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JUNE APRIL
"Jazz(Inspiration)" By: Pojanee “PJ” Fleury An inspirational jazz singer/songwriter, a teacher, a natural soul- the list can go on and on. June April is a positive artist that cares about the community and the earth. She slips back and forth between a variety of genres while bringing awareness to community issues. Her jazz vocals mix with a soul heart to create a dynamic balance music is blessed to have. Her debut album “Who Am I?” features the hit song “Tick Toc” which is already receiving love on the radio and among fans. June April is a health activist that is on her way to international stardom with a positive outlook and bright smile. Having the chance to sit down with the songstress, I was immediately aware of why Rafe Gomez of CD 101.9 calls her and her musical technique an “inspirational take on jazz coolness,” because she is definitely the next big, cool thing in jazz!
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B-E-M: How would you define Healthy Living?
June April: Living according to what your body needs. Not overindulging to satisfy tastes and desires only. Your body needs water. Your body needs fuel. Every now and then we want a treat. Just balance it out.
B-E-M: In what ways do you keep yourself healthy?
JA: I am an avid vegetarian, I am a runner/jogger, I don’t eat heavy at late times. I usually don’t eat late at all. I fast and I do cleanse to remove toxins from my body. I meditate and pray to fight depression. One thing everyone denies is the weight of depression. It is like the elephant in the middle of the living room that no one sees.
B-E-M: How long have you been doing music?
JA: I have been singing all of my life. I have been singing professionally for at least fifteen years. I have studied music at the college level and I have my masters in music currently.
B-E-M: Who were and are your influences? Name some of your favorite artists.
JA: This is a hard question. I love so many. I love Nancy Wilson (Jazz artist). I also love early Ella Fitzgerald, Cece Winans, Sarah Vaughn, Richard Smallwood, My father sings, Celia Cruz and so many others. I have close friends that are great musicians that I admire Alison Crockett, Angela Brown, Brian Collazo, Nate Jones. They are all powerful musicians in their own right. If I go down the instrumentalist list we will be here all day.(smile). I combine these influences with the voice that I hear inside my head and create my sound.
B-E-M: What is your ethnic background and how has your background influenced the music you produce?
JA: My family is from Puerto Limon, Costa Rica. I am the first generation of my family born in the States. Spanish was spoken in my home. I was raised on Salsa, Meringue, songs like “Feel it hot, hot, hot” and “Cent, Five Cent, Ten Cent, Dollar”. I was introduced to Latin rhythms at the beginning. I heard the drums and loved the dancing and movement. I was a young black girl in Harlem yet the Salsa connection is in my blood.
B-E-M: Is June April just a stage name?
JA: No, my birth name is June April! My birthday is in June and my dad’s birthday is in April. That’s how it happened.
B-E-M: What do you want the world and more specifically the black community to get out of your music?
JA: I want to be something positive in the midst of chaos. I feel like the world is looking for something. I would like to be apart of the answer. God has been real good to me. There is no denying of that. I want to share my happiness with others.
B-E-M: How do you view commercial music such as main stream R&B?
JA: This is a tough one. Most of the music sounds all the same. I think music has reached a ceiling and everyone is looking for something fresh. Too many artists will produce only what they think will sell. It’s not a true reflection of their soul. I wish there were more positive messages out there because life can be very, very hard at times and music has the power to heal.
B-E-M: What advice would you give aspiring artists?
JA: Do not sing one note or record one chorus until you meditate and hear your voice. No one can be you better than yourself. Don’t be afraid to express exactly what you are. You have something to give.
B-E-M: What community service projects have you been involved in or what projects would you like see in your community?
JA: I would love to see more after school music programs with children. The arts have been lost in public education. Budget cuts have impacted negatively on many children. So many kids discover their full potential through the arts that it’s a shame vital programs get cut.
B-E-M: In what ways do you take care of the earth, for example: Do you conserve water?
JA: Well, I believe that being a vegetarian in and of itself helps take care of
the earth. This lifestyle consumes less energy and wastes less. The production of meat alone results in a tremendous amount of pollution.
B-E-M: What is your favorite part about being an artist?
JA: The music itself! There are some many other aspects to being a musician. The marketing, the pictures, the interviews, the correspondence, the following up takes a lot of time. But, the music makes you fall in love again.
B-E-M: What is the most difficult part about being an artist?
JA: Sometimes people put you on a pedestal when you create good music. I am just trying to be a normal person. I make mistakes and sometimes the public is more critical.
B-E-M: How did you feel the first time you heard your song on the radio?
JA: I smile just thinking about it. I was performing somewhere else at the time. I brought my clock radio from my house in my big purse and plugged it in the hallway away from the stage. I got a chance to sneak way right when it was playing. I jumped, I screamed, I cried, I laughed, I never had this experience before and words cannot express the joy.
B-E-M: Please talk about your experiences working with youth and how this has influenced your music.
JA: I have been working with youth for several years. I was an artist in residence through Lincoln Center in New York City. I taught 3rd to 4th grade students vocal music and music theory. I loved my babies!!! We perform at several concerts for Black History month, Holiday shows, and Spring Concerts. I miss the children. I worked with junior high school students and their experiences have influenced some of the songs I write, including my single release entitled “Tick Tock”. Children today are really dealing with things that I did not deal with as a child. They have adult issues at a young age. I am glad I am there to help them through it.
B-E-M: What are your plans for the future? What is next for June?
JA: God knows what my plans are. I am going to take this journey step by step. My album was released on April 14, 2007. I will be touring and performing as a result of the release. I am going to go where God sends me.
B-E-M: How would you define Healthy Living?
June April: Living according to what your body needs. Not overindulging to satisfy tastes and desires only. Your body needs water. Your body needs fuel. Every now and then we want a treat. Just balance it out.
B-E-M: In what ways do you keep yourself healthy?
JA: I am an avid vegetarian, I am a runner/jogger, I don’t eat heavy at late times. I usually don’t eat late at all. I fast and I do cleanse to remove toxins from my body. I meditate and pray to fight depression. One thing everyone denies is the weight of depression. It is like the elephant in the middle of the living room that no one sees.
B-E-M: How long have you been doing music?
JA: I have been singing all of my life. I have been singing professionally for at least fifteen years. I have studied music at the college level and I have my masters in music currently.
B-E-M: Who were and are your influences? Name some of your favorite artists.
JA: This is a hard question. I love so many. I love Nancy Wilson (Jazz artist). I also love early Ella Fitzgerald, Cece Winans, Sarah Vaughn, Richard Smallwood, My father sings, Celia Cruz and so many others. I have close friends that are great musicians that I admire Alison Crockett, Angela Brown, Brian Collazo, Nate Jones. They are all powerful musicians in their own right. If I go down the instrumentalist list we will be here all day.(smile). I combine these influences with the voice that I hear inside my head and create my sound.
B-E-M: What is your ethnic background and how has your background influenced the music you produce?
JA: My family is from Puerto Limon, Costa Rica. I am the first generation of my family born in the States. Spanish was spoken in my home. I was raised on Salsa, Meringue, songs like “Feel it hot, hot, hot” and “Cent, Five Cent, Ten Cent, Dollar”. I was introduced to Latin rhythms at the beginning. I heard the drums and loved the dancing and movement. I was a young black girl in Harlem yet the Salsa connection is in my blood.
B-E-M: Is June April just a stage name?
JA: No, my birth name is June April! My birthday is in June and my dad’s birthday is in April. That’s how it happened.
B-E-M: What do you want the world and more specifically the black community to get out of your music?
JA: I want to be something positive in the midst of chaos. I feel like the world is looking for something. I would like to be apart of the answer. God has been real good to me. There is no denying of that. I want to share my happiness with others.
B-E-M: How do you view commercial music such as main stream R&B?
JA: This is a tough one. Most of the music sounds all the same. I think music has reached a ceiling and everyone is looking for something fresh. Too many artists will produce only what they think will sell. It’s not a true reflection of their soul. I wish there were more positive messages out there because life can be very, very hard at times and music has the power to heal.
B-E-M: What advice would you give aspiring artists?
JA: Do not sing one note or record one chorus until you meditate and hear your voice. No one can be you better than yourself. Don’t be afraid to express exactly what you are. You have something to give.
B-E-M: What community service projects have you been involved in or what projects would you like see in your community?
JA: I would love to see more after school music programs with children. The arts have been lost in public education. Budget cuts have impacted negatively on many children. So many kids discover their full potential through the arts that it’s a shame vital programs get cut.
B-E-M: In what ways do you take care of the earth, for example: Do you conserve water?
JA: Well, I believe that being a vegetarian in and of itself helps take care of
the earth. This lifestyle consumes less energy and wastes less. The production of meat alone results in a tremendous amount of pollution.
B-E-M: What is your favorite part about being an artist?
JA: The music itself! There are some many other aspects to being a musician. The marketing, the pictures, the interviews, the correspondence, the following up takes a lot of time. But, the music makes you fall in love again.
B-E-M: What is the most difficult part about being an artist?
JA: Sometimes people put you on a pedestal when you create good music. I am just trying to be a normal person. I make mistakes and sometimes the public is more critical.
B-E-M: How did you feel the first time you heard your song on the radio?
JA: I smile just thinking about it. I was performing somewhere else at the time. I brought my clock radio from my house in my big purse and plugged it in the hallway away from the stage. I got a chance to sneak way right when it was playing. I jumped, I screamed, I cried, I laughed, I never had this experience before and words cannot express the joy.
B-E-M: Please talk about your experiences working with youth and how this has influenced your music.
JA: I have been working with youth for several years. I was an artist in residence through Lincoln Center in New York City. I taught 3rd to 4th grade students vocal music and music theory. I loved my babies!!! We perform at several concerts for Black History month, Holiday shows, and Spring Concerts. I miss the children. I worked with junior high school students and their experiences have influenced some of the songs I write, including my single release entitled “Tick Tock”. Children today are really dealing with things that I did not deal with as a child. They have adult issues at a young age. I am glad I am there to help them through it.
B-E-M: What are your plans for the future? What is next for June?
JA: God knows what my plans are. I am going to take this journey step by step. My album was released on April 14, 2007. I will be touring and performing as a result of the release. I am going to go where God sends me.
