00:00Hey, Janelle Snowden here with one of my absolute favorite artists you're going to see her at this year's 25th Anniversary Essence Festival on the main stage at the Superdome in New Orleans. Two years ago, you released your awesome EP. You've won a Grammy, and now you're coming to perform at the Essence Festival. After having performed all over the world, what a ride. What's this feeling like for you?
00:21Man, a lot has happened. It's such a blessing. I'm only 21, so, you know. It's crazy. Yeah, I've been just going. You know, busy's a blessing, right? So, yeah, I'm really excited for Essence and everything else coming up this summer.
00:34I need you to explain your moniker to me because, as you know, Essence and the Essence Festival are all about supporting women, and you developed your name with a message to women in mind. Tell me about that.
00:44Well, her stands for having everything revealed, and I was going through that kind of stage of becoming a young woman, comfortable with being vulnerable and being in touch with what it is that you're feeling.
00:55So, I feel like a lot of people listen to my music and feel like I say things that sit in the back of their minds and kind of help them be comfortable with themselves.
01:05How does it feel to know that you're going to be performing on the same stage that so many of your inspirations, including Prince, have performed on?
01:14It's honestly incredible.
01:16Yeah.
01:17It's confirmation.
01:18Like, wow, I'm really doing it, you know.
01:20I'm really living my dream.
01:22You're doing it, girl.
01:23It's very special.
01:24So, I hope, you know, I kill it and pave the way for the new artist after me as well.
01:28Yeah.
01:29Now, when you're performing at a festival like Essence, is there anything that you do to prepare for it as opposed to maybe a more intimate performance or when you know you're going to be performing for, like, the sisters out there?
01:40Man, you know, the hair got to be popping and you've got to be laid.
01:44Right?
01:45And they are.
01:46I don't know if you can see this.
01:47Right, right.
01:48They're laid.
01:49But, you know, rehearsal, I just want to come in and represent my people.
01:53Yeah.
01:54It's going to be dope.
01:55Now, when you know that Michelle Obama, former first lady Michelle Obama is going to be in the audience, does that evoke any special nerves?
02:03I mean, she is a role model and I personally think we don't have as many role models these days.
02:09So, it's really, really special.
02:11Any plans to collaborate with anybody that might be performing there?
02:14Anything that can f*** it up at the Essence Festival?
02:16Man, you never know.
02:18You never know.
02:19I always like it to be a surprise.
02:20Yeah.
02:21Of course, I want to speak it.
02:22People like Pharrell, Missy Elliott, I want to collaborate with.
02:25I think you put it into the universe and now we can say that we hope to make that happen.
02:28Absolutely.
02:29I'll just take a little bit of credit.
02:30Just a little bit.
02:31Now, you're going to be celebrating a birthday just the week before Essence.
02:35Yeah.
02:36I'll be 22.
02:37Wow.
02:38So, are you going to keep the celebration going now that you're officially niggle and it's
02:41New Orleans after all?
02:42We already know.
02:43We already know.
02:44New Orleans is the best place to celebrate and have a good time.
02:49Is there anything that you can tell your fans who are eager for this new music that
02:54you're going to be putting out?
02:55I know you performed a new song at Coachella.
02:57Will Essence Fest be getting a new song?
02:59Oh, yes.
03:00Essence Fest will be getting a new song.
03:01I'm looking forward to seeing everybody and I hope, you know, you'll be patient with
03:06me because I'm currently working on it.
03:08It'll be out soon.
03:09Soon, she says.
03:10I promise.
03:11That's all I can say.
03:12Down at the Essence Festival, 4th of July weekend in New Orleans.
03:15Her will be there on the main stage.
03:17Check her out.
03:18Can't wait to see you.
03:19For more info, go to EssenceFestival.com.
03:22Bow.
03:23Bow.
03:24Bow.
03:25Bow.
03:26Bow.
03:27Bow.
03:28Bow.
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