Contemporary R&B Singer JANELLE SY’MONE: Featured Artist Of The Week

Contemporary R&B, funk, and soul artist JANELLE SY’MONE is the Spectacular Magazine Featured Artist of the Week for the week of June 8, 2020. Based out of Charlotte and Raleigh (she travels back and forth every weekend), she believes “love acts like love in the face of everything”…and for her, the stage is love.

Janelle Sy’mone (her given name that she uses as her stage name) defines her style as a mix of old school blues with contemporary R&B, funk, and soul. Or as she proclaims, “It’s live band music!” Singing professionally for the past two years, Janelle Sy’Mone says she is so appreciative that people love her enough to allow her to continue doing so.

“I always say, ‘singing was my first language; the talking came after’,” Janelle Sy’Mone replies when asked when she started singing. “I didn’t start taking my singing career seriously until about 2 years ago. I had just gotten a divorce and it made me really sit down look within myself and rethink all the things I’d given up. I’ll never leave music again.”

Janelle Sy’Mone explains, “My music started out as ‘hurt feelings’. So what I was creating was mid to low tempo, elevator music with deepening lyrics and expressive heartbreak. But after I got all the tears out—I wanted to dance and be loud and colorful, so now most of my new music has an entire live band playing! Let’s just say my new music is as unapologetically bold as I am.”

Let’s get to know a little more about Janelle Sy’Mone and check out her video for her latest song “That L.O.V.E.”:

Yimisa Brodie: What is your motivation for your art?

Janelle Sy’Mone: My motivation is you guys…the audience, the stories in that audience—the connection. Art should be a mirror for the people, and I want to put each story on stage and have you guys look at a reflection of yourselves. That’s Spirit! That’s Love! That’s Connection!

Who are your musical or artistic influences?

My biggest musical influences are Jill Scott, she is a masterful storyteller, Anita Baker who has one of the greatest voices of our time. Listening to Aretha Franklin still teaches me how to sing from my experience, and not from my need to impress, and I study Beyonce’s work ethic—she’s one of the hardest working women in show business.

Are there any artists with whom you would like to collaborate? Why?

I’d like to collaborate with Jill Scott—she’s a poet, a storyteller, and a master of her craft. I want to learn from her. I’d love to write with or for Frank Ocean—I’ve known him to be one of the most vulnerable and prolific writers in contemporary music. There’s a list of others, both national and local artists like Wake Moody, XOXOXK, Tha Materials, Big Brother, 9th Wonder, Tank, and Da Bangas, Pharrell and so many others I’d love to work with.

Do you have any upcoming projects, shows, or appearances? What are your next steps?

I do! My new album “Prove It To Me” is coming out in September—I’m still putting the finishing touches on it as we speak. Since Covid-19 has completely shut down most musical venues, I don’t have any scheduled shows at this time, but if you follow me, you’ll get that information directly. I will be doing radio promo for my new album pretty soon, so I’ll be visiting most of the major colleges in North Carolina—that’s exciting. I’ll start shooting a movie in Texas that’s slated to come out sometime next year, and I and my team are working on putting a tour together with major festivals all over the country, so stay tuned!

What are your social media handles?

Instagram:  @therealjanellesymone; Facebook: Janelle Sy’Mone

Here’s the video for Janelle Sy’Mone’s latest song: “That L.O.V.E.”