When R&B soul singer J. Holiday caught national attention in 2007 with his hit song “Bed”, few knew that he was only one singer from a household of talent. His talented sibling is his sister, Quineice, who has recently garnered attention locally in her native hometown of Washington, D.C., and nationally as she prepares to release independently her debut album titled Memoirs of a Soul Pixie. The petite singer and songwriter, often compared to Stephanie Mills and other phenomenal singers who are small in stature but gifted with big voices, talked with SoulTrain.com this month to give us the scoop– sharing updates on her upcoming release, filling us in on who she may perform with soon, and giving us a little insight into what it’s like following in the footsteps of a sibling who is already making moves in the industry.
SoulTrain.com: Quineice, you come from a musical family, including a brother who is an R & B mainstream artist and a father who was a musician. What support did you have growing up that helped shape your aspirations for a career in music?
Quineice: To be honest, my family hoped I would record a gospel album. My father played bass guitar in a gospel group and my mother and her sisters had a gospel group; that is how they met. I didn’t consistently begin listening to secular music until my teens.
SoulTrain.com: Wow, really? You hear that a lot with many singers– particularly those who grew up in the church—that secular music was off-limits growing up. Nina Simone is one great artist who comes to mind. However, since delving into secular music now and performing it for some time, what are your thoughts on the current state of soul music? Do you like where it is today?
Quineice: I think that there is hope for soul music, especially with the resurgence of the classic sound of soul with live instrumentation. I hear mainstream artists paying homage to the classics—like Cee-Lo’s “F* You”, which was a major hit. My own sound could be called “Retro-Millennium Soul”. Soul is not a genre for me, it’s a lifestyle.
SoulTrain.com: That’s a deep statement. Explain that more. Why should people be on the lookout for you?
Quineice: My music is real. I sing about real life experiences. I am a grown woman, so I have been through some things. I am in touch with my feelings and events that are going on in the world. I am a critical thinker, but I express myself the best through song. The Soul Pixie is also very entertaining…there is never a dull moment.
SoulTrain.com: The Soul Pixie? Who is that?
Quineice: My album is titled Memoirs of a Soul Pixie. The Soul Pixie is my alter ego. She is mystical and has the courage to say all of the things that I always wanted to say. The memoirs are stories about things that have happened in my life from birth to this moment. I am ready to share my stories with the world.
SoulTrain.com: Well, I’m sure you have a lot of stories to tell. You’ve done a lot in the arts, including touring with numerous artists over the years, including house music artist Crystal Waters, whom you’ve traveled with as far as Japan. How has working with different artists in different genres of music shaped your musical style?
Quineice: I enjoy listening to all genres of music. I like to remain unboxed and I think that my debut CD will reflect this. My influences are vast. I took about seven years off from recording to perform in theatrical productions as well. I was in Dreamgirls, The Wiz, and Little Shop of Horrors, and performed in other original theater productions. I also wrote a book and a one- woman show that I hope to debut in the near future. All of these things have influenced my style as an artist.
SoulTrain.com: That’s quite a lot. On top of all of that, you’ve been compared to such great singers as Phyllis Hyman and Stephanie Mills. Who are some of your personal music idols?
Quineice: Yes. I am often compared to Phyllis Hyman– people are surprised by the depth of my voice. Also, because of my small size and strong voice, and the fact that I played Dorothy in The Wiz, I often get the Stephanie Mills comparison. As for my idols, growing up I looked up to Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston. Michael was an amazing entertainer and I thought that Whitney had the most beautiful and perfect voice.
SoulTrain.com: Two of the top entertainers in history, I see. Right now, if given the opportunity, what artist would you most like to work with and why?
Quineice: I would like to work with Cee-Lo or Raphael Saadiq. They are both musical geniuses. I respect the way that they are constantly evolving yet manage to pay homage to the great soul artists of the past.
SoulTrain.com: Are there any plans for you and your brother J. Holiday to collaborate on any music in the near future?
Quineice: My brother is actually one of my biggest fans and I shared a couple of songs with him recently. He is recording so many songs, so we will see if anything that I have written ends up on his new CD. Our mother really wants us to record a duet, so I am sure you will hear a collaboration in the near future.
SoulTrain.com: I’m sure that would be a noteworthy collaboration, given how talented you both are. Looking at career life and setting goals, who are some of the artists on the scene now that you find inspiring and models for your own career?
Quineice: I respect the way that artists like Raheem DeVaughn, Lalah Hathaway, and Eric Roberson are using social networks and media to promote their projects. I am also beginning to embrace forums such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. I am inspired by all artists who use their music to affect change. I, too, hope to make a difference with my music. In the words of an old spiritual, “if I can help one person before I leave this earth, my living won’t be in vain.”
SoulTrain.com: Sounds like you are inspired by your peers but also dedicated to the genre of soul, which we love around here. This year, Soul Train celebrates its 40th anniversary. Is there a favorite Soul Train memory that you have as you watched the show growing up?
Quineice: I enjoyed watching the artists perform live and I was fascinated by the dancers. Soul Train was sometimes our first introduction to artists that may not have yet experienced mainstream success. I dreamed of performing on the Soul Train stage myself.
SoulTrain.com: When can we expect the new album and are there any special guests that it will feature?
Quineice: I hope to release Memoirs of a Soul Pixie in the spring of 2012. There may be a few surprise guests, including my brother J. Holiday. Stay tuned!
Catch up with Quineice on her official website, and also on Twitter, Facebook, and Reverbnation!
-Khadijah Z. Ali-Coleman
Khadijah Z. Ali-Coleman is a writer based in the Washington DC area. Visit her online at www.KhadijahOnline.com for the fine print details.
This is an excellent interveiw of my daughter. This is her time and season to excell. I always told my children the same thing. Never give up on their dream. I taught them to peserve. A dream delayed is never a dream denied. I also would like to thank Khadijah for taking time out of her busy schedule to make sure the interveiw happened. Quineice told you to stay tune, now I’m telling the world to stay tune to this power house. She’s coming through like the wind.