?
Suai: My parents didn’t know this when they named me, but later found out that it means “beautiful” in Thai. When I was a little girl, my mother and I came up with an acronym for it, “Smart, Unique, Assertive, Individual.” So yes, that’s my real name.

BGG: Who are some of the artists you’ve opened for so far?
Suai: Last summer I opened for T-Pain and it was a lot of fun. I had a band, a dancer and my background dancers. A lot of my friends were in the front row so it felt like all of these people were there to see me! (laughing)
Brian McKnight was my first professional opening back in 2004. I’ve been signed for 3 years to Universal.

BGG: A lot of people think that many artists’ success comes overnight, but that’s not the case.
Suai: No, it’s a process. Some people get in there and have an album out quicker than 3 years, but for us we wanted to take our time and do it right, as opposed to just putting out anything.

BGG: Hailing from the Motor City, who is your favorite old-school Motown artist?
Suai: I love the Temptations. They were just so fly to me! I’m a female so you’d probably think that it would be somebody like Diana Ross, but the Temptations… I feel like everyone patterns themselves after them. You know the matching suits and their moves were so smooth.

BGG: Tell me how you got signed to Universal/Motown?
Suai: I actually got signed in 2005, but I first came here (New York) in 2004. I auditioned with several different labels, but I got a lot of no’s at first. That gave me a thick skin. It was so hard to hear “no” so many times. I was out here to audition for another label and we ran into this guy who knew Sylvia Rhone (the President of Universal/Motown). He called her and she told him to come on up. I was toting my heavy guitar all around New York I think I was 18 or 19 at the time. I played two songs on my guitar and then we found a piano on another floor and I played two songs on there. She was like, “I love it, I get it, let’s do it!”

BGG: So Sylvia Rhone was the one who signed you?
Suai: Yes, it’s crazy and everybody knows it! It’s pressure, but I try not to think about it and just bring it. I’m known as “Sylvia Rhone’s artist” so they know that she’s put out greatness so they expect me to be great, fly and sell millions. It’s pressure but I’m just trying to do me.

BGG: So what’s the music landscape like in Detroit?
Suai: It’s live…meaning instrumentation. There are a lot of independent artists trying to stake their claim in the city. I like the fact that there are so many types of music for everybody. We have a bit of a rock & roll history too. So there’s a little bit of everything. Somewhere I fit in there! There’s a nice little neo-soul movement going on there too now.

BGG: What can listeners expect to hear from your debut release?
Suai: Yay! That’s my favorite question! (laughing) It’s my favorite question because I am very proud of the fact it’s not one genre. It’s at least 4 of 5 that I can hear; someone else might hear something else! I’ve got hip-hop soul, R&B, pop, alternative…there’s something for everybody. Even if it wasn’t me, it’s an album that I’d always play. I’m so excited!

BGG: What producers have you worked with?
Suai: Sylvia Rhone, Bryan-Michael Cox, Polow the Don, Carvin & Ivan, Linda Perry, Nephew, etc. Having being signed for 3 years you can imagine that I’ve worked with a lot of producers some of the biggest and the best, as well as some new up-and-coming ones too.

BGG: Do you know what’s going to be your first single?
Suai: We’re still deciding, but I know I’d like for “Come Out, Come Out” to be the first single. It’s a song that I wrote at home by myself and I co-produced it too; so it’s special to me because it’s showcasing me as a writer, producer and musician because I’m playing keys on it too. I would love to have that as a first single to let people know that I’m not just a voice and a fly outfit! (laughing)

Check out a snippet of her performing here:

BGG: I hear you mention a lot of instruments, how many do you play?
Suai: I play piano, guitar, I’ve studied cello and flute. But I perform on piano mostly and every now and then I pick up the guitar. I’m going to buy a cello one day!! (laughing)

BGG: Who are some of your music role models?
Suai: Growing up I was listening to Brandy! I met her and I did the whole fan thing. I went up to her and said, “Can I have a hug?” (laughing) I’m an 80s/90s baby so people like Jodeci, Guy, K-Ci & JoJo, Next, Blackstreet…you know all of those. From ages 15-17 I was a self-professed jazz head so I was listening to Ella (Fitzgerald) and Billie (Holiday) who are two of my favorite artists. My mom wanted me to be exposed to a lot of different kinds of music.

BGG: How is your music and overall style different from other young R&B female artists?
Suai: I think what’s going to separate me from the pack is that I’m a stage rat. I love to be on stage. I’ve expressed to my label that I want to be on the road 9 to 10 months out of the year. I want to work this album! I don’t care if they’re small club dates or opening for somebody at a stadium, I just want to be out there. I just love to be on the road! Being on stage is it for me. I believe that my passion for the stage is definitely going to help separate me from other artists.

BGG: Years from now, down the road, what would you like to be known for?
Suai: I would want people to know that I was great. I’d love to have the opportunity to open a performing arts boarding school in Detroit. I just feel like performing arts is a universal language. It was given to me and I really appreciate it.

Be on the lookout for her debut CD in the coming months. For more information, check out her website, www.suaionline.com.

Do you remember when some of your favorite artists first started?

For those of you who are in the NYC area, she will be performing tonight at Tillman’s at 11pm.

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From “Get it Shawty,” to “Southside,” R&B singer, Lloyd has made a name for himself in the pop and R&B world. Hailing from Atlanta, the charismatic singer talks to me about his life and latest CD, Lessons in Love.

Check out our Q&A:

BGG: You seem extremely excited. Are you happy to be here?
Lloyd: I’m here in New York City and I’m extremely happy to be here! This is the city of opportunity that never sleeps! It feels refreshing to be in a place that’s alive and full of life. Where I’m from originally, New Orleans, is pretty devastated. It hasn’t been restored to the place of musical genius, exquisite taste or fun-loving people like it used to be. So to come here and just see this place alive feels good.

BGG: When did you move from New Orleans? I know that you currently live in Atlanta.
Lloyd: I’ve been in Atlanta since the age of 2. So basically pretty much all of my life. Ever since my father was murdered, we moved to Atlanta.

BGG: Do you have siblings?
Lloyd: At the time it was just my sister, Brandi, my mom and me. From there, my mom would go on to have 4 more kids.

BGG: Do you want to expound on your father’s passing?
Lloyd: He was shot. It wasn’t the nicest neighborhood where we’re from. In fact, it was the worst neighborhood in New Orleans. My father was a saxophonist, vocalist and choir director. He’s someone who I often credit for giving me my gift. I think it’s hereditary. A lot of things that I do, my mom says reminds her of him. Certain ways I look at her, etc. So I didn’t know him, I just knew about him. Throughout the years he has become probably the foundation of what really drives me to be the best. It’s like he didn’t die in vain. He died trying to provide a better life for us. It’s like the ultimate sacrifice he made in order for me to have a better life. If he had never been killed, then we probably never would’ve moved to Atlanta. It’s also taught me to just find the blessings buried in tragedy.

BGG: So I was reading that you used to be a member of the singing group N-Toon? Tell me about that.
Lloyd: We had a single and we had a video. This was back in like 1999. Sammy was out right around that time too. We were all really good friends. We also had the same management. We’re actually still really close to this day.

BGG: Why did you decide to leave the group?
Lloyd: It really wasn’t a decision; it was more like an ultimatum. It was like, if you want to continue doing music, you’re going to have to do it by yourself because for some reason that’s greater than myself the group couldn’t go on. I always try to encourage the guys to get back together.

BGG: How many members were there?
Lloyd: Four, including my little brother!

Lloyd: That’s hot right there!!
BGG: What’s hot? (I didn’t notice that his newest music video, “Girls Around the World,” starts playing on the TV while we’re talking)

BGG: How does it make you feel when you turn on the TV and there you are?
Lloyd: It makes me feel even better to see Hype (Williams’, the music video director) name up there!! (laughing) It’s a great feeling! It feels like I’m breathing the freshest air right now. It feels like I’m on top of my game and that I’m giving the people all that I can and I feel really good about it.

Check out the video for “Girls Around the World”:

BGG: What was it like working with Lil’ Wayne on Lessons in Love?
Lloyd: Well, he’s the hottest rapper in the world so being able to collaborate with him is like an out-of-body experience. I hope to work with him again in the future. We’ve already had a lot of collaborations over the past few years. I think we really have pretty good chemistry. When you’re making music, it’s not rocket science. It’s just feeling, emotion and the moment. It’s about trying to capture special moments in time. You never know if someone is going to like something. I just know that whenever we work, we always enjoy the music that we’re doing. We always have a great time. We’ll be jumping off the walls, saying, “When people hear this they’re going to love it!”

BGG: So was this (“Girls Around the World”) song the most fun to record?
Lloyd: Definitely. Out of all of the songs I recorded for this album, this was my favorite; in terms of having to be the most fun while making it. It was very organic. I came in with a bass line idea originally. We had already recorded about 12 songs for the album, so we were near the end of the recording process. The base of the album had already been recorded, but I still wanted that banger. I had the bass line in my head, but I just didn’t know how to get it out! So I called up my friends and they met me at the studio, they called the bass player, the piano player, etc. We ended up creating it right there, starting with the bass line. It was just on and poppin! It was like a party.

BGG: Was Lil’ Wayne there?
Lloyd: No, I sent it to him. You know due to our schedules he wasn’t there.

BGG: How did you get signed to the Inc.?
Lloyd: I met Irv (Gotti) from a friend of a friend and we just hit it off immediately.

BGG: How is this album different from your two previous CDs?
Lloyd: It’s less selfish, it’s not so much about me, me, me – give me what I want, this is how I feel. It’s less about Lloyd and more about the listeners. I’m sharing lessons that I’ve learned with them. Before, I was growing into my own skin. I was just recognizing myself with my fans. Then I was the student, now I’m the teacher! (laughing) The music’s much better. It’s more solid and the ideas are a little bit more advanced. I think that’s good and healthy for your creative mind.

BGG: What do you want your listeners to feel when they hear this album?
Lloyd: I want them to feel good! I want them to feel like they can depend on me to help make them feel better. They can depend on me to be those missing words that will make their love lives a bit better. I want them to feel like this is great music.

BGG: Do you prefer singing ballads or up-tempo tracks?
Lloyd: It doesn’t even matter! It just depends on how you feel. Sometimes I want to party – I want to go fast. I’ll drop my top and play “Get it Shawty,” “Girls Around the World,” etc. Then there are times when I’m at home and I just want something that sets the mood and that’s when the ballads come into play.

BGG: What lessons have you learned pertaining to the music business since the last album?
Lloyd: That thee most challenging thing to do is to challenge yourself. The best thing for music is more challenges. There are more young acts representing for themselves and their families through their music. When I listen to the radio today and hear all of these young kings coming with it, it forces me to do better. It only fuels the drive. At the end of the day, we only have ourselves to fight. You can become your worst enemy, you can lose yourself so you have to have a very strong mind and you have to be willing to push yourself and give people more than what’s expected of you. Now I’m not just writing or singing, I’m I’m executively producing and releasing projects through my own company. I’m taking a bigger stand and I’ve learned that music’s opportunities are limitless.

BGG: What inspired you to create your own label? What kinds of artists are you looking for?
Lloyd: I’m looking for artists who are creative individuals who dare to be different. I’m looking for any genre because I like all music. I love John Mayer, Coldplay, Phil Collins, etc. I just like all music.

BGG: How do you handle female groupies that throw themselves at you? What keeps you focused?
Lloyd: My upbringing, my family, what I stand for ultimately. There are days when I want to succumb to temptation, but then I remember why I’m here and how I got here. Not taking a girl’s heart for granted and realizing that by going out and indulging in these temptations, I’m no really helping out – that’s not the answer to the problem. You know sex and love is misrepresented through the media. Sex is overtly advertised, but nobody wants to talk about before you have sex, you should understand who you are and what you’re looking to get out of your relationship. Love is something that’s supposed to last forever. Sex is just for a moment.

BGG: Will guys feel left out if they bought your Lessons in Love?
Lloyd: No, not at all. That’s the cool thing about my music; I’m the guy that the girls want to be with and the guys want to be like. Not to say that arrogantly, but I want to be the guy who has the song with Rick Ross or just be crazy with it or I want to be the guy who sets the mood. Kind of like John Travolta’s character on Grease; tough guy on the outside, but nice good guy on the inside!

BGG: What do you want people to know about Lloyd?
Lloyd: I want people to know that I’m one of the good guys! I’m looking out for them. I’m not going to be the one who disrespects them. I’m the gentleman of my crew! I want them to know that. I also want them to know that music isn’t just a check for me. It’s something that I really value and cherish and hold dear to my heart. When I record I try to give it all that I have.

Lloyd’s CD, Lessons in Love is in stores now.

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Just when you were afraid that great soul singing was a thing of the past, R&B newcomer, Jazmine Sullivan, is here to put all of your fears to rest. This 21-year-old Philadelphia native is heating up the airwaves with her soulful, reggae-infused hit single, “Need U Bad,” from her forthcoming debut disc, Fearless. Signed to J Records, Jazmine’s poignant, strong and sultry voice is sure to get noticed. With production by Missy Elliott, Salaam Remi, Jack Splash, Tricky, Wyclef, Stargate and more, Fearless, will definitely be the album that everyone is talking about it.

I recently had a chance to interview the budding superstar diva.

Check out our Q&A:

BGG: When did you know that you wanted to become a professional singer? Did you sing in church while growing up?
JS: Yes, I started when I was about 5 or 6. My actual earliest memory of singing was in my mom’s plays at church. She used to throw plays at church. But I decided to sing R&B professionally at the age of 12. My parents were very supportive even though my mother was really strict; we didn’t listen to a lot of R&B.

BGG: Did you grow up in a large family?
JS: I guess it’s considered large, but it doesn’t seem that large to me. They’re not a lot of singers either. My mom sang when she was younger and her sister did a bit too, but now I’m pretty much the only one who sings. They supported me with the decision to sing so my mom got me hooked up with an organization called, The Black Lily, in Philadelphia, which was started by the Jazzy Phat Nasties. It was a place for female singers to get their chance to shine. So I sang there like every other Tuesday so I would go there, sing at night and then get up early the next morning and go to school. It was crazy! (laughing)

BGG: I’m sure it was worth it since you were doing what you loved.
JS: Yeah, it was! I got a chance to watch and learn from performers like Floetry, Kindred…I got a chance to soak up all of the things that they do that make them great. I got signed when I was 16 to Jive Records…(long pause) It didn’t work out! (laughing) I think the main reason was because I was so young and I didn’t really know who I was as an artist and the vision they had for me wasn’t what I wanted. In the end, it ended up being a blessing in itself because it gave me time to grow and I got better at my writing, which eventually led me to getting signed to J (Records)!

BGG: What do you think about the constant comparisons between your voice and Lauryn Hill’s? I know you’ve heard that so many times!
JS: Yes, I’ve heard it a million times! I never thought before this song came out that I’d be compared to Lauryn because I didn’t think that we sounded anything alike. But it’s not a bad thing, Lauryn’s a great artist, I love her, I listen to her! I listened to the Miseducation of Lauryn Hill about a million times so it’s safe to say that she’s influenced me; but I think because of the reggae vibe of the first single, it’s easy to make that comparison, but once people hear the rest of the album, they’ll be like, “She’s nothing like Lauryn Hill.” I mean it’s cool; she’s a great artist.

BGG: What inspired the hit, “Need U Bad?”
JS: It was a feeling thing. I was in the studio working with Missy (Elliott) and she presented the track and it just felt good. Lyrically the song speaks to me. The sound made me want to write something to it. The track made me want to sing “need u bad.” Once we did it and actually while we were doing it, we realized that it was special.

BGG: What was it like shooting your first music video? Was it what you expected?
JS: Yeah, it was really everything that I expected. Long hours, tiring, work, but it was fun. I had a wonderful director, Jonathan Mannion, who coached me through it realizing that it was my first video. It was not a lot of pressure on set; it was kind of like, “go ahead, do your thing.” The way he filmed it made it easier. Filming me doing things that I’m used to doing in my element like, which is either recording or performing live so it was cool.

BGG: Where did you shoot it?
JS: We shot it in Brooklyn.

Check out her debut video below:

BGG: How would you describe your forthcoming debut CD?
JS: Different. It’s different from anything else. It’s real and relatable. The subjects that I’m speaking about, people feel and I don’t think a lot of people touch on the subjects that I talk about on my album. Musically, it’s all things that I’ve been influenced by so far so there’s a bit of hip-hop, of course R&B, jazz, reggae, pop, it’s everything in there.

BGG: What are some of the subjects that you talk about?
JS: What subjects don’t I talk about! (laughing) There’s one song that seems to be getting good feedback called, “Bust Your Windows.” I’m not really promoting violence or really busting somebody’s windows out. The main message in that song is about there being consequences to infidelity on anybody’s part. You know, love can really make you do some really crazy things, but know that there are always consequences to your actions.

BGG: I know that you’ve been singing since you were 5-years-old, but do you ever get nervous while performing? If so, what do you do to get over the butterflies?
JS: No, not really. I guess it’s because I’ve been doing it for so long that it’s become second nature. I just get so much love (when I’m on stage) that it just feels good to just release.

BGG: What makes your sound unique from the other R&B female artists on the airwaves today?
JS: I think first my voice, I don’t think there are a lot of people who sound like me. Secondly, I’d say my lyrics. I personally, don’t hear many females speaking about the things I speak about sets me apart. Plus, the fact that I’m a writer too; I’ve written my whole album.

BGG: I know that you’ve penned songs for other artists in the past, such as Christina Milian, are you still writing for other artists? If so, who?
JS: No, I really focus on getting my stuff out. I’ve been on the backburner for so long so I’ve just been focused all on my album. But of course I’d like to write for other artists. I would like to submit a song to Fantasia. I’m actually supposed to.

BGG: If you could choose to do a duet with anyone who would it be? Why?
JS: Andre 3000. He’s creative and I love to be around creative people. Also, Kanye West. I love being around people who aren’t afraid to be different and try different things.

BGG: What’s in the water in Philadelphia? That city has spawned so many great musical acts. Do you think that artists from Philadelphia have a unique sound?
JS: There is a rich history there of soulful music. Gamble & Huff were pioneers of hit records. They were great writers and their songs have stood the test of time and are even relevant today. I think that people who come from Philly, we know that’s what the background is and we want to carry it on.

BGG: What’s next for you? Are you going on a promotional tour?
JS: I’m doing a lot of radio promo right now and I do have a couple of shows lined up. So we’ll be probably going on tour soon.

BGG: What do you want people to know about, Jazmine Sullivan?
JS: Jazmine Sullivan is very thankful for all of the support that she’s been getting. This is what I love to do. I’m just grateful that I have this opportunity. I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long and it’s just overwhelming that I really get to do what I love.
Just keep supporting and I’ll keep making good music.

**While in the process of recording and promoting her album, Jazmine will give fans an inside look into her life by leaving voice mail updates along her journey. Fans can call Jazmine at (215) 789-4753 to hear her updates and leave messages!

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