Syleena Johnson Interview-October 2005

Fans and critics have praised Syleena Johnson's third studio album Chapter 3-The Flesh. The problem is Syleena (and her fans) feel that the album isn't being properly promoted. The album not only includes Syleena's killer vocals but an arsenal of industry talent. Chapter 3-The Flesh includes production by Kanye West and guest appearances by Anthony Hamilton, Twista, R. Kelly, Fabolous, Common and Jermaine Dupri. Heck, as far as top talent on an R&B album Syleena's album is right up there with Mariah Carey's The Emancipation of Mimi.

Syleena's talent is very respected in the industry. She has collaborated with Kanye West ("All Falls Down"), Cam'Ron ("Down & Out"), and Twista tapped her for the intro on his latest CD The Day After. The Chicago raised songstress is currently touring with the I'm Ready Productions play-Cheaters-The Stage Play. Cheaters is based on a book by best-selling author Eric Jerome Dickey and the play runs through November 27th. On the I'm Ready Productions message board, Syleena has received great praise from people who have attended the play.

 
Are you from Chicago?
Syleena Johnson-Yes.

Where at?
Syleena Johnson-Harvey, Illinois. The Southside.

Yeah, I just had to ask because I'm from Chicago.
Syleena Johnson-Where are you from?

I used to live on 112th and Throop but my family lives in Lynwood now. How did you get in such great shape for your album cover?
Syleena Johnson-Oh wow. Strenuous training for like 9 months straight. No carbs unless it was like morning time I would have wheat toast and that was about it. I didn't eat after 8 o'clock. I worked out sometimes like three times a day. As it got closer to the shoot I worked out at night time and I did a lot of Tae-Bo.

Are you still keeping up with that strenuous routine?
Syleena Johnson-Well, not strenuous. Maybe 4 times a week at the most because I am on the road with this play called Cheaters so it's hard because my time is really limited.


Picture from Syleenajohnsonfans.com

Oh okay. The play has already started. How is it going?
Syleena Johnson-Real good.

I would like to see it I don't know if you all are coming here I'm in Virginia.
Syleena Johnson-No, we aren't coming to Virginia. Maybe next year.

Are you approached often by artists who want to get in the industry and do they ask for your help?
Syleena Johnson-Yeah, all the time. Happens all the time.
Can you describe your working relationship with R. Kelly?
Syleena Johnson-He's like a mentor; like a big brother and a friend. He does production for me. We are label mates. We are on the same label--Jive Records. The same guy that discovered him discovered me. He just really respects my talent and he contributes to every album.

I really like the new album. What made you decide to work with more different artists on the songs on this album?
Syleena Johnson-I had a lot of different suggestions from fans and stuff who wanted to see me do more features and work with some different producers so I took that into consideration when I went in for the third project.

I'm going to tell you which songs are my favorites. I like "Bullseye" and "Classic Love Song."
Syleena Johnson-I love "Bullseye." That's one of my favorites. That's Kanye West.

Is there any chance that might become a single?
Syleena Johnson-Well it was. It was out at first like underground. They didn't really push it. It was the first one to come out but I guess they decided to go with the R. Kelly one first.

Speaking of Kanye West I know you appeared on the song "All Falls Down"on his first album. How far do you and Kanye West go back?
Syleena Johnson-We go back further than we even knew. He used to date my ex-boyfriend's sister at the same time I was dating my ex-boyfriend. We kind of knew of each other. This was in 98' before I was even signed. So we kind of go back way before then. We really official met at the start of Chapter 3.

I read that your father is a blues singer. Did you all ever record together?
Syleena Johnson-Yes. I wrote a lot of stuff for him and we did like albums together.

I found an interview that you did in maybe 2001 or 2002 and at the time they asked you if you wrote songs for other people and at the time you said "Not so much just a few," but now that it's years later do you write songs for other artists?
Syleena Johnson-Ummm…I've been really busy. I haven't been in the studio much to write anything for anyone else. I'm open to it if my publisher were to call and say that they wanted me to work with someone I would definitely go if I had the time.

So outside of the play what else have you been busy with? Promoting the album?
Syleena Johnson-Yes. Promoting the album. I just did a photo shoot the other day for my modeling agency. I am a full figured model for Wilhelmina So I have to do stuff with them as well and just interviews and stuff to promote the album?

Do you have a stylist that you work with?
Syleena Johnson-Just a hairstylist. That's the only thing that's consistent.

Can you describe your song writing process? Do you hear the lyrics first or a melody?
Syleena Johnson-It depends. I can write a song with nothing or I can write a song with music. It doesn't matter just depends on the situation.

I saw some pictures from your album release party a couple of months ago was that like fun? It looked fun.
Syleena Johnson-That was a whole lot of fun.

Did you get to catch the White Sox game the other day?
Syleena Johnson-I was doing the show.

How are you feeling now that your third album is out?
Syleena Johnson-I'm happy that I'm blessed to have a great album. It's a great album to me personally in my own opinion. I'm not too happy with the promotion that the label is putting forth. They're are not doing their job.

I think it's one of the best album's this year.
Syleena Johnson-I was hoping that someone would know if we could just get it out to the world.

Well I am going to put the interview on Visitblackchicago.com and Sororitysister.net too. I'm going to try to get it out there. I'm going to get the word out.
Syleena Johnson-Wonderful. Thank you. Send it to my website too it's Syleenafans.com.

I have to go to that one. I haven't been to that one I went to the other one Syleenajohnson.com.
Syleena Johnson-Yeah that's no good. Syleenafans.com has all the great pictures and stuff.

What was it like working with Twista for the intro to his album and on "Phone Sex."
Syleena Johnson-I wasn't there when he did "Phone Sex," but his intro was cool. Whenever I do something with people from Chicago it's almost like doing something with your brother or sister because it's so family oriented as artists.

I read an interview you recently conducted with songwriteruniverse.com and you mentioned that you are divorced now and you spend more time with your friends. Since you are hanging out with your friends and doing more things do you find you have more inspirations for song writing?
Syleena Johnson-Actually, I'm dating someone. There's a lot of things that inspire me to write. My new boyfriend inspires me to write. Hopefully, Chapter 4 will be an album of all love songs. I have yet to find an album that just talks about love all the way from the beginning to the end unless its something that has been put together like The Isley Brothers Beautiful Ballads. I've yet to find a really good love album. The closest thing was Happy People. So that's what I want to do for Chapter 4. That's what my newest love has inspired me to do.

How long does the play last?
Syleena Johnson-Till November 27th.

After that will you be hitting the road?
Syleena Johnson-I'm going to South Africa. We released the album there and it's doing really, really well.


Visit Syleena Johnson on-line at Syleenafans.com
 



Syleena Johnson interview copyright Dorrie Williams-Wheeler, and Thabiz.com 2005
Dorrie Williams-Wheeler is the author of Be My Sorority Sister Under Pressure and the Unplanned Pregnancy Book for Teens and College Students. She is the founder of Thabiz.com and Imissthe80s.com and writes for the Rap, Teen, and 1980s section at Bellaonline.com. She is an ASCAP member as a writer and a publisher. Please contact Dorrie for advertising inquiries, lyric writing inquiries, reprint rights, paying entertainment jobs, or general comments.
Visit Dorrie on the web at www.sparkledoll.com or e-mail her at webmaster@thabiz.com.
Syleena Johnson interview may not be reprinted, copied or distributed. You may link to this interview.
Interview copyright Dorrie Williams-Wheeler, thabiz.com October 2005.

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