"My goal is to connect through the music."
. Barbara Sheree, February 2011
Upon meeting Barbara Sheree, you witness a bundle of unbridled enthusiasm coupled with old school wisdom. Below are some of her thoughts on singing, the City of Brotherly Love, and the music business.
Barbara Sheree’s musical inspirations:
Growing up, I always loved Diana Ross. I think every young black girl back in the day wanted to be Diana Ross. I would sing "Love Hangover". Cheesin' all in the mirror.
[Barbara Sheree breaks into an unsolicited, a capella rendition over a smoothie in a Northern Liberties coffee shop. No Autotune. Golden.]
I always loved Stevie Wonder, Yolanda Adams, Chaka Kahn, Phyllis Hyman, Stephanie Mills, and of course, Patti LaBelle. I love my generation of Philly artists including Jill Scott, Musiq Soulchild, and Bilal. As well as my peers who emerged in the 90’s like D'Angelo, Eryka Badu, and Angie Stone.
Made in Philadelphia:
I love Philly. I love the musical energy that I get here: that inspiration, that soul, that ability to get up in front of musicians and create off the top of my head and just let my spirit out. It’s an energy here that I can’t get anywhere else. I haven’t seen it in New York, and I haven’t seen it in Atlanta, DC, LA or anywhere else. You need that energy to keep you on your toes, to keep you innovative. Listening to new young talent keeps me current and inspired.
I can go to a hood karaoke joint and hear somebody sing better than [name re-dacted]. I am so serious.
Philly is a tough audience. If you can get love musically, then you are at the top of your game. Philly is not moved by your pretty face, none of that. I have seen plenty of beautiful women hit these stages, built beautifully wearing a Beyonce leotard, some fishnet stockings,and stilettos, but can’t sing. At the end of the performance, bruthas got their faces all turned up.
[Barbara Sheree imitates a frowning cat from 8th & Diamond. Hilarious.]
They (Philadelphia audiences) don’t play that.
On the term “neo-soul”:
I don’t like labels. Even with my management team, we were all trying to classify me in order to market me. I am soul incarnate, the embodiment of soul music. That can be gospel, R&B, or house music. It all comes from the same place.
Words of advice to serious new artists:
You can’t treat it like a hobby. I'm not telling you to "quit yo job", but there comes a time when you have to completely submerge yourself under the water to truly become successful. In the past three years, I can honestly say that God has blessed me beyond what I could have imagined. You know that it comes from Him when it exceeds anything you could have conceived yourself.
Barbara Sheree will be performing at Warmdaddy’s “Tribute to Eric Roberson” on Monday, March 28 along with Vivian Green and Carol Riddick.
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