|
Singer Scott gets 'Real,' branches out into film
09/16/2007 6:24 PM, Reuters
Gail Mitchell
One of the more subtle yet
effective new-artist marketing campaigns in recent memory
involved singer-songwriter Jill Scott.
The plan was simple: Pique curiosity with a question tied
to the title of her 2000 debut -- "Who is Jill Scott?" -- and
build from there.
It worked. The hooky tag line and mounting word-of-mouth
about her refreshing music and lyrics helped "Who Is Jill
Scott? Words & Sounds Vol. 1" ring up double-platinum sales
(2.4 million, according to Nielsen SoundScan). The Hidden Beach
Recordings release also earned four Grammy Award nods for
Scott, including best new artist.
Seven years later, as she prepares for the September 25
release her fifth (and third studio) album, "The Real Thing,"
she's still answering the question Who is Jill Scott? Edgy
single "Hate on Me" provides the first clue. It's her response
to people -- including family and friends -- who are jealous of
her life and accomplishments. "Hate" is one of several
autobiographical tracks on an album marked by honest passion
and jazz-inflected R&B/hip-hop reminiscent of her first outing.
A sassier, more nuanced sequel to her last studio album,
2004's "Beautifully Human: Words & Sounds, Vol. 2," Scott's new
set finds her on the other side of divorce: a self-described
"freer, bolder, gutsier" woman who is dealing with -- and
enjoying -- life.
"I'm still Joyce's daughter, still Blu's granddaughter,"
Scott says. "Everything that goes on in my life goes into the
music."
Her gentle, music-box laugh floats over the phone line from
South Africa, where she was in the last days of an 11-week
shoot for "No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency," based on the
bestselling novel and directed by Anthony Minghella ("Cold
Mountain").
Scott is enjoying her "full-throttle" shift into acting. In
addition to the Minghella film, she appeared in the film
"Hounddog," starring Dakota Fanning, and has a spot in the
forthcoming Tyler Perry ensemble drama "Why Did I Get Married,"
co-starring Janet Jackson and Perry.
"Acting isn't about myself," she says. "I'm interested in
the whole human experience. Choosing between acting and music
would be impossible."
Upon her stateside return, Scott will begin an
artist-in-residence series with House of Blues, including a
four-night stint at its Los Angeles outpost in October.
"The music is still very Jill," she says. "'Real' is
mature; very grown-folks stuff: sexy, erotic, angry, cocky,
yearning."
Reuters/Billboard
|
