Photography by Steven Meisel from my second solo multi-platinum album “Larger Than Life”
“I pride myself on being involved on all aspects of what I’m doing..all I can do is the best I can..”
The above is still true all these years later.
Wattage!
Jody Watley 1987 for American VOGUE Photography by Lara Rossignol.
Jody Watley. 1998 featured in cover of Blues and Soul Magazine, UK. Photography by Andrew MacPherson.
I’ve been fortunate to have solo success in America of course but also other countries in the world including Great Britain / United Kingdom. This is one of at least 3 cover features from Blues and Soul circa 1991.
#TBT On The Cover of the UK Music Magazine Blues and Soul in 1989.
Celebrating 25 years of my second album. Most fans think of my solo debut as the breakthrough and it was – as well as being trendsetting in style and video. However my second album is the one that was really quietly the most pioneering and to me overshadowed. My infusion of high fashion, commercial ad campaigns and layouts – uncommon for any black artist at the time, and only by one other Madonna. ‘Larger Than Life’ ushered in a raised bar for other female artists that would follow. Â The pioneering “Friends” Â featuring Eric B & Rakim; the first to feature Pop/R&B/Hip-Hop 16 bar verses and crossing over R&B, Pop, Dance, Hip Hop – as well as a genre crossing video featuring transgender, drag queens, underground club culture, B-Boys and Girls, voguing and Jean Paul-Gaultier couture blended into a mix of high end and street chic as well as my highest charting ballad ‘Everything.” There was no press release to stir controversy and bring attention about the casting of the video – for me it wasn’t about that. Everyone in the video was real, friends of friends – not models or professionals. Tyrone Procter helped cast it. Eric B and Rakim called some of their friends. What I wanted to represent the types of clubs I liked dancing at full of of types of people united by the music and stepping out in style to get down on the dance floor. It was a real club scene in the west village on a hot summer afternoon in NYC. It went over the heads of a lot of people..my label didn’t know what to make of it, and weren’t happy with it – but let me do what I envisioned and I’m thankful.
I also found success overseas in the Japan, Germany, Belgium and the United Kingdom among others as well. It was always a challenge because I wasn’t the typical ‘urban black artist’ and was always in a struggle to shine on my own terms, remaining true to myself, wanting to have standards, authenticity to my artistry. 25 years later this is still true in everything I do whether on the commercial radar or not. It’s true no matter what your job or career is – be the best you.
“Real Love” which remains one of MTV’s Most Nominated Video’s and “Most of All” are featured on the Top 28 David Fincher video’s : HEREÂ
Photography: Steven Meisel
Makeup: Francois NARS
Hair: Oribe
Art Direction: Lynn Robb and Jody Watley
Produced by Andre Cymone
Executive Producer: Â Jody Watley
#itsinthemusic #JodyWatley
Jody Watley. Nightlife. Photo Courtesy of Jody Watley Music (c) 2013
NIGHTLIFE: written by Jody Watley (Jody Watley Music, BMI) Julien Aletti, Raphael Aletti (Aletti Brothers Music, BMI) Produced by Count De Money for Peace Bisquit and Jody Watley – Remixes by Moto Blanco; Jodie Harsh, Dave Doyle, Soulpersona, Luminodisco, released on Avitone.
Despite the accessibility of information and frequent posts on all of my social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest), some seem to lag or simply too lazy to read and actually get updated to see what’s NEW with Jody Watley. “Any new music coming?” What have you been up to?” It’s all here and out there. In the event you’re sincere with interest and have missed or overlooked the numerous updates and interviews, I’ve compiled a easy to follow list of links to read, watch and get plugged in. “Nightlife” featuring Gerald Brown another fellow original Shalamar lead built momentum beginning in the summer of 2013 and continues going into 2014 (NIGHTLIFE moves to #18 Hot Billboard Dance Club Play will it will peak in the Top 20), and I prepare for the next single – It’s In The Music!
The “Nightlife” video is still to be released with the single still on the rise on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Charts – the edit took longer than we all thought, but’s it nearly done. There really are no rules in the music industry these days especially for independent  artists – it still takes a while to get the word out, without some sort of scandal! With the video, as with anything I do – it has to be right or not at all for me. Limited edition vinyl is available in the boutique. Do you have yours?
Upcoming Concerts: Billboard Live Osaka and Tokyo, Japan: Jan 18-22, 2014. David Gest presents Legends of Soul UK, get info: HERE. I look forward to doing select cities in 2014 in support of “Nightlife” and the forthcoming “Paradise. Expect a couple MAJOR surprises this year and a bombshell or two!
Okayplayer:
Jody Watley “Nightlife” -Single Preview Edit
“..Jody Watley delivers upon arrival..”
http://www.okayplayer.com/news/jody-watley-nightlife-single-preview-edit-mp3.html
CentricTV, Editors Choice:
“…the relevancy of this tune proves that Watley is a master class in how to keep a career in dance and R&B music going..”
http://www.centrictv.com/music/articles/2013/08/07/new-music-jody-watley-nightlife.html
The Urban Link, Jody Watley “Nightlife”
http://theurbanlink.net/2013/07/27/newmusic-jody-watley-nightlife-single-preview-edit-jodywatley/
Soulbounce: “Jody Watley Loves The Nightlife”
“..there are some talents who are living and breathing examples of diva-dom such as Jody  Watley..”
http://www.soulbounce.com/soul/2013/08/jody_watley_loves_the_nightlife.php
Ebony Magazine: Sonic Boom The Weeks Hottest New Music: Jody Watley “Nightlife”
Urbanbridgez: Jody Watley Reunites With Shalamar’s Gerald Brown for New Single:
Poptastic Confessions:
http://poptasticconfessions.blogspot.com/2013/08/nightlife-by-jody-watley-available-for.html
Poptastic Confessions: Nightlife #1 Song of 2013
http://poptasticconfessions.blogspot.com/2013/12/1-song-of-2013.html
The QHBlend: Jody Watley From Soul Train to Nightlife:
“..Watley continues to define her artistic destiny unapologetically; it’s something in the reality television era of ‘R&B Divas’ that should be savored.”
http://theqhblend.wordpress.com/2013/08/20/jody-watley-from-soul-train-to-nightlife/
Bossip: Jody Watley New Single NIGHTLIFE: HereÂ
Soultrain: Jody Watley “Nightlife Single Preview”
http://soultrain.com/2013/08/06/jody-watley-nightlife-single-preview/
Blues and Soul: Jody Watley “Nightlife” Single Preview
http://www.bluesandsoul.com/review/2122/jody_watley_nightlife/
Soul11: Jody Watley Back with New Joint “Nightlife”
http://soul11music.blogspot.com/2013/08/new-joint-nightlife-jody-watley.html
FreshasFrankie: Jody Watley Nightlife Single Preview
http://freshasfrankie.com/jody-watley-nightlife-single-preview-edit/
The Los Angeles Examiner: Jody Watley Releases New Single “Nightlife”
http://www.examiner.com/article/jody-watley-releases-new-single-nightlife
Singersroom: Jody Watley Releases New single “Nightlife”:
http://singersroom.com/content/2013-08-05/Jody-Watley-Nightlife-Single-Preview/#ixzz2bAdvdUSZ
Interviews:
Wax Poetics Issue 57, cover story with Dean Van Nguyen, Music Maverick
http://www.waxpoetics.com/wax-poetics-magazine/issue-57
Yahoo Music: With Billy Johnson Jr. — 3 parts video interview Why Jody Watley’s New Single Is a Call To Get Fabulous
Uptown Magazine, Uptown Unplugged: ICONIC with Isoul Harris, Jody Watley Talks Trendsetting Fashion and Music
Ebony: Jody Watley Is Still A Thrill with Miles Marshall Lewis
JET Magazine: Catching Up With Jody Watley
http://www.jetmag.com/entertainment/music/catching-jody-watley/#.Uo6vYqUdf-k
The Singersroom: Jody Watley is Back Talking About Being An Innovator, The Music Industry, Radio and More
http://singersroom.com/content/2013-10-22/Jody-Watley-Is-Back-And-Talking-About-Being-An-Innovator-The-Music-Industry-Radio-Waacking-More/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter#22275
The Amalgamation Interview: Talking Shalamar, Career and New Music
http://www.amalgamationmag.com/website/music/jody-watley-the-amalgamation-interview/
USAToday Sports: Chop-Up with Jason Jordan: Jody Watley
http://socialhub.usatodayhss.com/blogs-main/staffblogs/item/1225-celebrity-chop-up-jody-watley
Eurweb:Â Jody Watley Wants To Put Dance Back In The Mix
The Life of Riley: Jody Watley Talks to Patrick Riley, A Nightlife To Remember
http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2013/9/10/a-nightlife-to-remember.html
Essence Magazine: Queen of Nightlife Jody Watley Shares Top 10 Picks (Style/Fashion)
http://photos.essence.com/galleries/nightlife-queen-jody-watleys-top-10-nye-picks
Shulman Says: Jody Watley Talks Nightlife (3 part interview)
http://www.shulmansays.com/archives/BOSVIEW/Talking-NIGHTLIFE-with-Jody-Watley—Part-1/
http://www.shulmansays.com/archives/BOSVIEW/Talking-NIGHTLIFE-with-Jody-Watley—Part-2/
http://www.shulmansays.com/archives/BOSVIEW/Talking-NIGHTLIFE-with-Jody-Watley—Part-3/
Ebony Magazine: Jody Watley Shares Spicy Nightlife Recipe (Food/Entertaining)
http://www.ebony.com/life/recipe-jody-watleys-nightlife-chicken-333#axzz2pZonpUmt
Madame Noire: Jody Watley Talks Career, New Music, Entrpreneurship (Business); Here
Musicians Institute Foundation: Grammy Award Winning Artist Jody Watley Shares 7 Tips for Aspiring Artists (Business/ Guest Celebrity Blogger): Here
Sister2Sister Magazine (December 2013):
Sophisticates Black Hair (January 2014): A Look Inside A Music Icons Paradise
Upscale Magazine January 2014: Legends Jody Watley Soul Power
Make sure to purchase ” Jody Watley -Nightlife Remixed” available today at iTunes and Amazon, with remixes by Moto Blanco, Jodie Harsh, Dave Doyle, Soulpersona and Luminodisco. Perfect before a night of clubbing, for your holiday party playlists, workouts and beyond.
iTunes:Â https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/nightlife-remixed-ep/id732941079?uo=4
Other Nightlife news:
The single moved to #18 in the UK on the Urban Club Play Charts on industry magazine Music Week and getting enthusiastic response from U.S. club DJ’s who have just received it.
Nightlife Reviewed on Blues and Soul UK by Lee Tyler :
http://www.bluesandsoul.com/review/2122/jody_watley_nightlife/