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Jamar Rogers is an electro soul virtuoso who rose to fame as a finalist on The Voice. Since his big break, he has been making headlines for incredibly passionate performances, and he also recently released the hit single “High”. GroundSounds had the opportunity to chop it up with Jamar himself, check out the interview below!
You were on The Voice…how was that whole experience for you?
The Voice literally changed my life. I live in LA now because of The Voice and I have an agent because of the show. Most importantly, I’m a little more free because of that experience.
Being from New Orleans you have a lot of culture surrounding you, has the city helped define your style and how you look at certain things around you?
I wish…I was born there but we left when I was 3. I sing with a lot of soul and I have to attribute that to growing up singing in church.
What musicians have inspired you?
I love the old soul classics: Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding. I’m also influenced by synth heavy music like Depeche Mode and Tears for Fears.
You recently released the fresh new single “High”, it seems personal and deep what was it like working on the song?
All of my songs are pretty autobiographical, but “High” means the most to me. It’s my life in a 4 1/2 minute song and working on it was an emotional release. I literally feel a bit more free every time I sing it.
You put a lot of passion into your performances, how much time do you put into practicing?
I’m ALWAYS singing, so I guess I’m always practicing. I sing so much that sometimes I don’t realize I’m doing it. When I’m rehearsing for a show, however, I do try to limit rehearsals. There’s a such thing as over-rehearsing as well. I like to keep the performances raw and authentic.
Can you think of a favorite performance of yours to date?
I did a New Years Eve show at CityWalk and it was literally thousands of people. I don’t think I’ve ever performed for that many people in one place. The feeling in the air was so electric and full of life. It was definitely an awesome experience.
Your story of addiction and recovery has been an inspiration to many, how has it been traveling America, telling your story?
I’m absolutely doing what I love whether it’s at a high school in Indianapolis, Soldier Field in Chicago or a university in Reno, I’ve met people from all walks of life that can relate to my story. My story isn’t just a story for HIV positive people, it’s for anyone that feels like they’re a screw up, the teenager that feels useless and ugly or the single mom who’s struggling to get by. We all make mistakes and have to live with certain consequences…what I tell people is that they’re not defined by their consequences. They’re not labels or statistics, they’re living, breathing people with ideals, dreams, and ambitions. My message has been resonating quite well.
How is the upcoming EP coming along? What has the process been like putting it together? Is there a release date or title?
The EP has been exhilarating, frustrating and rewarding. Any time you decide to bear your soul, it’s a little scary. It is autobiographical and will be released in two parts with the first part out this Spring and the second part out this Fall. The music is one part electronic and one part soul. I’m excited because I’ve never really quite heard anything like it.
You are currently writing a book, very cool and exciting indeed, can you tell us a little bit about it?
The book is called “…So Far” and it’s a memoir of sorts. I deal with a lot of things I haven’t talked about publicly, and it’s the most honest I’ve ever been. My aim in writing it isn’t to lament how bad my life has been…on the contrary. I want to rejoice in the struggles I’ve had because I’m quite proud of the man I am today. I also want people to know that no matter how bad they’ve had it, they can still have the life of their dreams.
Is it true that you have a reality show in the making? If so, what the deal? That’s exciting!
Yes, there is a reality show in the making but that’s all I’ll confirm. I’m a big believer in not jinxing things…so we all shall see.
What are your goals for 2013?
Besides releasing my music and videos and finishing this book, my goal is pretty simple: to enjoy the journey.
Photos: Vincent Sandoval Make-up: Allison Noelle Stylist: Sal Guiterrez
