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Written by Sameerah
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Friday, 18 March 2005 17:56 |
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Itâ??s getting late and Iâ??ve spent the last few days writing and rewriting my interview with Jerra, and to be perfectly honest the reason for that just came to me today. My interview with Jerra was much more than just an interview; it was like sitting down with a dear friend you havenâ??t spoken to in a long while. Our conversation ran the gambit from music, the industry, sexism and everything in between. With so much area to cover itâ??s been hard to find a place to begin with this one. So Iâ??ve decided to keep this simple and focus on the music today as I introduce you to Jerra.
Itâ??s getting late and Iâ??ve spent the last few days writing and rewriting my interview with Jerra, and to be perfectly honest the reason for that just came to me today. My interview with Jerra was much more than just an interview; it was like sitting down with a dear friend you havenâ??t spoken to in a long while. Our conversation ran the gambit from music, the industry, sexism and everything in between. With so much area to cover itâ??s been hard to find a place to begin with this one. So Iâ??ve decided to keep this simple and focus on the music today as I introduce you to Jerra.
Being the daughter of a musician Jerra has been surrounded by music all of her life, but it wasnâ??t until she got her first guitar at the age of 10 that she decided that she wanted to pursue music as a profession. Making the decision to go into music was easy. Dealing with her dads initial disapproval with the decision was a little more difficult, â??being a musician my Dad knew how difficult it could be to peruse music for a living.â? Jerra told me on the phone, â??He wanted me to pursue something more stable.â? Despite his initial resistance her Dad gave in and Jerra began the process of her musical education first in Michigan and then in New York. Her time spent in the Mid West and on the East Coast opened her to experiences that she may never have had if she had stayed in California, â??I came from a place where surfing is an extra curricular activity, with outdoor campuses, then there I was in these huge buildings filled with people learning and getting the chance to perform in front of some pretty big audiences.â? She muses as she tells me about her school days out of state. While continuing her education Jerra also began establishing her professional self back home in California. Performing in coffee houses near her home on school breaks and trying to make a name for herself.
Once finished with school Jerra came back to California, but this time it was off to San Francisco, where she found herself energized by the mixture of culture, music politics and ideas, â?? my time in San Francisco was awesome, really intense, I mean you could be sitting at a table and look around to see the United Colors of Benttionâ? Jerra said as she described the blending of cultures and people around the city. She also found herself drawn to the cityâ??s grass roots organizations and sprit of community. In addition to continuing to pursue music she also took advantage of the opportunity to become involved in a variety of community organizations in support of the Feminist Movement as well as performing at anti war rallies. However as much as he loved the city by the bay, being around such intense energy all the time can in itself be draining, â?? I got to a point where I just needed a changeâ? Jerra said. It was this need for change that brought her to Los Angeles.
It was here in LA that Jerra formed her first band and founded her own label Sugar Hooker Entertainment. With her band in place Jerra used SHE to release her debut album, Play Like A Girl. With this album Jerra showcases her skills as a songwriter. Jerraâ??s lyrics are raw and powerful ripped from personal experiences and the world around her. However unlike some artist out there who start a label just so they have a vehicle for their own work, Jerra hopes that SHE becomes more of a movement and a place to support women in music, â?? there are so many girls out there right now who are writing great songs and playing great music, but they donâ??t have an outlet or any support.â? She said as our conversation began to come to an end â?? I want SHE to be that support.â? |
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 19 June 2005 03:34 )
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