YouKnowIGotSoul had an opportunity to talk to Okay-Ci Hailey who’s arguably some of the influential R&B singers historical past. His highly effective voice has been staple in R&B for over 30 years due to the huge success that he had as a part of Jodeci in addition to Okay-Ci & JoJo. He’s now again with a brand new solo undertaking in addition to the brand new single “Jesus Saves”. YouKnowIGotSoul had an opportunity to talk to the legendary artist concerning the new music in addition to all the things main as much as this undertaking together with his street to restoration from an sickness he suffered a couple of years again. He additionally displays again on his first solo album “My E book” which got here out in 2006 and discusses how he plans on approaching this new album. Lastly Okay-Ci reminisces on his favourite moments from his Jodeci and Okay-Ci & JoJo days.
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YouKnowIGotSoul: Jodeci made their epic comeback in 2015 and we had no concept what was subsequent for you, however it seems to be such as you’ve been engaged on new music. What made you resolve to get again within the studio to pursue a solo profession?
Okay-Ci Hailey: It was time. I’ve been able to do it for some time now. I’ve been ready to do it and it’s one thing I knew I wished to do.
YouKnowIGotSoul: I keep in mind whenever you put out your solo album “My E book” again in 2006 and naturally the business was fully totally different again then. How are you approaching this album versus your final solo album?
Okay-Ci Hailey: In a number of methods it’s totally different. I’ve a stronger and higher backing behind me so far as representatives. I’ve the correct administration now and my staff is so unbelievable. Like I stated earlier, I’m in an entire totally different place in my life. Once I did “My E book”, I used to be simply doing that to be doing one thing and to kill time. It wasn’t promoted nicely and it was on account of lack of administration. On the time, my supervisor was managing Okay-Ci & JoJo. He didn’t see the imaginative and prescient that I noticed for my solo profession. He noticed the imaginative and prescient of Okay-Ci & JoJo. That was extra of a “be quiet and go do that” kind of factor.
YouKnowIGotSoul: You’re an artist with so many alternative types relationship again to your days with Jodeci in addition to Okay-Ci & JoJo. What made you resolve to go together with the music “Jesus Saves” first?
Okay-Ci Hailey: I may have come out with a love ballad, however I didn’t wish to try this earlier than I instructed my testimony which is the primary single “Jesus Saves” as a result of he actually saved my life. I went by means of an sickness that I didn’t assume I used to be going to outlive and docs didn’t assume I used to be going to both. Plus the best way the world is now, it’s a music that must be heard and I feel that’s the very first thing I wished to do on an R&B album. I by no means go away from Gospel, so I wished to place this music on the album.
YouKnowIGotSoul: Lots of people learn about your model of this music that you simply did years in the past. What did you wish to do creatively with this new model?
Okay-Ci Hailey: I recorded the music after I was 12 years outdated and it meant lots to individuals then. The distinction now’s my maturity and I modified it by including a choir to it. There’s a number of ardour on this music and it has extra ardour than the unique. Not saying I didn’t have ardour after I was youthful, however it’s an much more mature ardour to it now. It was profitable then and I do know it’s going to achieve success now too.
YouKnowIGotSoul: You talked about you had some well being points lately. Speak about what it took so that you can get again up to now since you sound nice on this music.
Okay-Ci Hailey: Numerous prayer and religion. God was simply by my facet. It’s a number of meditation and a nutritious diet. I reside on the lake, so I train and take walks there. I additionally go fishing lots now so my headspace is so clear on this undertaking. I really feel totally managed and I’m cool with it. I’m simply glad.
YouKnowIGotSoul: Speak concerning the sound of your upcoming solo album.
Okay-Ci Hailey: It’s going to be R&B and it’s going to sound like Okay-Ci. It’s going to be a number of love. I’m very glad about it. My staff could be very glad about it and I simply can’t wait till the total factor is launched.
YouKnowIGotSoul: Would you say that this undertaking falls extra beneath the Jodeci or Okay-Ci & JoJo sound?
Okay-Ci Hailey: It’s going to be a Okay-Ci sound. If you hearken to something I’ve carried out, you hear Okay-Ci whether or not it’s Jodeci or Okay-Ci & JoJo. It’s not going to sound precisely like Jodeci, however you possibly can hear the Jodeci in it as a result of I used to be the lead singer. It’s going to be good. It’s going to be actual R&B which is one thing we’re lacking proper now.
YouKnowIGotSoul: We all know your brother JoJo can be popping out with a solo album. Was it powerful so that you can create this album with out your him? We’re so used to listening to you guys sing collectively.
Okay-Ci Hailey: “My E book” was my rehearsal and observe. It wasn’t actually that tough as a result of anytime I’m on the stage, I actually don’t look again to see who’s behind me. Once I’m on that stage, I’m on that stage for me. I don’t fear about what the opposite guys are doing. I’m doing my very own factor. That’s my strategy for this album. Once I do sing duets or with the group, I give them their place and play my place. It’s all Okay-Ci on this one although.
YouKnowIGotSoul: Talking of Jodeci, we’ve seen clips lately of JoJo and Dalvin performing as Jodeci and we’ve additionally seen you doing solo performances. What’s the state of the group proper now?
Okay-Ci Hailey: Proper now, I’m extra targeting my solo factor. I don’t converse on the Jodeci initiatives, however hopefully our followers will get that Jodeci sound again.
YouKnowIGotSoul: Speak about your influence on R&B and the love you get out of your friends.
Okay-Ci Hailey: Oh yeah. It’s a number of love. I’m grateful and grateful for it. We now have so many listeners which have supported Jodeci and Okay-Ci & JoJo for the previous 30 years. I simply recognize it. The love is loopy. I’ve been doing this for the final 30 years and there’s no followers like Jodeci followers. We now have one of the best followers on the earth and I hope they present me the identical kind of affection on this undertaking. I do know they may as a result of I don’t assume they’ll let me down. My religion is robust with my followers on this one.
YouKnowIGotSoul: You’ve a lot historical past and so a few years within the business. Take me again to a younger Okay-Ci on the “Eternally My Girl” album.
Okay-Ci Hailey: I used to be younger and hungry. I used to be ravenous really. I used to be keen and smiling on a regular basis. I used to be “One take Okay-Ci” at the moment. Devante would give me the music and I’d knock it out fast. I used to be simply so glad that we acquired to go on the street and acquired to the journey to locations we had by no means been to earlier than. I used to be a typical late teenager. I traveled the world and discovered lots. I wouldn’t say I used to be probably the most trustworthy, however I used to be younger and having enjoyable.
YouKnowIGotSoul: “Diary Of A Mad Band” introduced you guys to a different stage. What was the mindset of Okay-Ci at the moment?
Okay-Ci Hailey: After we got here into that album, Andre Harrell allow us to have full management of that album. Individuals assume we had been mad, however that was simply our picture. Going into that album, we unfold our wings and we arrived. That was one other enjoyable undertaking.
YouKnowIGotSoul: “The Present, the After Social gathering, the Resort” had such an ideal vibe. What do you keep in mind about creating that album?
Okay-Ci Hailey: We had Timbaland and Missy Elliott on that album. We had a lot enjoyable on that album. We had been in an entire totally different mindset on that album. We had full management of the path throughout that album, in order that was enjoyable too. That actually solidified Jodeci because the “Unhealthy Boys Of R&B”.
YouKnowIGotSoul: Take me again to the Okay-Ci & JoJo period. You and JoJo crossed over to Pop stations with “All My Life”.
Okay-Ci Hailey: That was loopy. It’s a distinct viewers that we weren’t used to. We had been used to hardcore R&B followers. After we got here out with “All My Life”, it was loopy and it was an entire totally different world for us. It was thrilling too.
YouKnowIGotSoul: Jodeci made their huge return “The Previous The Current The Future” a couple of years again. What was it wish to drop a brand new album collectively after so a few years?
Okay-Ci Hailey: It was the identical factor. The vibe of the studio and the fellows, all of us acquired alongside. It was simply cool. It wasn’t any totally different than another album that we did.
YouKnowIGotSoul: What would you like individuals to takeaway from this new music you’re about to place out?
Okay-Ci Hailey: Like with all my music, the message goes to be love. It’s going to be extra grownup love and it’s going to be thrilling. I simply can’t wait.