Lauren: We got together 2 years ago through an audition with BRISTOL RECORDING & VOICE Studios/Bristol Entertainment and have been working hard ever since! We rehearse 6 days a week 5 hrs a day:) We are dedicated!
Where did you come up with the name Jada?
Jacyn: It was a name we liked that was feminine, short, sweet and easy to remember!
How would you describe your music?
Elle: Our music is Pop/R&B, with a little more emphasis on the R&B.
Do you have an input on what songs you guys sing?
April: We almost always collaborate. It is more fun that way!
Lauren: We have all of the input. We write all of our songs with our producer Ric Poulin. We like the fact that everything we sing comes from us and not from a stranger.
Jacyn: Absolutely. The song writing is a group effort for sure!
Elle: If we didn't collaborate there would be a problem!! Just Kidding!!
Have you always wanted to be in a group?
Lauren: I had not planned on being in a group, but I love it. I feel having four talented girls is better than one and it certainly is more fun being in a group than trying to do everything solo.
Jacyn: I didn't really consider being in a group to start with, but now that I am in one, I really like it. It helps to share the stage with 3 good friends who are there for you no matter what! I know that all 4 of us are capable of doing solo projects eventually, but for now we are like 4 musketeers!
April: Actually, it's kinda funny. I had always wanted to pursue a solo career but being in a group is awesome. The group becomes like your family and it's fun because with a group you all collaborate your ideas and come up with even better ideas. 4 Heads are better than one right??? lol
Elle: Ya know I never even thought about it. I always wanted to be a singer/performer and I just figured it would be a solo artist, but then I auditioned for Jada and here I am. It wasn't planned, but some of the best things in life aren't!
What do you do on your days off?
Jacyn: I hang out with friends, go shopping, and exercise! I love to be physically active! It's funny that even on the days that I CAN sleep late (which are few and far between!) I still feel the need to get up and go to the gym. Everyone thinks I am crazy!
Lauren: Between school, work, and Jada it is hard to have a day off but when I do I love to hang out with my friends, sleep or eat! I am not hard to please:)
April: Well, I go home and spend time with my family. Since I'm living in Boston now, I don't get to see them too much anymore. When I am home, I hang out with my mom and my sis. Sometimes my brother too. Probably doesn't sound like the most exciting thing to do, but I definitely enjoy it. Every once in a while I'll go check out a movie or hang out with friends.
Elle: Hang out with friends and my family, which I never see anymore. I like to have alone time as well, and clean my room and do laundry. You know the stuff that we never had time to do!
What is your goal for your music?
April: I want us to be in a position where we can influence other people (in a positive way of course), send out great messages to people all over the world, and inspire others. We'd have to be pretty famous to have that kind of pull, so getting a record deal and putting our music out there for everyone to hear is where I want us to be.
Elle: To give people goosebumps whenever I open my mouth. And maybe win some awards.
Jacyn: Music is the most powerful form of communication. I would hope that our music will motivate people to move, feel happy, sad, excited, or anything that music can make you feel. For me, music is like a religion!
Do you have any pre-stage rituals?
Jacyn: Originally, Elle thought we should take off all of our clothes and run around naked. She claims it would be liberating. I personally prefer to keep my clothes ON and perhaps do a circle of energy to get everyone focused and excited!
Elle: I like my idea!!
What makes you different from the other groups out there?
Lauren: We are different than other groups out there because we are all being trained to be lead vocalists. I feel putting four leads in one group rather than having just one girl singing leads creates a more powerful effect.
April: A lot of groups have lead singers who sing all the verses. In Jada there is no lead singer. We all sing equally which is great. Also, we always sing live at our shows. That's very important to us.
Did you have to make an sacrifices to be in the group?
Jacyn: Definitely yes! We all try to live our separate lives when we aren't busy with Jada. It is difficult sometimes because we have to try extra hard to keep in touch with family and friends as well as get some personal re-charge time. It takes a lot of effort to achieve that kind of balance!
Lauren: Many, but that is the business. In order to fully succeed in what we are trying to do, we all have to make some sacrifices, but I'd rather be working towards my dream than anything else, so I am ok with it.
April: Haha yea. I don't even live at home anymore!!! And I'm only 17! But hey, it's all good. None of us really get to have a social life or hang out with friends as much as we'd like because we're so busy all the time. But we know what we're getting ourselves into and we know that achieving our goals will make it all worth it.
Elle: If you want succeed in this business then you have to devote your entire life to it, and that's what we do!
How well do you get along?
Jacyn: Pretty well all things considered. We are together much of the time, so when you are in THAT close of quarters with people, you aren't always going to get along every second. We have so much fun together....if someone is in a bad mood---we wind up making them LAUGH...we are a silly bunch!
Where is your favorite place so far that you have performed?
Lauren: I loved performing with B2K at the Orpheum Theater in Boston. That was our first show with a major artist and we were all beside ourselves with excitement! It was an incredible show that I will never forget:)
Elle: I would have to agree.
Jacyn: I really enjoyed performing with Stacie Orrico. She's so talented and was incredibly nice. And Jeff Timmons of 98 Degrees was a real sweetheart! It was great hooking up with him. He's collaborating on some writing and production with us currently.
At your concerts how many songs do you usually sing and what are they?
April: Some performances call for a 15 minute set an others for an hour or more. We just performed the National Anthem at Gillette Stadium for the NE Patriots last week. But it was in front of 60,000 people, so sometimes even the really short ones are super exciting! Normally, in concert, we like to mix it up with both upbeat songs and ballads and a favorite song which we always include is "Just Chill". We really look forward to performing any of our newest songs and are mid rehearsing a brand new ballad with a cool r&b groove, kinda Brian McKnight-ish.
What is your favorite song to perform?
Lauren: I love singing Testify. It is a more gospel style song that we get so into when we sing it. The message is very personal that anyone can relate to. I get goose bumps every time we sing it!
Jacyn: Right now it is Testify. I think it really showcases our individual vocals:) I also like our cover of the Beatles tune "Oh Darlin". We gospeled it up a bit! It is fun! But we have a survey of people's favorite song on our site. We'd love to hear which song the readers like best. Check it out at: www.jadamusic.com
April: "Just Chill" is my fave! It's a great song that displays our vocals and dance skills too. It's a fun one to do live!
Elle: I like performing "Just Chill" because the vocals are awesome and the dancing is really fun. Crowds really seem to like it-we get lots of compliments on that song in particular.
Random Quick Questions:
Are you single?
Lauren: I am not single. I have a great boyfriend who is a sweetheart:)
Jacyn: I would like to answer that one, (laugh) but right now I am trying to keep one aspect of life private :)
I am mysterious Jada (wink wink!!) Rumor has it that I have been linked to Josh Groban though.........
April: 100% absolutely completely dodging that question.... wink wink......haha! No, I'm single! Who has time for a b/f?? However, if in fact MR RIGHT happens to come along I mean, I just simply can't turn him down now can I?
Elle: I'm not single and probably won't be for a long time with the look of things.
Do you have any other talents?
Lauren: Besides singing, I have also been acting and dancing since I was four. I hope to pursue all of those in my career.
April: I'm a dancer (we all incorporate dancing into the show) and I act. I've modeled as well if that's a talent?? Haha and I play flute!!!
Jacyn: Wow, I guess you learn a little bit about someone every day huh? FLUTE April? Hmmm...
I guess I would say in addition to singing, I do enjoy cooking (though I am no Emeril Lagasse) dancing, acting and writing poetry, and short stories. My 10th grade English teacher told me I was good! Lol!
Elle: Burping!! I am so winning the Kid's Choice Award for the best burp so vote for me. (Never mind her-Jada)
What is one food you could eat 24/7
Lauren: It may sound silly, but I could eat pastries any hour of the day! I'm a sucker when it comes to desserts!
Jacyn: Chicken Kabob Salads with greek dressing and LOBSTER!!! Oh and cheeseless pizza with LOTS of veggies-----(not at the same time of course!!) Oh god! I can't pick just one!
Elle: I love Lobster!! Love it , Love it , Love It!!
One thing you have to have on tour with you?
Lauren: I have to have my cell phone. All of my family and many of my friends are back home in Philly and my phone is my only way of getting in touch!
Jacyn: I would say lip gloss---I pretty much collect them at this point. it is kind of sad.
April: Yup she's tellin' the truth! She applies her lip gloss at LEAST 10 times hourly hahaha!!! JUST KIDDIN J! I would have to have....books. Lots of books to read, and music. But that's two things not one.
Elle: Sweatpants, a sweatshirt, and maybe slippers.
Final comments:
Jada: Please come by any of our upcoming shows-we'd love to meet you! We're opening for Aaron Carter in Allentown, PA on Dec 30 and again for the Radio Disney New Years Concert in Boston on Dec 31 at noon along with Jillian Wheeler and Fan 3. Then we're performing at the Newport Rhode Island Teen Concert on New Years Eve. Come on by!
Thanks Hott Stuff Online!
JADA: Jacyn, Lauren, Elle and April
Interview and Posted in Decmeber 2004
Jada Yahoo Group