December 15, 2005 @ 11:13 am

Jaguar Wright: Married to Soul

Clay Cane

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Before we heard about 50 Cent being shot nine times, or witnessed the excessive arrogance of Kanye “Napoleon Complex” West – there was “neo-soul” dominating the land of R&B/hip-hop. Everywhere we turned we saw natural hair, afros, beaded necklaces and songs about gooey love. Many artists evolved out of that era and one was Jaguar Wright, an impassioned soul singer who garnered critical acclaim due to her rugged growls and annihilating wails with the 2002 release of Denials, Delusions and Decisions. She made an unforgettable contribution to Jay-Z’s Unplugged album by singing background vocals on the now legendary ballad “Song Cry.” On her latest album Divorcing Neo 2 Marry Soul she defames the neo-soul category and demands to be recognized as the true soul singer that she has always been. In a candid interview with Vibe.com, Wright spoke about life changing moments and the current state of R&B music. Vibe.com: I met you at a Black AIDS Institute fundraiser and World AIDS Day just passed. How has HIV/AIDS affected your life? Jaguar Wright: Well, my first experience was with my Uncle. He was 26 when he passed away in 1989. I can’t begin to really put into words what that did to me. I remember being a little girl and it not registering. The only thing that registered to me was that this is my Uncle and he had this “thing,” and no one knows what it is. I started learning more about the disease and people were still trying to make it a gay disease – and the truth is, it had nothing to do with that. It’s a people disease – it has always been a human disease. Being in the hospital and watching him take his last breath was very unsettling but there was a revelation for me at the moment. To be that young and witness that for yourself – it changes you. It changes your outlook on who you are, who you want to be and the way you want to live your life. I learned that we have to be loving, supportive and we cannot be judgmental. It doesn’t matter how someone got the disease because it kills human beings – and that’s really the bottom line. I love the title of your latest album Divorcing Neo 2 Marry Soul. Was your marriage to neo-soul willing, or were you pegged a neo soul artist? J.W.: Yeah, I was definitely pegged neo-soul. I disagreed with it as time went on and as the whole neo-soul brand got bigger. I started reading articles that would say, “neo-soul artist Faith Evans”, or, “Usher” – Faith and Usher are pop singers! My friend Res was labeled neo-soul and she’s alternative rock. So, I said, okay, this is the new nigger music! They found a way to just group us all together. Then I said, there’s no way to identify this thing and it’s strictly a marketing tool. Marketing is very important in the corporate world, but it still isn’t the basis for art. The truth is that I’m just a soul singer. What is your take on current R&B music? right Jaguar Wright: I don’t know – music as a whole right now is a bastard mulatto child. A lot of new country sounds like pop music. A lot of the pop music sounds like R&B. You don’t get a R&B song that isn’t hip-hop influenced anymore. Some of the better R&B songs to come out have been rap hip-hop songs with someone just singing the hook. I don’t know what to think of it. Do I care for a lot of it? No – because there’s no message in it. Usher is considered the new Michael Jackson, but would Michael Jackson have done a song with Flava Flav? You got the new Michael Jackson [Usher] doing a ballad with Lil’ Jon, the new Flava Flav! (laughs) It’s out of control. One of our biggest artists, Ciara, she’s more known for what she wears or how she dances than the content of her songs. When you look at new kids like Bobby Valentino, who isn’t new – the first time I heard his voice was on a song called “Blackberry Molasses.” He has this really great first single and the next singles that come out sound exactly like it! It just shows there’s a lack of creativity nowadays. People are doing whatever they can do to make a buck. You’re a raw and ballsy live performer. How do you balance that rawness with being a mother? J.W.: I live two completely separate lives. I’m very adamant about keeping work at work. Am I still that crazy ballsy chick at home? Yes, but in a different way because I’m somebody’s wife, mother, or daughter. I’ve always lived my life very compartmentally. What’s the most romantic thing you’ve experienced? J.W.: The most romantic thing I’ve ever experienced was watching my husband hold our son when he was born. What part of the music industry do you find the most frustrating? J.W.: Corporations. Who do you listen to outside of R&B music? J.W.: I don’t listen to a lot of R&B music. I listen to a lot of everything - mostly I listen to jazz. A lot of rock, some country, of course soul music – I’m always listening and I’m one of those people who dive into music as a whole. What do you want for Christmas? J.W.: I want four sold out tours back to back! Tell me the first thing that comes to mind when I say these words - Hurricane Katrina. J.W.: Travesty. Kwanzaa… J.W.: Underrated. Star Jones and Al Reynolds? J.W.: (LOUD laughter) Are you successfully married to soul music? J.W.: Without a doubt. Read more vibe.com online exclusives.

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