” By accepting whatever comes, this helps me evolve as everything becomes possible. I practice achieving my goals – the more I see it happen the more motivated I am to make it happen” – @stoneandjezreel
Listen to the Interview
Episode #306 : A.V.A Live Radio Behind The Music with Jacqueline Jax http://www.blogtalkradio.com/avaliveradio/2016/03/16/episode-306-ava-live-radio-behind-the-music-with-jacqueline-jax
GETTING TO KNOW STONE & JEZREEL
by Jacqueline Jax host of A.V.A Live Radio
Music business…
I feel that it is important to not lose yourself in it.
Pros – you get to meet people with different backgrounds and it all makes you grow bigger and better ☺.
Cons – As an unsigned band at times it is difficult to get opportunities to play and showcase in major venues/ festivals and TV/ Radio Stations.
Hurdles and pitfalls…
We are working together with MCM Global Team and with Motown man Jerome Rimson, a much sought-after and well respected producer in the Soul/Jazz/Blues genre. With credits of Real Thing, Bee Gees, Al Jarreau, Van Morrison and many more.
Social media…
you can reach fans everywhere in the world.
Challenges of Social Media are…
engaging fans, at times it is difficult to engage them to subscribe to your channel or like the page or so on and so forth
Singles vs an album…
I like it, it is beneficial as well in terms of revenue. But I would not say singles –vs- album, I would say release singles leading towards an awesome album.
Marketing strategy…
Our marketing strategies are based on social media, live performance, collecting numbers of fans anytime we can to reach out to them about a release or a gig or etc…
Do you find that there is too much emphasis on being current and trendy…
There is but I believe if an artist stays true to their core and makes music that he/she feels good about the end product is current and trendy. It is artists that make trends in music so let’s make it happen.
I am most afraid of…
Nothing ☺
My personal definition of success is..
Our music videos- Dis Kain Love, One & Even If, because Stone&Jezreel wrote the story/script and directed the whole thing as well as sourcing actors, crew, and all that is involved in making a music video.
We achieved great quality/catchy music videos thanks to our brainstorm technique, down to earth and go getter attitude. Special thanks to all involved for without them we would have not made it successfully.
My overall goal for my life & career is…
A life of spiritual growth and no fear. A career of success and meaning.
3 Ways that I challenge myself and how each one moves me forward towards my goal.
Stone:
1) By accepting whatever comes – this helps me evolve as everything becomes possible.
2) By having a can do attitude at all times – this allows me to discover and experience new things without fear (one of my goals: No Fear).
3) By finding and suggesting resolution to other people’s issues – this helps me grow as I learn a lot. One of my goals.
Jezreel:
1) I pray – It gives me the strength to continue my journey in life.
2) I gather information, read or study to improve my knowledge about the plans I have made – This gives me more insight.
3) I practice achieving my goals – the more I see it happen the more motivated I am to make it happen
Jezreel’s started in music while in Nigeria…
where we were part of a band and also drama club and dance crew while in secondary school and her passion for the performing arts continued till she moved to Ireland.
Stone’s movement in music really started in Ireland 2002, until then he had only free styled on the streets with friends. As part of a minority population in a country that found it hard to accept immigrants because it was a very new thing to them. He decided to start writing after a long time of anger suppression in Dublin. Music as he said gave him refuge and released his soul from negativism. He hooked up with a friend who had a mini studio, a Producer /Rapper. They later got together other Artists recording with them to form a group which was called The ‘Seas’- and then the ‘Gene-seas clan’ as the crew got bigger, With appearances on Multicultural Festivals and Irish national TV ‘RTE 1, RTE 2’.
‘It just so happened that my sister was in Ireland…
I had not seen her for about 6 years, she was only a baby when I left. At this time my crew the ‘Gene-seas clan’ was already falling apart. One day I had to write a track for the clan. I had a plan to create tracks that would fit the very large African market and extend our fan base; this I felt would be easy to do because most of the crew members originated from there. Jezreel was in my house that day, I went to her to ask for her help in coming up with a hook for a track called ‘Liberty’ as she just came from Nigeria and she was still fresh with the lingual. She surprised me by coming out with a powerful hook, this made me take her very seriously with the music; I never really knew she could sing like that! Well! I never heard her sing before. Members of the ‘Gene-seas clan’ went their separate ways which left me a bit frustrated, but this was a big blessing in disguise because I then teamed up with Jezreel and we formed the band Stone&Jezreel.’
The combination of Jezreel’s soulful melodic voice and Stone’s poetic rap style led to create their own style & sound. S&J’s writing and musical influences include Nas, Lauren Hill, Fela Kuti, Emeli Sande, Jesus and Bob Marley.
S&J’s main goal is…
to spread their poetic words through their music to everyone, anywhere in the world who will listen to their music.
Even If…
is half Nigerian and half Irish ☺ the song happened while Jezreel was in Nigeria for holidays and happened to meet Fresh, a producer in Nigeria that has worked with the likes of Rick Ross. He proposed the beat to her and she shared it with Stone so they agreed on what the song was going to be about and started writing lyrics and make their magic happen. The song is about I am going to be OK. Some people will only find happiness by bringing you pain. Don’t let their negativity affect your joy. No matter how hard they try to spoil your mood, take a deep breath, shake off those silly thoughts and you’ll be fine! You are bigger than what they see, never forget that! Stay happy, stay focused! Stay happy, stay focused; Even If it feels like everything and everyone around you is trying to pull you down. You’ll be ok! Believe in yourself! https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/stone-jezreel/id898349893
Our music is about…
longevity and reaching and touching people on a human level. Our album is about quality, lifting up people and making a difference. There will be a variety that will make you dream of Africa and almost everyone can identify themselves with the lyrics of our songs. We wish to spread our poetic words though our music to everyone and everywhere in the world.
Dublin (Ireland)…
it is a vibrant music scene in terms of live performances. Great places to go are Academy, Wright Venue, Whelans, Opium rooms, Vicar Street…
Stone loves to meditate and explore alternative healing like reiki and spiritual ascension.
Jezreel loves fashion, her sister in Canada is a fashion designer (Rahyma) and Jezreel has become her distributor in Ireland.
I would love to have 5 minutes alone with….
Stone: with myself to refresh my energies.
Jezreel: alone with Jesus: he is a good teacher and full of love and I can learn from that.
Social media links & website –
https://www.facebook.com/StoneANDJezreelOfficial
https://www.youtube.com/user/stoneandjezreel
https://www.reverbnation.com/stoneandjezreel
https://twitter.com/stoneandjezreel
https://www.instagram.com/stoneandjezreel/
https://soundcloud.com/stoneandjezreel
http://www.breakingtunes.com/stoneandjezreel
https://myspace.com/stoneandjezreel
Soundcloud link for your song (if available):
https://soundcloud.com/stoneandjezreel/even-if