What were your early memories of music growing up? Listening to several old school artists - Anita Baker, Motown, jazz artists like Pia Zadora and Harry Connick Jr. - positive, uplifting music was what we were surrounded by.
Who were your musical influences? Our musical influences growing up were primarily the artists we listened to above. Any black artist from the 60s and 70s were who we emulated as children growing up and also led to us wanting to spread positivity through our music.
When did u first discover that you had musical talent? Did I run in the family? We both discovered our musical talent as children. Jasira's mom is an excellent singer; and with Sah being a professional African dancer - singing naturally came with the territory as well.
What was it about reggae that grabbed u out attention? Reggae music has a way of grabbing and moving you....speaking to your innermost being and touching you in a way that secular music may not. The bass line, the rhythmic beat of the drum...on top of the positive vibrations and stand up lyrics that roots reggae typically displays.
When did you first begin to develop your talents and take it seriously? Sah began singing at age 6, ballet at age 15, and her career as a professional African dancer at age 19. Jasira didn't begin fulfilling her musical/poetic talents until her move to Memphis in 2006.
Was there any fear or nervousness about doing music for an audience? There's a natural inner-g shift when preparing to do music for an audience. Not necessarily fear or nervousness, but anxiousness to share our craft, our music with the world and hopes that it will be received just as positively as we give it.
Is their a certain moment in time where u looked on the mirror and realized how good you were? We think we do an awesome job of representing the feminine principle in roots reggae music. We've had several "that performance was dope" moments; but it's typically a group effort...how we complement each other vocally and how well the band locks in with our "instruments" as well. We're always striving for more, to be better!
How has family and/or friends supported your music along the way? Our friends and family are always at our shows, are always pushing us to keep on going, and are always asking us "what's next?" Their support and constant motivation are amazing!
How does it feel to be nominated for an Indie Ville TV Award? It feels awesome! This is our first time being nominated for any such reward, so for that recognition and for that recognition to come outside of Memphis definitely makes us feel as if things are starting to unfold, that we're being noticed, and that our music and our message can extend beyond "local."
What are your current project(s) that you are working on right now? We're currently working on writing a full-length CD or original music, which we hope to debut within the year. We're also exploring additional areas of collaboration with our local Memphis brethren, Chinese Connection Dub Embassy, and with our Nashville brethren (Joshua O'dine & Roots of a Rebellion). We're also hoping to link with Dez Irie out of St. Louis to put on a "Women in Reggae" mini-tour.
What can people expect from you for the 2015 year and beyond? People can expect a shift into more original music and more collaborations with our sistren and brethren in reggae here in Memphis and beyond.
What advice would you give an artist wanting to create music? Do you. Don't try to be anyone else or do anything else but. When that inner voice speaks to you, listen to it because it's not yours - it's the Creator's and the ancestors. Words are powerful. So make music that uplifts, that speaks to the God and Goddesses in all of us.
How can people find you and your movement online? Watch our videos on YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/RasEmpressReggae. Visit our website: www.RasEmpressReggae.weebly. com. Like us on FaceBook: www.facebook.com/ RasEmpressReggae. Any final words or shout outs? Be Peace. Live Life. Love Music. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Until we see you....Be Peace, Love Life, Live Music!
- Ras Empress
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