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A Musical Journey Through 'The Black Book' with Jully Black
by Troy Rogers
 After
two albums and collaborating with the likes of
Nas, Missy Elliott, Saukrates, Choclair, Esthero,
Destiny's Child, and Sean Paul, Toronto born R&B
diva, Jully Black, is back and at the top of her
game with the November 23 release of her third
record, The Black Book. Although Jully found early
success with "Rally'n" and "You Changed" before
hitting the charts with "Sweat of Your Brow",
"5x Love"/"Material Things", "I Traveled", and
"Until I Stay", it was "Seven Day Fool" and "Revival"
in 2007 that took Jully Black to new musical heights
as an artist.
Now in 2009, with the release of The Black Book, the Juno award winning Jully Black has evolved into a mature R&B artist with a greater sense of self awareness and self confidence in terms of knowing exactly what she wants to say through her music. Also stepping into the role of producer, Jully Black is beginning to blossom as an artist in control while hitting her musical stride.
Leading up to the release of The Black Book, with the first single "Running" already on the charts, we had the pleasure to go one-on-one with the lovely and gifted Jully Black who filled us in on the inspiration behind The Black Book, how she's evolved since her last album, how the world around her influenced the new music, how she's adapted to the changes in the music industry, and what it's like for Jully to reach into her musical black book and touch someone with a song.
THE DEADBOLT: Tell me the inspiration behind the album title, The Black Book.
 BLACK:
When we think of a black book, we think of phone
numbers and secrets or a diary. But my black
book has been my soul, my spirit, my life. I've
experienced so much over the years that has
less and less to do with me personally and more
to do with the world and the people around me.
So I wanted to write a record that's just totally
relatable on a level that's deeper than "he
just broke my heart" or whatever. So my black
book has songs in there that are meaningful
and have purpose without being preachy. It's
time for us to really be strong individually
and go for whatever it is we need to go for,
especially in a time where the climate is that
people are a bit fearful. I think it's the responsibility
of the musicians and the artists of the world
to provide a place of redemption, just something
for people to hold onto and have hope. That's
where my black book came from.
THE DEADBOLT: You have a lot to say on this record. Since your last album, what's been the most significant change for you, musically?
BLACK: The most significant change for
me musically since my last album has been becoming
a producer and studying the great producers
of the world, like the Quincy Jones the Rick
Rubins of the world. Also, realizing that even
though you may not play an instrument, my voice
is my instrument, when I hear something I know
how I like my music to sound. So I was able
to step into the role of producer this time
around and be totally in the driver's seat.
THE DEADBOLT: It really feels like your confidence continues to blossom each year. How much of that comes from having more control over your music?
 BLACK:
A lot of it comes from having more control.
It's like the control was always there but the
confidence may not have been all the way there.
I've always been confident in my singing and
performing and my interviewer skills, but in
an industry where it is predominately male at
times, for a woman to be the producer it was
almost unheard of. I don't know. Maybe I was
just fooling myself? But it was just nice to
have the vision and have the team to pull it
together for me. Even in the artwork, in that
cover, knowing I wanted body paint. Also, knowing
I wanted my record to evolve into a sound that's
a little more rock, a little more of what I
grew up listening to, and knowing that I love
Miss Tina Turner. Knowing her story, going from
"Proud Mary" to "Private Dancer", "We Don't
Need Another Hero", and being ready to embrace
change, a lot of it came from there, like, "Wow.
I can do this. I really can do this."
THE DEADBOLT: With "Running," and running to the fight and revolution, how has society and world events shaped your music for this record?
BLACK: Big time! We're a global community now, especially with the internet. We're knowing what's going on in Iran and the Presidential campaign was all over the place with the Obama election. The world is going through change and we're not exempt from it anymore, the climate changes and various things that we need to all be aware of, because it does affect us. With hunger going on and the rise in HIV and various things, I'm like, "You know what? I can write about this stuff and not be evangelical about it. I have a platform via my music where people pay attention. So I can do this. I really can." World events played an important role. We can click a mouse right now and see what's going on half way across the earth.
THE DEADBOLT: It's interesting because I've spoken with Ziggy Marley, K-OS, State Radio and others who are spreading positive change. How do you see a need for change now in terms of when you recorded your first album?
BLACK: There is such a big need for change starting in the homes, because the generation coming up now have so much at their fingertips that I don't even think they realize how easy it can be to take advantage of these things, like the opportunities. We're living in a day where the young people have a feeling of entitlement. You know, "Gimme, gimme." Basically you don't have to get a record deal anymore, for instance, and release a mixed tape on you're online space. It's just a new day of climate change.
 In
2005 there wasn't even social networking. There
wasn't Twitter. So I'm excited about being able
to communicate with K-OS and K'Naan and various
people, the will i ams, the Bonos. When you
think about online and how you can join someone's
page and see what there talking about, or follow
them on Twitter and be able to communicate with
like minded people, it's a wonderful thing.
If it's used positively, it's a beautiful thing.
THE DEADBOLT: It feels like just a few years ago when you were breaking out, music was open with a lot of styles in play at once, like everything was cool to listen to. Is it tougher to find a place in today's climate with a new album?
BLACK: [laughs] Not to me. I'm just comfortable with where I'm confident. I think you're paving the road that you're walking on. If you stick to doing you and being you then there will always be a place for you. If you are trying to perform and fit in, it's no different than being in the schoolyard. You may not have the cool shoes right now, but if you stick to being you and being confident, getting your grades doing well, you'll be the cool guy.
THE DEADBOLT: Your interview with Jay-Z was great, especially the part about using the music to reach someone through your lyrics. How important is that for you in your journey?
 BLACK:
Thank you very much. It's very important. It's
the most important thing. Again, going back
to your question about 2005 to right now, my
first record to now is like we had the opportunity
to not be so focused on just the beats. The
music is awesome, but really strip it all away
and there's a message. The message needs to
be there otherwise it could be an album with
a flute and that's it. And there's no disrespect
to the classical flute player. My point is that
if you have something to say, you need to have
confidence to say it and stand behind your words
and then have the confidence to get lost in
your lyrics when you perform it.
But for me, I write these songs so that I can get to the stage. There's no way I can make it to the stage without the songs. I know when I'm performing these songs there are people coming who may not even know half of the songs that I sing. But it's touching somebody in that moment of their life, whether it's "I Traveled" or "Time of Your Life", "Until I Stay", "Seven Day Fool" or "Running", somebody out there needed to hear that message in that moment.
I had a woman come to my autograph table who had a brain tumor and she was dying. She said to me, "This may be my last concert, but I love you and you make me feel happy. I feel happy when I'm listening to your music." I was flattered and then I was saddened and disappointed in myself because there are times when I complain about such trivial things when I was able to share a moment with that woman that no award could ever give me that feeling, ever. So it's very important to really stand behind your lyrics and know what you're saying.
THE DEADBOLT: Just out of curiosity, what do you think of Oprah going off of the air?
 BLACK:
There will be a void for sure. There won't be
another Oprah, ever, in life. But that's okay
because there will be another someone else.
I think change is growth and twenty five years
is a long time. She may be ready. Who knows
what her life is like? Going into her mid-fifties,
she's charting her own course. It will be a
great opportunity for TV to grow as well in
other ways. I love her and I'm a fan of Oprah.
I got to meet her, so at least I got that far.
I got to meet her, we even hugged [laughs].
But whatever is supposed to happen is supposed
to happen. I support whatever it is she wants
to do with her life, even from afar.
THE DEADBOLT: Can you talk about the inspiration for "Recalculate"?
BLACK: [laughs] I can. I'm sure you've been there, those people that have been in your life for awhile and kind of let you down and you didn't understand that that was their true character. And rather than blowing it out and turning it into some real ugly argument, you just kind of act like the GPS lady when you make the wrong turn and she says, "Recalculating." You have to just make a quick U-turn and get yourself back on track. Metaphorically, that's what "Recalculated" is about. It was about a certain individual but we were able to spread it so that everyone could relate to it and identify.
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