Ask any random person what is their favorite dish, and it is likely that you will not find the same answer twice. We live in a world that is so diverse that two people can take the same choice of poultry, choice of starch, and vegetation, and create dishes so far apart from each other. What makes them different? You can talk about cooking styles and different heating methods, but true cooks will tell you that it all boils down to spice selection.
If there is anywhere in the world synonymous with cuisine loaded with great spice choices, you can’t overlook the Caribbean where one artist started his seasoning process. Jeverson, a Grenadian-born artist, has imported his island-influenced vocal talent to Nashville, TN, where he is creating a dish with certain elements that are recognizable to the ear. Soul of Otis Redding, a pinch of Soca, the vocal power of The Clark Sisters, and the captivating presence of Bob Marley. Yes, I know that it is too much of a pallet overload to be true, but I encourage you to check out the dread hair adorned singer as he belts out the classic, “Pray for Your Son (ft. The Presentation Brothers College Choir).”
Did you listen? Good. If you didn’t, go back. I assure you it is a treat that will become a guilty pleasure. With a new single titled “Something In The Water,” out February 18th, and his debut EP set for release March 25th, Jeverson is sure to be an artist to follow.
We sat down with Jeverson, who took time out of his busy recording schedule to entertain our questions. Please take a read below.
If these three songs never existed, I would not be a singer.
Oh my goodness that is a question bro! Jesus Christ! Nobody has ever asked me this before, but I would say Otis Redding’s “Try a little tenderness”, “Purple Rain” by Prince, and any gospel hymn. You got me good with this question.
Listening to the covers you have done on YouTube; your vocal ability comes from a source within. What gets the gears rolling when you approach the creation process?
Really and truly, I just started to embark on these big projects. I have not been a songwriter for very long. I’ve only started really getting into writing 2 years ago. I moved to Nashville six months ago to really learn how to write songs. Generally, I do a lot of meditation. I spend time with myself, and then the lyrics come. I write something a poem or an excerpt that may be in my head at the time. Think in themes, and then the song comes. I have been working with different songwriters and picking up some tricks along the way.
It’s clear that you are influenced by some of the greatest. No doubt there must be some pressure in putting out your newest project. What keeps Jeverson focused?
I decided that if this is what I was going to do, I’m just going to do my best at it. I remember being in a place where I thought or felt that I wasn’t confident enough to write what my heart wanted to say. I’m being influenced by the people around me, the songs that I have while finding the balance between them and my island vibes.
You have island roots that have exposed you to a side of the world many are not familiar with. How has Grenada’s culture and artists influenced your music?
Grenadian music is more of Soca, Dancehall, and Reggae, but we never done anything soulful, no soul artist that doing it as massive as Bob did it. In the Caribbean, we have a ton of artists like Patrice Roberts, Machel Montano, other great Soca artists, and Rihanna from Barbados which is 30 minutes from Grenada. There are a couple of other artists like Shenseea, Spice, and Shaggy. There are a lot of artists I picked up along the way even though my mom didn’t allow me to listen to secular music.
If you had a time machine and could go back to a major point in music history? What would it be? And if you could, would you just be a witness or be part of it?
I would go back to Whitney Houston; I want to meet her and be where she is. I would go back to the time of Queen, I would want to go back to that time because the music of that time was really tight. I feel like I’m an older soul in a young man’s body. I prefer to listen to the older stuff than what is out now. I’m trying to take influence from that kind of vibe and bring it into 2022. In a different way than Silk Sonic.
Your music conveys a smooth, feel-good, up-and-at-em vibe that would have new listeners scrambling to get to their choice music-identifying app. What would you hope that people new to Jeverson take away from your music?
I just want people to feel good. I want people to hear it and feel the joy in life that I feel. I want people to feel happy and forget about all the shit we have dealt with in the past two years. Eventually, when it comes on the radio, I want people to know that “Oh Yeah, that’s HIM!”. Right now I’m focused on what I want it to feel like and what I want them to feel. When they get that first vibe of me and my personality. Being from Grenada; being an islander is a vibe. People want to know where you’re from, what you do, and how you do it. Why do you talk the way you talk? Taking that along with the soul vibe, the feelings from gospel music, I want it to be a great feeling.
