Stream Jazmyn Alexis new project "CheeseCake II: Sliced" and read our exclusive Q&A

By: Bekoe

Jazmyn Alexis makes her return with an iLLANOiZE exclusive listen.

I had the chance to catch up with Chicago talent known as Jazmyn Alexis, and I must say it was perfect timing. She recently released her sequel EP to her tasteful project titled "Cheesecake," and she's back for another slice.

Learn about the ingredients it took to create her masterpiece below, and after reading, stream her project in full.

Read Q&A

Bekoe: First and foremost How long have you been singing? 

Jazmyn: I’ve been singing my whole life really. My first solo was at 3 years old. I started in church like most people and the want to pursue music grew from there. 

Bekoe: When did you start taking your career serious?
Jazmyn: Lol again, I’ve been singing my entire life. Everything always lead back to me pursuing music. There really hasn’t been a memorable time where I didn’t take music seriously; I grew up going to The school for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati then went to another art school, Columbia College Chicago, for Music Business, so I’ve been pretty focused almost all of my life.
 
Bekoe: Wow! You've definitely been focus. Is anyone in your family musically inclined, or is it just you?
​
Jazmyn: My sister use to rap in a group called Severe. I remember being at the studio with her on a couple occasions. In her prime, they opened up a show for Cash Money’s Hot Boys…I remember her being super geeked about the posters they made. They looked super legit!

Once she knew I wanted to take music seriously (around 8 yrs.) she’d have me singing scales to myself in wall corners rather than watch Nickelodeon. 

Bekoe: Much respect to your sister, Who are some of your musical influences?

Jazmyn: Of ALL TIME, Whitney hands down! ..As of current influences I’d definitely say Tamia, Jhene Aiko, Eric Bellinger and Nivea, 

Bekoe: What made you relocate from Chicago, to Ohio and do you plan on making a return? 
​
Jazmyn: Wowww...LIFE forreal forreal lol. To be honest, I was in a messy situation with my ex-boyfriend. At the time, we started living together and I just feel like we never really understood compromise. We both had our stubborn ways where we couldn’t be consistently peaceful with each other. Once it got too unbearable, we started acting out of frustration, and once that happened I just didn’t feel happy or safe anymore, the whole relationship just became too toxic. I HAD to leave to find myself again. 
Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll be returning anytime soon, of course for shows and collaborations but I’m not too sure about picking up where I left off there. I’m making plans to branch out and see what other city cultures I can adapt and thrive in. Chicago is definitely still home though. If I could do it all over I wouldn’t trade my time in the Chi for the world!

Bekoe: Damn, and I Wish you the best! You recently put out a prior EP titled “Cheesecake.” What inspired the title and concept?

Jazmyn: Initially the EP was supposed to be titled “On the Rocks”. But close to the time of the release I had just ended things with this guy I was seeing and I decided to act on impulse and be petty. He hated Cheesecake and I always thought that was kinda weird. I should’ve knew off bat that anybody that don’t like Cheesecake is just not it for me.. like how are your taste buds rejecting this perfection?? lol. So I titled it "Cheesecake!" Even though something is so good and you wanna keep eating it and taking it, if you have too much, it can really be bad for ya health. Hence unhealthy relationships and complication situations.

Bekoe: Smh, Cheesecake is delicious, lol. Tell me some pro’s and con’s you’ve dealt with during the duration of your music career, especially with being a female vocalist?
 
Jazmyn: It’s really challenging to be an RnB artist period in this day and age. Everyone’s so into the rap culture that it feels like Rnb is slowly dying. Or maybe lines are just being blurred so much that RnB is becoming an accent to other genres.

I think a huge pro of being an RnB artist is that since theres so many rappers out there it creates more opportunity for singer collaborations. It’s also a pro because I can literally express my feelings and emotions without having to try to please people, and personally I just think RnB has a broader horizon for melodies to create versus other genres, and that can literally be on any kind of track (rap to country). 
 
Cons would definitely start off with competition.  Because Rnb has started diminishing over the past decade, it’s even harder to thrive because you’re compared, even involuntarily to the next female singer and I’m not competitive at all. I believe I live in my own lane, Can’t nobody sing like me and vice versa. So it really becomes a negative impact because outside forces are tampering with your genuine love of creating. 
 
 
Bekoe: Wow that was very interesting, and well Put. Speaking of well put. How did Cheesecake II come about, and what was the first track you recorded for the project?

Jazmyn: Cheesecake II is a sequel to Cheesecake. Cheesecake II hovers around the struggle of balance. Balancing your love life, taking care of family, pursuing your career, appropriately dealing with emotions and staying current. These things to an artist or successful person in general are HUGE and each song deals with at least one of these struggles. 

The first written song for this album was “Forgetful” but the first recorded song was “Love My Flowers.”

Bekoe: What would you like for your audience to understand and gain after their first listen of Cheesecake II? 

Jazmyn: I just want people to connect with their emotions and relate to the situations I find myself in, because I know I’m not the only one and I want my listeners and supporters to know they aren’t alone. If everyone can relate to at least one or two tracks then I’d gladly confirm a job well done!! 
 
Bekoe: For independent women on a come up, rather it’s music, entrepreneurship, etc, what would you say to them, to keep them motivated? 
 
Jazmyn: Literally tune everything negative out and just keep pressing forward. 
I saw this Nipsey interview clip where he basically said what separates the successful people from the average everyday “Joetta” is the fact that they never switched up focus, they live their legacy doing exactly what they’ve been working towards for however long. That sat really deep with me because it’s true! I really have nothing to worry about because my thought process is so tunnel vision that I won’t stop until I get my foot in and then some. 
 
The only way you can fail is if you allow someone or an outside force to come in and change your thought process. YOU HAVE TO KNOW NO ONE CAN TAKE YOUR PLACE OR DO IT LIKE YOU so just stay who you are and shine the best way you know how, not the way you think people want to see you shine.

Stream Jazmen Alexis new project below via Spotify, leave feedback within our comment section, and don't forget to spread the NOiZE.