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YourMVP:
You were born and started your career in the San Francisco area ...
Jocelyn:
Yeah, I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay area. I got my
big break there.
How
did that come about?
Actually,
it was always in the making. I was always really blessed with a lot
of friends. I was surrounded by a lot of people that wanted me to
take my singing into a career. So I walked into a studio, which in
turn became one of the greatest moments because |
Jocelyn
Enriquez |
I
did a demo. That actual demo led me to a single with an album. Then
my second . . . and now I'm working on my third.
It
was your second album when things really took off, wasn't it?
Yeah,
my second album really, really just basically, I guess, set the tone
for everything. I traveled internationally. I've really been blessed
and very fortunate.
It
would appear from the success you've had with dance music that's the
genre you're going to lean toward. How did you decide to take that
route?
I
think after doing dance music for quite some time, people tend to
remember you or have you as [in their minds] as a "dance
artist" or whatever. For me, though, I think dance music is fun
anyway, so I'm pleased with everything - the music. I love performing
dance music. I know it touches people in different ways.
Is
the new album you're working toward going to lean toward dance
music?
It's
definitely going to have Jocelyn, but you know it's been a while -
what, three or four years since the other album? It's definitely
going to show growth of me as a person. Whether it's through the
lyrics - because I definitely want to get more involved with
songwriting - or vocally as well.
You
actually contributed a track to the "102 Dalmatians" soundtrack.
Yeah
. . . <LOL>
How
did that come about?
Gary
and Chris, the guys from Thunderpuss, called me really late at night
and said, "Here's the thing. There's a project we're basically
shooting for, and we need someone to cut the demo." Because I
live in San Diego, and LA is only two hours away, they were like,
"Would you mind driving up tomorrow and cutting the demo for
us?" I thought it was a great opportunity, and I work well with
those guys, so I drove up and did the demo. It was weird. I didn't
hear anything from them for a month or two, but they told me they'd
let me know. It just happened in a week's span. They called me again,
and said, "They love the song and want you to do it - but we
need to change it." So I drove up there again, we rerecorded it,
and two weeks later it was on the soundtrack.
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This
was all happening simultaneously with your Tommy Boy (Records)
contract? You recently ended your relationship with them?
Basically
it was an understanding. Of course, with a record contract it's like
being married to someone. There are no hard feelings. I'm actually
still in the process of being released. I think it's just time to let
bygones be bygones, learn from the good and the bad, and just move on. |
You
obviously learned a lot of good from your relationship with Tommy
Boy. What was it you didn't like that made you decide it was time to
move on?
I
think it just happened over time. It was a combination of a lot of
things. I thought it was the best thing for me to do right now - it
was something I needed to do for myself.
What
other labels are you looking toward?
Right
now I'm just focusing on me as a person and as an artist - how I can
better myself and my music as well. I definitely want to pursue this,
but I want to learn from the release - which I'm still undergoing
from Tommy Boy.
What
was it like the first time you walked into a night club and heard
your own voice, singing one of your songs?
It
was a great feeling - almost like a high. I don't want anybody
getting the wrong idea, but it is the most feeling anyone can ever
feel. I almost felt like I was in a dream. I've always imagined . . .
or always dreamed . . . of having this career, having my song played
in clubs, people reacting to it, listening to my song on the radio.
It's definitely a great feeling.
You
played at a club here in San Francisco, and the crowd just went
wild. How did that make you feel?
It's
really weird. Performing in front of your home crowd is in a way
challenging. I want them to . . . what can I say? I want them to
really, really get into the partying scene and the reaction I got - I
was overwhelmed and very grateful. It's been a while since I've
performed at home, and I just fed off of everyone's energy. It was
definitely one of the most memorable shows for me. To anyone that was
at Club Papi (papipresents.com), and to Club Papi in general, thank
you for welcoming me to the stage. I wouldn't be there without them.
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What
do you do in your time away from music? What does a singer do when
not performing or making a record?
Aside
from my singing career, I'm also a mother, so I spend a lot of time
with my son. I'm also a wife, so I'm very domestic. <LOL>
As
everybody knows, that's a full-time job.
It's
more than a full-time job! <LOL>
You
have a 20-month-old child, right? |
 |
Yes,
and he's well into his "Terrible Two" stages - the "Pre-Terrible
Two" stages. It takes a lot of energy, but it feels really good
to step away from motherhood now and then to enjoy music and enjoy
performing. That's one thing I would definitely share with my son
when he gets older. Hopefully he'll be in front of the stage watching
his mom perform.
This
may come across the wrong way, but . . . when I met you in person, I
was surprised. Your photos do you absolutely no justice.
<LOL>
How
do you go about picking the promotional photos that are out there?
With
the record label, we have mutual understanding and approval of
photos. I don't know which photos you're referring to, but not all
the photos I take I like. So I totally agree on that.
I
remember the cover of the "Little Bit of Ecstasy" photo.
<Gasp>
Yeah.
My
impression, and since it was such an up-close photo of your face and
from some other material I'd seen, was that you were quite a bit
heavier. But you've got a fantastic figure and you're absolutely
beautiful. I was amazed.
|
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<LOL>
Thanks! That picture was actually taken from the video. I've
received quite a bit of . . . constructive criticism . . . but that
picture was actually from the video.
Potentially
your biggest hit was "If You Could Read My Mind," the
collaborative effort with Ultra Nate and Amber taken from the
"Studio 54" soundtrack. |
Yes.
I
remember a review in Billboard Magazine that said the three of you
should consider more collaborations like that. Will we ever see one?
I'm
definitely open to that. I know the other girls have different
focuses and different projects going on, but if there is another
opportunity for that coming together, I would definitely love to be
part of it.
You
said earlier that you love working with Thunderpuss - and they're
possibly the biggest remix duo out there. Are there other DJs you'd
like to work with?
I'd
definitely like to work with Hex Hector. <LOL> I've always
been a fan of his work, his remixes. There are a lot of people out
there that I would definitely love to work with. It's hard to name
all their names. I also like working with the producer that I've been
working with the last two albums, and that's Glenn Gutierrez, who
hasn't really been acknowledged like Thunderpuss has - or the other
top producers. But home to me is Glenn Gutierrez, and you want to
take care of the people that have taken care of you from the
beginning.
Absolutely
- and that's something that's often forgotten by people once they've
become successful.
For
me, the way I look at it, it's an effort by all the team - whether
it's the record label, the producers, the management, the staff, my
dancers. The success I've received is not just my own doing, it's a
lot of people's work. I guess I'm just, you could say, the
spokesperson for the effort everyone has put in.
When
should the fans look for something new from you? I know you're
working on it.
Of
course. Well, because I'm still in the "release" stage of
getting out of my record contract, I'm really, really shooting for
the end of this year or early next year. I just hope everyone is
patient enough to give me that opportunity again to share my music.
This time around, I think I'll share my whole life experience. I have
matured in so many ways. In life in general, in becoming a mother.
Because I started my music career at such an early age, hopefully I
can share that story through my songs.
For
more information on Jocelyn,
check out www.JocelynEnriquez.com
