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00:00Yay.
00:01It is 105.1 The Bounce here.
00:04It's Leisha B, and I've got one of my favorites,
00:07killing the game, in music right now.
00:08And it would be wrong of me to not give her the proper welcome.
00:12So, she's got the bold pop energy
00:15while connecting the smooth lyrics and runs,
00:17because our girl can sing, that we love in R&B.
00:20She is fresh off the release of Total Sellout,
00:22and she is not a sellout at any means of the word.
00:24She's a pop queen, Vivo's Discover artist,
00:27and a sip sip aficionado.
00:29We got the pop R&B princess we've been waiting for, Jay Stephens.
00:33Hi.
00:34Hi, how are you?
00:35I'm so good. Thank you for that super warm welcome.
00:38How are you?
00:39I'm doing great. I'm, like, trying not to fangirl right now.
00:42Oh, my God, no, please.
00:42Because, like, I've been tapped in.
00:44One, I just want to say congratulations
00:46on everything that you've accomplished so far.
00:48I can only imagine how crazy life is for you right now,
00:52because you are here in Detroit for your soul...
00:55Whoa, sold out? Is it sold out yet?
00:57Listen, she was close.
00:59Detroit, she being a little shady, but it's okay.
01:01We're going to have to get this sold out before the show.
01:02We're going to win her over. We're going to win her over.
01:04It's only a few tickets left, so anybody who want to roll up, come through.
01:08Yes, but this is your first headlining tour, correct?
01:11Yes.
01:11How is it different? Because I saw you with Flo.
01:13So how is it doing an opener to being a headliner now?
01:18I was about to say, I haven't been back here since I opened for Flo almost a year ago.
01:24And, yeah, this is the first stop on my tour that I've, like, been to before with them.
01:29So I'm, like, super excited to come back.
01:33I definitely know what I'm doing now.
01:35You knew what you were doing then.
01:37You know, I tell everybody that the Flo tour was really great, and they were great.
01:42Their team was great.
01:43Everybody was so great, I couldn't have chosen a better first tour.
01:45But, woo, I was out there running around like a headless chicken every night, just trying to figure it out.
01:50And, yeah, now I'm just really excited to be back and have, like, a better sense of self as a
01:56performer
01:57and just, you know, a lot more confident, comfortable, having more fun.
02:01The crowd in Detroit was really, really fun last time.
02:04And so I'm really excited to get in front of that again.
02:07So let's start off with the album, Total Sellout.
02:10You've obviously put out EPs of different varieties,
02:14but what makes this complete body of work different from all the rest?
02:18Well, I'd say, honestly, this was my first complete body of work.
02:23I'm working on, well, I'm done now, with my debut album.
02:26So everybody can expect that this year.
02:29But Total Sellout, I feel like, was done in preparation for that, you know?
02:35Like, that was the vamp up to that.
02:38Across working on Sellout to Sellout 2,
02:41to eventually group them together with some new songs.
02:44Total Sellout, I really learned what it was like to create a cohesive project from beginning to end.
02:52And along the way, you really, I think a lot of people really saw me find my sound.
02:56Find my style, my aesthetic, the brand, and my own way of writing and singing.
03:02It all really came together across this project in a way that I'm really proud of.
03:08You know, I've obviously, like, you know, released singles and EPs and things before Sellout.
03:15But I think it was done in, like, less of an intentional way compared to Sellout.
03:20Like, this was my real foray into, like, okay, I'm an artist now.
03:25What does that mean?
03:26What does it look like?
03:27What does it sound like?
03:29And, yeah, I think I led with a lot of intention.
03:31I'm really proud of how it turned out.
03:33Well, I'm excited for what is to come with that debut album because I know you're going to give us
03:37exactly what we need as J-Base.
03:39But for the people who are just getting into who J-Stevens is, can you explain, like, how you came
03:44up with your sound?
03:45Because you've been able to mix pop and R&B seamlessly.
03:49So why is that the choice that you made for your, for the genres that you chose?
03:53And how can you explain the sound for people who might be new to you?
03:56Um, I mean, I would explain it definitely like that.
03:59It is a love of my two favorite.
04:01It is a mix of my two favorite genres that I love, R&B and pop.
04:05I'd say it's got the urgency, the hookiness, the, you know, radio readiness of major pop songs and singles that
04:13are fun and feminine and flirty and upbeat.
04:16But then it's very grounded.
04:18It's got the harmonies, the layering, um, you know, of like a really strong R&B record.
04:26And yeah, it's really just me combining all of my favorite elements of the music that I grew up listening
04:32to and that my parents showed to me and things that I like sought out for myself as I got
04:36older.
04:37And yeah, I think that, um, a lot of the music that I'm making now comes from my background as
04:43a songwriter and, you know, spending a lot of time with other producers, other writers, other artists and seeing kind
04:49of how they work, learning what to do, what not to do.
04:52And really just now being in the driver's seat, making what I want to hear and what I feel is
04:59missing.
04:59And so I'm really excited that people are really resonating with it because it really is just me creating what
05:08I love and what I grew up listening to, you know?
05:10I love that.
05:11And you brought up the fact that you are a songwriter because your pen game, who you've written for?
05:17We got to talk about the difference.
05:19Like, how do you know when there's a song that maybe someone else could do and when there's a song
05:24that no one else but Jay can do?
05:27Yeah, I mean, I don't know how to describe it.
05:29I feel like it's just something I know.
05:31On the first sellout EP, for example, Body Favors, I always say it was the first song that really made
05:38things click for me.
05:39It was written in a session where the intention was definitely to pitch the song to someone else.
05:44And I was just like, I don't think so.
05:48I'm not sending this to anyone else.
05:50Bear in mind, I didn't really have a real idea of what my artist project or sound was going to
05:55be.
05:56But when I made that one, I just felt like it was written so in my character and in my
06:01voice.
06:02And, you know, I had been struggling with that for a while.
06:05What do I sound like?
06:06What is my language?
06:09And it just really came through in that song.
06:11And I knew I'm not sending this to nobody else, you know?
06:15So I think that is kind of the hidden key.
06:18It's when, you know, as a songwriter and as an artist, you want to tap into ways to say things
06:24in your own personal way that nobody else would say them.
06:27And, yeah, it's been really fun exploring that, what my own personal voice is as an artist.
06:33And I'm excited to see what that has translated into this tour.
06:37Because I know that Body Favors is going to eat on stage.
06:40I'm already ready.
06:41But what is your favorite song to either sing or perform when it's going on this tour?
06:47Well, Body Favors has definitely been a favorite just because it's first.
06:52That's the one that gets everybody screaming.
06:54And it's a great warm-up for me because I just go out and jump around and chant, basically, for
07:01three minutes.
07:02So, yeah, Body Favors has been really fun.
07:05I really love Boyfriend Forever.
07:07I feel like that's, like, a huge moment in the show.
07:10It's, like, right in the middle.
07:12So it's a good turning point.
07:13There's a dance break and everybody's shouting.
07:15I need to learn the dance break, girl.
07:16You got to learn it.
07:17It's actually so easy.
07:18If I can learn it in, like, 20 minutes, then you can probably learn it in five.
07:21Because, listen, I got two left feet.
07:24But, yeah, Boyfriend Forever is a big favorite.
07:27I love the ones that the crowd really responds to.
07:30So that's definitely, like, 10 out of 10.
07:33And what else do they love?
07:35They love Kiss It.
07:35They go crazy for Kiss It.
07:36I love Kiss It.
07:37Because Kiss is cheeky.
07:39It is very cheeky.
07:39You do have some cheeky songs, though.
07:41That's just who you are.
07:42And, yeah, I think that's, you know, that was kind of the bridge for me is realizing that my voice,
07:51lyrically, sonically, it's definitely going to come with a bit of tongue-in-cheek.
07:55It's going to come with a bit of humor.
07:58And it translates to the shows as well.
08:00You know, I mean, that is the title, Sellout.
08:03Exactly.
08:04It's served with a bit of cheek.
08:06And then when it comes to creating this project,
08:09obviously you were thinking ahead of putting this on its feet
08:12and getting into having people see it on tour.
08:15What has been the moment where you were shocked by yourself?
08:19Because I feel like a lot of times artists might have those moments where it's like,
08:22wait, hold on.
08:23I am that girl.
08:24Wait.
08:24Wait a second.
08:25I did that.
08:26Was there a moment throughout that process,
08:28whether it's making the album or throughout this tour process?
08:31It's definitely been during the tour.
08:34You know, I'm no stranger to making, writing, recording songs, releasing songs.
08:40I think it can get a bit, it can get a bit like same, same to be releasing.
08:47And people online say that they love it and it's all really nice.
08:51But I think it's something completely different when you see people in person
08:54and they show up with their time and their money.
08:57And I get to talk to them after the show and they're buying merch.
09:01And it's just like such a completely different experience.
09:03Night one of this tour was in Houston and they were so loud.
09:08I literally couldn't hear myself.
09:09I was like crying on stage the whole time because I just, I don't know.
09:13It's like, I can't believe it, you know?
09:15And that's home, right?
09:16So.
09:16Well, I was born in Dallas.
09:18Okay.
09:19So like, you know, we all cousins.
09:22But yeah, like it was really nice to be back in Texas.
09:26And I mean, just anywhere outside of LA, which is where I grew up,
09:30just to be received by people that I don't know.
09:33And for them to be showing up in Groves and knowing all the words,
09:36I think that's what's really been hitting me and making me feel like,
09:40okay, I'm doing something here, you know?
09:43I'm excited.
09:44And we kind of talked about this earlier,
09:46about the fact that this is your second time to Detroit.
09:49So what can fans expect?
09:51Not only the J-Base who have been locked in
09:53and have been to every single show that you've probably had,
09:56but for the people who are new,
09:58like what are you most excited for them to experience tonight?
10:01I'm really excited for them.
10:03I mean, I guess to get a sense of my personality
10:06because, you know, the show is a bit unserious.
10:08You know, I mean, my dancers said,
10:10they're like, girl, you get up on that stage and you say anything.
10:12And I'm like, I know.
10:14I need to work on it.
10:15I need a script, girl.
10:16I need a script.
10:16And then I have certain scripted parts
10:18and I be forgetting my lines, whatever.
10:20But it's funny.
10:21It's a good time.
10:22It doesn't take itself too seriously except for when it needs to
10:25because when the mic is on, the mic is on, you know?
10:28So, yeah, I'm excited for them to get to know me,
10:30see me, see the music, like literally see the music, you know?
10:34I think the show brings a lot of the music to life.
10:38And, yeah, the live arrangements are so fun.
10:41We had a lot of fun with transitions
10:43and instruments and things like that.
10:45So I'm excited just for the show to breathe new life
10:49into these songs that people know and love.
10:51Yes.
10:51And I just, I love how authentic you are.
10:54I just, I feel like as a fan,
10:56but also a professional in this industry,
10:58it's always very nice to see that the person
11:01who you've like adored through music
11:03actually be the person.
11:05That you have like talked about on social media.
11:08So you are incredible.
11:09Thank you so much.
11:10And I'm so excited.
11:11Thank you for having me.
11:12Like really, I appreciate it.
11:13I love like getting the chance to talk about these things
11:16in places that I've never freaking been to before.
11:18So thank you.
11:20That means a lot.
11:21You're coming, yes?
11:21Yes, girl.
11:22Okay, very good.
11:23Oh my God.
11:23We're going to have so much fun.
11:24Hello.
11:24I'm going to be at the magic bag and you should be too.
11:27I got one last question for you,
11:28before you walk out.
11:29At this exact moment in your career,
11:31a lot is going on.
11:32You're making huge highs.
11:34What is a title or the song that you would give to this chapter in your life?
11:39Whether it's your song or someone else's song that just embodies this chapter in your life.
11:45I feel like right now is 10 out of 10 out of 10.
11:47Yeah, I was hoping you were going to do that.
11:49Right now is a 10 out of 10.
11:51I really am just kind of taking every day at a time.
11:53We are running on three hours of sleep.
11:56And you don't look like it, girl.
11:57And, yeah, I don't know.
11:59I'll be falling asleep in the green room,
12:01but as soon as I hit the stage,
12:03everyone's energy just really wakes me up
12:07and makes me so excited to just get in front of people.
12:10I'm not even getting nervous anymore,
12:12which is kind of weird.
12:13Yeah.
12:13Because this time last year, honey,
12:15on that flow stage,
12:16oh, oh, I was scared.
12:18But, yeah, I've gotten to a point where I'm just really enjoying it,
12:21taking it day by day.
12:22And I'm just, like, really excited about everything that is to come.
12:26So, yes, very much 10 out of 10, 10 out of 10.
12:29She's a 10 out of 10.
12:30Not only looks, but that mic.
12:32Oh, my gosh, thank you.
12:33Okay.
12:34Because one thing about Jay, she's going to sing.
12:37I will try.
12:38And she's going to not try.
12:39I'm going to do it.
12:39She's going to succeed.
12:40I'm going to do it.
12:40I'm going to do it.
12:41I'm going to do it.
12:42Tonight at the Magic Bag, you can get tickets right now.
12:45Show starts at 7.
12:47Doors open at 7.
12:48Doors open at 7.
12:49And then we have a beautiful, amazing opener.
12:51Her name is Serena on an 8.
12:53And then I am on a 9.
12:55I've been tapping into Serena since I saw the announcement.
12:58She is fabulous.
12:59Listen, I know a future mother when I see one.
13:02Okay.
13:04Well, tonight is the night.
13:05Grab your tickets and beat us there, okay?
13:07See you there.
13:08Bye.
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