Interview

Nhojj: That's alright, it gave me a chance to do some things around here. (he wasn't upset that I was late & I relaxed immediately)

John: Are you a singer?

Nhojj: Yeah, singer and songwriter.

John: And what type of music?

Nhojj: It's a mixture of soul (R&B), reggae and jazz, elements of jazz as well.

John: Cool.

Nhojj: And I play guitar as well.

John: Are you from the Islands?

Nhojj: Yes, I'm from Guyana, lived in Guyana and I lived in Trinidad as well.

John: So you bring all that favor to your music.

Nhojj: Right, right.

John: How long have you been singing?

Nhojj: Every since I was a kid, like, before I could read I was singing.

John: Do you have a CD or anything coming out?

Nhojj: Yeah, I just released one, this will be my fourth one.

John: Really, so what's the title of the first one?

Nhojj: "I'm Been Waiting For You"

John: Second one?

Nhojj: "Someday Peace, Love and Freedom",

John: The third one?

Nhojj: The second one got nominated for an "Out" music award.

John: Grammys or?

Nhojj: "Out music" it's an organization for musicians who are "out." (gay) They have their own awards.

John: Wow, I've never heard of them. That's great! Were you nominated as new vocalist?

Nhojj: I was nominated for outstanding recording.

John: Did you win?

Nhojj: I was just nominated, no I didn't win.

John: What's the title of the third CD?

Nhojj: "Coming Home"

John: And the new CD, (the fourth) what's the title?

Nhojj: "Soul Comforts"

Then I asked him the correct spelling of his name. Unfortunately our connection was not clear throughout the interview.

John: So your CD was just released. Will you be singing at any of the Gay Prides or anything like that?

Nhojj: No, I don't have anything lined up this year, I'm thinking of signing up for next year, however, if someone would like me to perform this year, I'm available, I'm open for that. Right now, we've been working on getting the reviews, getting on radio. So far the reviews have been really really good.

John: This CD is it a mixture of everything?

Nhojj: It doesn't have as much reggae like the other CD's, it more jazz, soul, R&B.

John: You are from Ghana, how long have you been in NY?

Nhojj: I've been in NYC for 17 years. I'm a New Yorker. (he said with pride) I live in the East Village.

John: You mentioned your music doesn't have as much reggae, do you think that it will crossover to "pop?" (pop music listeners)

Nhojj: Yeah, this one will. I had a lot fun on this one. I wanted it to feel nice and feel good. Wanted everyone to enjoy it. Wanted people to relate to it.

John: And you are "out?"

Nhojj: Yes. I am out.

John: Have you always been out? Or was it a process?

Nhojj: It was a process. I came out about 8 years ago. My dad's a minister. They are Christians. We still talk about it. Little by little they are coming around. They are supportive, but.. I had a ring on my finger and my mother asked it I have a boyfriend. That's a large step.

John: Since you brought it up. Do you have a boyfriend?

Nhojj: No, I don't. I'm single now.

John: So you are on the market.

Nhojj: Yes, I'm single and I'm on the market. (laughs)

John: Great, so our readers will know. When you are not writing and making music, how do you spend your free time?

Nhojj: I do a lot of reading, I do a lot meditating.

John: Are you a very spiritual person?

Nhojj: I am, I am, and I think it comes through in my music, its about being positive, being on the bright side of life and reaching for that element that's bigger than all of us, and that's in all of us. Celebrating who we are and what we are and sharing our different gifts and talents.

Nhojj: And I should say in the movie, "Thanks For Finding Me.", a couple of the songs on my CD will be on the sound track.

John: Wonderful! And what's the movie again?

Nhojj: It's the process, it's about a young black male finding himself, finding that path, his journey, love, magic love, falling in and out of that and its process. And going through it with the help of friends.

John: Have you ever been in love?

Nhojj: Yes, I have. I've written some of my best songs about love, being loved.

John: And do you sleep in the nude?

Nhojj: I haven't recently. (answered seriously)

John: Why not?

Nhojj: I have clothes. (laughs) it hasn't been something that I've done consciously.

John: Do you know how to cook?

Nhojj: No, I don't know how to cook.

John: Since this is your 4th CD, where do you imagine yourself in 5 years musically?

Nhojj: I want to be in a place where people have more access to my music and people will know who I am and what I stand for. I don't know if that means moving to a different record label. The music industry is changing so much. I don't know, we need the funding to get the music out there, but in terms of that, I don't know what that looks like.

John: Do you write most of your music, your lyrics?

Nhojj: Yes, I do, I write most of my music, almost everything.

John: What performer would you like to work with?

Nhojj: Michael Jackson.

John: And why, Michael Jackson.

Nhojj: When I listen to his recording, he has the perfect mixture of the perfect texture, passion, try to get those two in recording and it's perfect, I imagine that he spends hours and hours working on it, studying his music, his lyrics, what he wants to give his listeners.

John: Do you spend a lot of time in the studio?

Nhojj: Yes, a lot of time in the studio.

John: Do you have background vocals or singers?

Nhojj: I do my own backgrounds, I love doing harmonies. I usually do all my backgrounds. On each project I've done a song with only vocals, no instruments.

John: Will you remix some of your music for the club kids?

Nhojj: I would love to do that, I'm looking into that. One of the songs (on his CD), has a elements for a club music. And there's another on this project called, "My Brother", that I worked with Baron (and he named the other house musicians who worked with him on this cut, unfortunately the names weren't clear, please forgive me fellows.)

John: How would someone purchase your music?

Nhojj: On my websites and I-Tune and CD Baby. I love CD Baby, they take care of everything, getting the product out there.

John: Besides Michael Jackson, who would you like to produce?

Nhojj: Maxwell.

John: For the reader do you sound like Maxwell?

Nhojj: Yes, a little bit, I guess.

John: With a little Michael?

Nhojj: Yes, the harmony.

John: Ok.

Nhojj: India Arie, I would like to produce also.

John: Ok, I will make sure I put it in the article. No telling who may read this article. She might give you a call. Do you have a management?

Nhojj: No, not at the moment, there are people that I work with, but I'm not signed with any management, I'm open to any opportunities..….

John: I spoke with Baron, he's having a listening party, will you have anything like that?

Nhojj: We had a live listening party already in NY, "D.J. Dirty" was there. I may do something like Baron's doing, it's a great idea.

John: Your fan base, is it mostly gay, straight?

Nhojj: It's everything, people who come to the show, some are the people are my friends from "my space." It's black, white, straight, gay, the common threat is that they're spiritual. It's a wide range of people.

John: Have you been performing in clubs, jazz clubs, dance clubs?

Nhojj: Jazz clubs, restaurants, churches-the open minded ones, schools and colleges.

John: You mentioned the common threat (his fans) is spiritual, is that what you are sending out?

Nhojj: Yes, I do, I think once you embrace the love in yourself, you give love and you receive love. People aren't as open to give that, but it's the one emotion that we need.

John: Have you been performing out of NYC?

Nhojj: I was recently in Atlanta with Tim-West (he's a poet and rapper).

John: You were down in Atlanta with him?

Nhojj: Yes. He lives down there.

Nhojj was down in Atlanta in a program that assist with HIV/AIDS people. They gave a concert of music to those who are faced with this situation. He really enjoyed the people of Atlanta. Nhojj also performed at Life Beat, an organization in NYC that assist people with HIV/AIDS. There's a message in his music, and its message is about love.

John: What would you tell young, up and coming gay performers?

Nhojj: Stay true to who you are. Express yourself, what you are happy about, what you are angry about. What people are looking for is truth. Express your truth. If you express truth, you will attract truth.

John: What do you do before performing? How do you prepare?

Nhojj: A lot of deep breathing, vocal exercises sometimes, and try to quiet the mind, it energizes me, makes me focus, and I'm able to communicate that to the audience if I'm centered. .

Nhojj likes to set the mood of the performance, and when he's able he will light candles on stage, bring a calm to his space and the space (his audience) that he's sharing. During his concerts, he has sing-a-longs, and has found that its another way of bringing people together.

John: What's the one thing that people are surprised to learn about you?

Nhojj: The type of vocalist I can be. That I'm determined. People always see me smile and laugh a lot, that I'm nice but they are surprised that I think about "guy things" like sex. (laugh)

John: "Guy thing" like sex?" I'm sure our readers will love the fact that you think a lot about sex. (laugh)

Nhojj: Well I think that society tries to make you think that its bad, but its one of the biggest powers that we have, that can make life.

John: How old are you?

Nhojj: 22.

John: 22? Wow, 22?

Nhojj: (laugh) I'm 35, will be 36 in June. On June 24th.

John: Oh, ok, that's much better, you are so mature and grounded, for a minute I thought, wow, this guy is so young and so mature. Now in your 30's, that sounds right, you've lived a little bit. (laugh)