Get Lost in the Dynamic Musical Amalgamation of Jodie B's, "Bad Apple"
Jodie B is the live loop performer, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and audio craftswoman who gathers from the influential touchstones of FKJ, Rufus Du Sol, NomBe, and DubFx to manufacture seamless Electro-soul and Hip-hop instilled classics.
Her latest sonic endeavors find the Calgary-bred chanteuse and rhymester, looking to her sister and life-partner for their musical influence, ultimately adopting them as personal creative motivations and supporters behind her Debut Album's kaleidoscopic brilliance.
On "Bad Apple," the hit single from Jodie B's tumultuously grooving LP, "Equanimous," the electro-chanter diffuses her own introspections of the corporeal path she's taken through life and the composure she's kept throughout. As the shimmering keys buzz over the bluesy chords that accompany a beautiful Hip-hip reminiscent back-beat, Jodie's voice evaporates into reality amid the prismatic and insightful scores of the self-deprecating hook: "no way for me, baby, I'm not good for you, hurts my heart to go, but I would torment you if I stayed."
As heart-wrenching words diffuse from Jodie's tongue, bouncing from left to right between the ringing vacuum of her capacious New Wave mixture, it is her left-turning Emcee-variation that emphasizes this single as absolutely striking. Almost two minutes into the smooth-crooning electro-inspired swing, Jodie crops up with an organic and captivating lyrical dynamism, for a section that sounds like it's been recovered from the Hip-hop sectors of the local mom and Pop record shop down the road.
Here, gliding over nothing but the beat of an even electric drum, Jodie unravels a typhoon of mid-tempo rhetoric focused around the infatuated anger she feels encircling a partner. As the heavy-hearted songstress crisscrosses with unchallenged, but steady-paced verbiage, rising pads undeviatingly resurface. They guide ahead, uncovering the contemplative digital reimagining of what results when a talented Artist like Jodie steps up to the industry plate; and torpedoing her musical career up into groundbreaking heights.
What sorts of emotions did you find yourself challenging into for the performance and vibe you've captured on "Bad Apple?"
Great question. This song was actually written from an outside perspective on my friend’s relationship falling apart, so when I perform it, I’m putting myself in their shoes so to speak. I don’t identify with the song as emotionally as I would if I was writing from my own experience, but the dilemma they were facing in their own lives and the conversations we had about it gave me an interesting perspective on their individual stories.
Can you tell us more about the narrative behind this single and how it fits into the context of your Debut Record's cohesive playback?
A female is unfaithful to her male partner, and she feels as though she attracts a chaotic lifestyle and that she is “no good, and a bad apple”. The snow-white “bad apple” reference is referring to one of many of life’s temptations, and how often if we give into them, they will inevitably lead to our demise. Throughout the song the perspective changes from the male point of view, who loves the female so much, he is willing to forgive her if she is capable of forgiving herself and seeing her own self-worth. Alas, back to the female point of view when she says “it breaks my heart to leave, but I’ll torture you if I stay.”
As far as this being cohesive with the record, “equanimous” is the story of my personal perspective on life, love, lessons, and relationships, that stem from myself, and from others around me. While life tests us with events such as ‘unfaithfulness’ in a loving relationship, it is important to remain in a state of equanimity, for this is when growth and understanding are developed. The lesson from each song always goes back to the remaining equanimous.
How did you incorporate your sister's talents throughout this song and album, and do you believe that your music would be the same without her attributions?
At the age of 6, Nique (pronounced Nikki) had the title of the Worlds Most Professional Blues Harmonica Player, and now she is halfway through her Ph.D. in neuromuscular human physiology. You go, Glen Coco! It is safe to say that the saxophone playing research scientist has a limited amount of extra time in her day today. Therefore, I was only able to get Nique as a feature on a few songs off the album. On “War Cry”, “Soul City”, “Wanderer”, and “Unbreakable”, you can hear her alto sax lines weaving in and out of the rhythms. Her favorable mandolin picking can be heard on equanimous’ dark soul “Swamplands”.
Nique adds life into songs that you didn’t realize needed life. Once she has contributed to them, you can never hear the song the same without her. Nique completes songs. My music would not be the same without her contribution, and performing live is always more fun with my sister by my side. We’ve been singing next to each other all our lives!
If you could give your listeners a few words that would act as the Prologue to the experience behind "Bad Apple," and the rest of the enticing music on your Full-Length Record, what would you say and why?
Stay true to heart, it always knows best. We’re all on a path that leads to many ups and downs, I’ve trusted the process and it led me to my favorite producer and the love of my life.
What can we expect next from you?
My family and I have just launched a new project, Manteasah, with Makemdef (aka the love of my life) and my brilliant, wonderful sister, Nique. The dynamics between us make for an interesting trio with many different elements to contribute. Makemdef is a very talented hip-hop producer and has had success in developing a signature sound, “lean bass” with partner Jeff Wilson in their dark duo, Chuurch.
So what does Manteasah sound like? Imagine a hip-hop backbone, dark bass lines to keep you grounded, and soulful melodies with unique instrumentation. We just released our debut single this summer, “The Minister” with an alluring and spooky music video.
To accompany my new album Equanimous, I will be releasing three music videos from feature songs off the record. I also have a couple of exciting features in the works.
Aside from making plans to build up Jodie B and Manteasah, I plan to further develop my audio engineering and production skills to serve my community in the recording industry. Specifically to those of the minority.