Jamie Sparks has carved his path as up and becoming the face of the music industry. With roots deeply etched in soulful melodies and R&B rhythms – Jamie’s journey is as rich as the harmonies he produces.
We sat down with this talented music artist to learn more about what makes him tick, his approaches to the creative process and much more in this exclusive interview with TAGG!
Your musical journey began at a very young age. Can you tell us about the early influences and experiences that shaped your passion for music?
Music was around from the start. My family had a little gospel choir, my brothers had a band, so lots of music was around. It was fun and I truly enjoyed that time.
You’ve faced numerous challenges throughout your career, including personal tragedies. How have these experiences influenced your music and creative process?
Music has been the outlet for The life challenges I’ve faced throughout my career. I never said, “This bad thing happened, so now I’m gonna go write some music”. Rather, music was just something else to do to keep my mind off of things. We all have tough situations we have to go through in life, but not everyone has a healthy hobby to distract. Some folks start taking hard drugs. I feel fortunate I had a positive outlet.
You’ve excelled both as a performer and behind the scenes as a producer and mix engineer. How do you balance these roles, and which aspect of your work do you find most fulfilling?
I’ve enjoyed my time as a performer, producer and Mix engineer. I can easily say the mix is my favourite. I seem to be the most creative there. Performance, like live sound, I always found most challenging. So many things that can go wrong, and so many variables to pay attention to; the room, other people you’re performing with, weather, etc. When I’m in the studio doing a mix, if I don’t like something, I just go back and delete it. Kinda hard to do that live on stage.
Your latest single, “Are You The One,” blends R&B with Afro-Pop elements. What inspired this direction, and how do you approach incorporating different genres into your music?
My longtime business partner and good friend Randy Powell sent me the lyrics for this song. I believe he said he’d like something with an Afro-Pop feel. I had some ideas, so I put them together with my vocal arrangement. He loved it, I loved it, so we went with it! The only other genre I would incorporate into my music is gospel. That’s the music I started with and grew up on. It sort of makes its way into everything.
You’ve shared the stage with some major names in the industry. Which performance or collaboration has been the most memorable for you, and why?
I would say the most memorable show I did was the Summer Rush concert in Halifax, Nova Scotia some years back. It was great because there were so many big names at one show. There was Justin Bieber, Rhianna, Akon, and a few well-known DJs. It was nice to be included on that ticket.
You’ve received numerous accolades, including nominations and awards. How do these recognitions impact your motivation and approach to making music?
The numerous accolades, including nominations and awards I’ve received have been a great reward. It was never really the goal, but to receive an award or nomination for a piece of music, sort of lets me know that someone appreciates what I’m doing. I always have people tell me they like my music, but to have someone from the industry say that and show it, is like a stamp of approval. Like I said, not the goal, not really necessary, but it’s nice all the same.
Your album “Fun Tonight” has been critically acclaimed. What was the creative process behind this album, and how did working at Daddy’s House Recording Studios in NYC influence the final product?
The Fun Tonight album really took on a life of its own. My goal, as with all my albums, is to do my best and hope for the best lol. The music video we shot for that got a lot of airplay here in Canada. That was nice to see. Recording at Daddy’s House Studios in New York was an amazing opportunity! Being able to record at the studio where some of my favourite artists recorded, 112, Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, and Mase, was a very cool feeling. But the way it happened, was kinda of a fluke. Before recording that album, I was making some connections in Toronto, and some of those connections became friends, One of those friends worked at the studio and said I should consider recording some of my tracks there, so I did! I don’t know about now, but at the time it wasn’t a studio you could just call up and book studio time. You had to be invited. I’m not sure how, or if it influenced the music, but it influenced my thoughts about the project. It just felt like it had some “star power” behind it.
You draw inspiration from artists like D’Angelo, Seal, and Michael Jackson. How have these influences shaped your unique sound, and are there any other artists or genres you’re exploring for future projects?
Yes, I really like the sound of those artists. Each is so different, but I truly enjoy the sounds they come up with. When I hear an artist I like, I sometimes try to re-create exactly what they did. I never can, but in the process, I end up making something truly original and my own. One artist I’m listening to right now is Mahalia. I really dig her sound. I love the music she and her producers are coming up with. Some of the tracks sound like they’re blending some early to mid-2000s music with modern production techniques. Very cool, and inspiring.
Your music has been featured in various television programs and films. How does it feel to see your work integrated into visual media, and does this impact your songwriting and production approach?
I love seeing/hearing my music in TV/Film productions. I watch a lot of movies and I know how important the soundtrack is to the film. Just mute the sound for a minute when watching any movie. The impact is huge. So to know my music is being used to bring a particular film to life, I find, is really spectacular. However, it only affects my music if I’m writing specifically for a certain film or TV show. If I am writing music specifically for TV/Film, I usually like to keep the music moving a bit more, make things a bit more musically interesting, and not rely on the lyrics so much.
Looking ahead, what can fans expect from you in the near future? Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations you’re particularly excited about?
I have more songs I’ve written and plan to release so fans can look forward to hearing a bit more from me in the near future. I’m not quite done just yet.
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