March 14, 2024 • 33 mins
Welcome to a special Women's Month episode! Dive into the world of talented female artists leaving a significant impact in the field of independent music. Discover the captivating journey of the best-kept secret with RnB & Jazz Artist, Felece Tillman. Experience her captivating tales from the concert halls to recording studios, as she shares her life story, her music and her journey.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
The Smiley J Artist Zone is a cool space dedicated to independent music creators,
conversation, music, information, laughter, and much, much more.
Now, here's your host, Smiley J.
Music.
(00:21):
Welcome, welcome, welcome. What's up, y'all? I hope everyone,
wherever you're listening from, I hope that you guys are feeling fantabulous. Yes.
I am so glad that you're here hanging out with me in the artist zone. Yes.
Today, I have a great show lined up for you.
But you know what? I want to first shout out all of my new listeners. Yes.
(00:43):
Welcome, welcome. I'm so glad that you are here and I hope that you come on
back and we do this thing again.
Now, as mentioned, this is a fun show dedicated to independent music artists
where you get to hear about the artist's journey, told their way.
Yes. And also how they're growing their career, expanding their fan base.
And you might, you know, you just might learn something.
(01:05):
Yes. Yes. Because guess what? We learn around here.
Yes. You just got to be open and, you know, ready to learn something.
Yes. Be a student of life.
And of course, there is music. Yes. My favorite part of the show.
Now we are in the the month of March, and March is Women's Month,
where we will celebrate the achievements and contributions, you know, of women.
(01:27):
You know, like, where would this world be without women?
Can't even imagine, right? I know that's right.
Now, yes, we do need women because, you know what, we need that feminine energy
because as women, we are, you know, natural nurturers.
We are are compassionate, we are caring. And you know what?
(01:48):
A good woman is always going to check on you. Yeah, she's going to check on
you and check for you. Yes.
Now, as a creative woman myself, I want to encourage you to honor women.
You know, there are several meaningful ways that you can honor women in your
communities, you know, in the world.
Because this show is dedicated to independent creators, you know,
(02:11):
celebrate the female artists.
Yes, I've had quite a few independent music artists right here in the artist
zone who are making dope music.
Yes, we have folks from Mesa to Violinist, Artasca, The Boy Bond, just to name a few.
Just go ahead and celebrate female artists, stream their music,
add their music to your playlist.
(02:33):
We also have some authors. There's some great authors out there.
There. Check out some of their books.
And if you don't like reading, you know, like me, I don't really like reading
a lot, but check out some of the Audible chefs.
You can listen while you drive or run or walk, whatever it is that you do.
And my favorite is, you know, just a simple act of kindness,
(02:53):
you know, to that woman in front of you at the Starbucks, you know,
maybe you can buy her coffee.
Just a simple act of kindness.
Yes. You guys get my point. Y'all know that women, we are, You know,
we are making a difference from the boardroom to the stage and all in between.
Speaking of contributions, today's guest has been, you know,
(03:15):
she's been spreading love through her music.
So before I bring her on, I want to tell you a little bit about her.
Her name is Felice Tillman, and she is the best kept secret within the underworld
of independent R&B and jazz.
Her career as an independent artist has taken her to both international and
local venues, where she has captivated audiences with her full lyric collection.
(03:37):
Soprano spanning a four octave range. And you guys are going to hear a little bit more from her.
But first, I need you to help me welcome today's guest, the lovely Miss Felice Fillman.
Welcome to the Smiley J Artisan. How are you today?
Hello, Smiley. Good evening. How are you? I'm doing wonderful.
(03:59):
Thank you so much. Yes, ma'am. Listen, we met last year at a Kwanzaa celebration
that was presented by the Smiley J Artisan,
where I had the pleasure to meet
you as well as host the show for former guests and friends of the show,
Crank La Congo, Matt, aka Swamp Guinea. Absolutely.
(04:20):
I remember that was a wonderful evening, a fantastic show. The vibe was everything.
Matt is a dear friend of mine from many years ago, from my old alma mater, Duke Ellington.
And yes, that was a wonderful performance and show that you put on,
Smiley. Yes. You know what?
And it was a nice turnout. Speaking of turnout, like I just love how you Duke
(04:44):
Ellington alumnus support one another like that is so cool.
It is. We we do that. You know, we were we were taught to do that from our former professors, too.
They really encouraged support among artists and support among community of
of of of artists, even at a very young age, even in high school.
(05:05):
So, yes, my Duke Ellington tribe is solid and we can be anywhere in the world.
And if we see each other, it's like we are reconnecting and just cheering each other on.
Oh, yeah. Love is real. I love the love that you guys have.
And let me just say, let me just say to all my indie artists out there,
you know, you always have to be prepared, prepared.
(05:27):
You know, to self-promote as an independent artist. Felice came up to me after
the show. She introduced herself.
She expressed her interest of being a guest on the Smiley J Artists Show. I absolutely did.
Look, I got my own show name wrong. You got your own show.
The Smiley J Artists Show. And she sent me all of her information within 24 hours.
(05:53):
And voila, here she is today, a guest of the show.
Absolutely. You have to. You, as independent artists, you are your own walking billboard.
You are your own PR firm. You know, we got to wear many hats.
Booking agent, recording manager, tour manager, songwriter, vocalist.
(06:13):
Yes, all of that. Absolutely. All of it. And you were so gracious.
And let me just say thank you so much for following up and just being a beacon
of light for the independent artists in the DMV and other areas as well. So thank you, Smiley.
Yes, yes. Thank you so much for that acknowledgement.
And listen, congratulations to you on your new single, Tell Me All About It.
(06:38):
We're going to talk about that single. All right.
And listen, before we get into tell me all about it, let's talk about Felice
the Artist, your music journey.
Now, I know that you have worked in the creative arts fields for many years.
So just briefly tell us a little bit about your journey.
Wow. It has been a journey and I'm still on the journey. I am originally from
(07:00):
Washington, D.C., born and raised.
I have been singing ever since I taught.
I was born with the gift of music and was also born into a family of musicians and artists.
So my grandmother was
a infamous amazing jazz pianist and composer and singer her name was Clara Bow
(07:24):
and this was like in the 40s and 50s era 30s 40s and 50s and she was a very
one of the leading African-American women who had her own band back then.
She was friends with Billie Holiday. She played for Billie Holiday when Billie
would come into the DMV area.
This was the time of the heyday of the Howard Theater.
(07:47):
I grew up in the old Lee Joy Park area in Washington, D.C. And at that time,
it was very, you know, for upper middle class Blacks that grew up,
you know, that was, you know, populated in that area.
So Clara Bow was amazing.
And she also worked with Ben Webster's and John Malachi's and so many other jazz cats that are gone.
(08:11):
And her mother, my great-grandmother, was a classical pianist in the early 1900s.
So I was born, you know, in a legacy of music, you know, powerful women.
And so I would go around the house and my little tutu and sing for everybody. body.
(08:32):
And went on to Ellington, Duke Ellington High School, did my audition to get into Ellington,
received my bachelor's of music vocally at that time, and then went on to Virginia
Union University and received my applied music vocal theory degree in Richmond, Virginia.
HBCU, Hall of the Panthers.
(08:54):
And throughout that time, I would do my talent shows and my gigs gigs,
and then went on to, after I graduated,
I had the opportunity to just do a lot of the, you know, DMV area, you know, gigs.
I was a performer in the Spirit of Washington and the Odyssey at that time.
(09:14):
I was a resident singer at that time.
And so many other, you know, jazz clubs back in the day that are no longer, you know, around.
So my musical journey has been And just an amazing journey full of rich experiences.
I had a chance to do Europe and go to Israel and perform out there for a number
(09:38):
of months as a young woman and
just took the bold step of faith and was like, I had the offer to do it.
And I left for about four months, went away from the nest and was,
you know, the singer at those types of beautiful resorts.
It's.
(10:02):
Recording and all of that. It's just been my, my journey, my musical journey.
So I'm sure that you had a lot of great memories during all of your travels,
both, you know, domestic and abroad.
So do you have any like fun stories or a fun memory that you, you want to share?
And I think, okay, so yes. So while I was in Israel and a lot Israel.
(10:28):
Which was it's like equivalent to a very fabulous it's
kind of like the beach town or las vegas
of israel and there was
this very wealthy couple who was
getting married and they had a three-day because you know jewish custom they
(10:49):
celebrate weddings like a week long or sometimes you know So this particular
Jewish couple had an elaborate wedding reception for three days.
And so the band that I was in, we performed for three days.
All of these various gorgeous castle-like majestic places out there,
(11:13):
like, you know, by the Red Sea.
It was just magnificent. So here I am at 25 years old, top of,
it was this type of red rock mountain and they had me on top of the mountain
with fireworks going off and I swear,
I felt like I was a little queen back then.
(11:34):
You know what, that sounds fabulous. Now, I know you have some pictures.
I know back then all of those pictures are gone now.
I was thinking, I was like, oh man, I have a few pictures from Israel,
but not a picture of that, that evening.
But yeah, I think I did a Celine Dion song, Because You Love Me for their wet.
(11:55):
And I pre-recorded it in a studio. and then they had me lip-sync to my own track
of her song on top of a mountain with fireworks going off.
I mean, these people were like, you know. Oh, they were bald.
That sounded like a whole video shoot right there. That sounded like a gift. I was like, wow.
(12:17):
And they were just so gracious. I mean, I have never experienced anything as elaborate as that.
So that sticks in my memory as one of the most intoxicating moments.
Performances i've ever had that but it sounds beautiful like
you know top of a mountain i'm sure the scenery was beautiful
oh my god it was beautiful yeah so let's talk about
(12:38):
the song tell me all about it you know it's it's a remake but you you added.
Your flavor you know the song is reductive and and you know sexy you gave it
you gave it some sex appeal there now now was this song because you know i gotta
ask that's what i do now was this song intended for a special special somebody?
(12:58):
Not per se, no.
However, I will say that it was not a difficult song to emote because I have
told a special someone to tell me all about it before, okay? No, that's fine.
As a grown woman, so it was not like a huge jump, you know, where do I get this emotion from? No.
(13:20):
But I love Michael Franks.
And part of my.
Part of my intent when I was, you know, engaging in the recording and creating music,
wanting to do that cover was just like, I've always loved Michael Franks.
(13:42):
He's an amazing, you know, jazz classic, composer, singer, writer, all of that, you know.
So that song has always stuck out to me.
And that you know tell me all about it is my latest release that was released
in november of last year and you know me and my good friend of mine who we also
(14:04):
went to illington together his name is damone arnold shout out to damone who's
a producer in la and he and i collaborated,
on the feel of it we wanted to you know of course put my stamp on it and put
our put his production production stamp on it.
And I grabbed another gentleman by the name of Al Carter, who was a fantastic
guitarist in the DMV area.
(14:26):
Yes, I know Al, yes. Yeah. And Al put that Spanish guitar flavor on it.
Yes, indeed. And I created my different arrangement to the song. And that's what I love.
People are just so, especially smooth jazz enthusiasts, they just love it.
They're just like, oh my God, this is you you've really put the
(14:47):
stamp on on this classic you know
and so I'm very pleased by that well you know the
folks get to hear it today my audience get to hear it
today all right and you know what I want to talk about you also had another
song brighter love which you released last summer and and that received a lot
you know a lot of love you know yeah airplane airplanes over in the UK by the
(15:09):
way shout out to all my folk in the UK we appreciate all right appreciate all
the of love. Brighter Love.
Brighter Love was my original composition that I penned.
And again, Damone and I collaborated on the music, but that was my first original
R&B recording to be released last year. And it is still making its way.
(15:35):
Across the globe. When I do my warm reports of radio spins, it's getting spins
in Nashville now, in New York, in Japan, you know, London, UK is still grabbing it.
And reviews, it's on a luxury CD compilation.
You know, a record company contacted me to put my music on among other other compilation artist.
(16:02):
And it's just been getting a lot of love.
And it's an R&B type of sexy, vibey, chill, relaxed song.
And I think that's what's resonating with so many people because it's coming
from a place that love is okay to love and be loved.
It's okay to want brighter love. Okay, right. We want all of that. Yeah. We want all of it.
(16:25):
Yes, we need that. We are celebrating Women's Month this month.
And, you know, throughout history, women have, you know, just women have just
made a remarkable contribution to the world of music, you know,
across all genres from, as you meant, from Billie Holiday to Beyonce.
Absolutely. I have to ask, like, who are some of the women in music that have inspired you?
(16:50):
Oh, my God. And I'm sure it's a long list. Oh, my God.
Yeah. Oh, my God. With pleasure. So definitely my grandmother Clara Bow was on that list.
My great-grandmother Joyce Cockrell.
Also, you know, the Nancy Wilsons of the world, the Billie Holidays.
Sarah Vaughan is a big inspiration. Miss Ella Fitzgerald is a big influence. influence.
(17:17):
Also, the more, you know, the Chaka Khan's, the Anita Baker's, Phyllis Hyman.
Oh, my God. You know what? You just poured out the whole 18.
Listen, she acknowledged the women from the past to the present. And it's so much more.
It's so many more. So many more. And the young There are young women now that
(17:40):
are, you know, Lettucey, you know, Jill Scott.
Oh, my God. Sade. Up now you're talking. And Indiari. And so many independent
artists, too, as well. Yes.
A sister by the name of, her name is Sly.
Just amazing sister out in Europe.
(18:00):
Just doing it. I'm going to have to check her out. Okay. Yeah, she's fantastic.
Yeah. Women, we are phenomenal. We always have been phenomenal.
We have always done incredible work in spite of all of the things that we've
had to face over the centuries.
Yes. And all of that. Oppression and everything.
(18:24):
So, yes, those are my top. Oh, my God. Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston.
Oh, listen. Okay, that's it. And I got to, that's it. You had to say them too.
Okay. You gave us at least 12 names. And I appreciate it. Because, no.
I can't pick one. You gave a good balanced list.
You named your grand, you know, your grandmom and you named in music,
(18:45):
the women from the past to the present.
Because there's so many and we want to acknowledge all those beautiful women
and their talents and gifts. We appreciate.
We appreciate. Oh, my goodness. Absolutely.
And the ones that are in the studio now, there's the up and coming one.
We appreciate you. You know? Yes.
Yes. Yes. So. Yes.
(19:05):
I want. You know what? Do you have a. Okay. Because we are celebrating Women Month.
Do you have a go-to song to kind of inspire you and lift your spirits?
Wow, that's a great question. Oh, my God. So many.
Yes, I do. God, I love some Roberta Flack. Her songs encourage me.
(19:26):
Definitely my gospel artist, Yolanda Adams inspires me. We know Yolanda will
bring the inspiration. Oh, she's going to bring, she's going to inspire you.
She's definitely going to inspire you.
And the Clark sisters, you know, Be Blessed and Blessed and Highly Favored,
you know, those type of songs are just, you know, when I'm feeling down,
(19:51):
you know, and need a spark, I will turn on those type of sisters in a heartbeat.
We all have that one go-to song or songs that we have to kind of lift our spirits
because, you know, we all have those moments, you know, it's called life.
Music is so powerful and it has a powerful release. So we can release some of those emotions.
(20:11):
Oh my goodness. Yes.
Music therapy. Music therapy.
And sometimes I find, sometimes I need instrumental music.
I might not need swerge. I just need a beautiful piano, classical piano or a
song that is full of frequency music that you would hear in a spa. Yes.
(20:36):
You just reach to that playlist that you need in that moment.
Like, absolutely. You better have it.
It's music therapy, man. Music is a powerful tool.
So I'm going to switch gears for a minute. Okay. I met you at the lovely Carlisle Room,
and I just want to acknowledge the Carlisle Room for giving the Smiley J Artisan
(20:57):
a platform to bring independent artists to their stage. age.
And for my listeners who are not familiar with the Carlisle Room,
it's a lovely, quaint and intimate music venue that's located in Washington,
D.C., where you can hear some of the most talented artists from around the world.
(21:18):
So today, I'm happy to announce that the Smiley J.
Artisone will be presenting a night of jazz and R&B with today's guest, Felice.
And that's going to be on April the 18th. So to my listeners in Washington,
(21:39):
D.C., Maryland, Virginia, DMV, grab your tickets.
Meet us down at the call-out room, April the 18th. Now, if you're in the Washington,
D.C. area, because you know that's around cherry blossoms.
Isn't Isn't that around Trey Blossom? Oh, you know what? That's right.
You're absolutely right. So listen to all my folks, you know,
abroad and in other states. If you are in the Washington, D.C.
(22:00):
Area, be sure to come through and hang out with Felicia and myself. Yes.
Oh, my goodness. I'm so excited. And thank you so much, Smiley,
for the invitation to perform at The Carlisle, which is a very very established,
quaint, and well-known, respected venue in the Washington, D.C., D&B area.
(22:22):
And I am super excited.
And, you know, it's going to be an amazing, amazing, lovely evening.
I got the best of the best musicians.
All right. And we're going to set that place on fire.
And listen, the food is good. The ambiance is beautiful.
It's a garage parking. So, you know, grab your tickets and meet us there in the call-out room.
(22:42):
Come on out. Come on out. You won't be disappointed.
I can guarantee that you won't. I want to thank you so much for hanging out with me today.
Now, you know what? I think, you know what? But before we go,
I feel like a little fun game. You up to a little game?
I'm down. I am down. Let's do it. She didn't even think about it. She said, I'm down.
(23:03):
My count of people. Okay. It's called Fit B, fill in the blank.
Okay. Okay. Three seconds, three questions. You ready? Uh-oh.
I feel like I'm on family feud or something. Okay. Let's go.
You got it. No, you got it. You got it. Okay. Okay, if you're given the opportunity
to open up for any female artist, who would that artist be?
(23:25):
Would open up for, at this time, Mesa.
Okay, good answer. And choose a Mesa. Okay. Yes. Okay, number two.
Mm-hmm. You are given a round-trip ticket to travel any location in the world.
Where are you going? South Africa.
(23:47):
All right. Yeah, South Africa. Yeah. Okay. Yes, yes.
I want to experience home. I want to experience that. You know,
I want to visit South Africa too. Oh, yeah. Yes.
Okay. Okay. Every girl has a favorite go-to in their cosmetic bag. Oh. What's yours?
(24:08):
Oh, my God. What can I, I cannot live without my lip gloss.
Okay. Listen, I thought she was going to say lashes or something.
I want my lips glossy. I want my lips glossy.
I love it. I love it. I don't like, we don't want no crackly lips. Oh my goodness.
(24:34):
Thank you so much for being such a fun guest. Now, before you go,
now, really, before you go, I'm going to need you to tell all these good folks
out here how to keep up with you.
Sure. With pleasure. So, everyone, I am on Facebook, Instagram.
Under Facebook, it is Felice Antoinette. Or you can find me Felice Tillman.
(25:00):
And that's spelled F-E-L-E-C-E.
Antoinette or Felice Tillman. Also on Instagram, my handle is Felice2000.
And I'm also on YouTube under Felice2000.
She Rocks, S-H-E, She Rocks. You would find me there.
(25:20):
And my music can be streamed and or download on all digital media platforms
to include Spotify, iTunes, Amazon, iHeartRadio, Pandora, all of those.
All the usual suspects. All the usual suspects, yeah. Okay.
Yeah. And if they're Spotify listeners, just add me to your playlist and just
(25:44):
have a a great time listening to my music. Yes.
Well, thank you so much for coming on the show today.
Thank you so much. I'm looking forward to, you know, sharing.
Well, I'm just going to bring you out. You won't have everything from there.
But April the 18th, and I hope all my listeners, especially in the Washington, D.C. area, can join us.
(26:06):
Until then, Felice, keep doing what you're doing, girl, and I see you on the stage. age.
Thank you, Slyly, Artist Zone. Thank you so much. You're welcome.
See you April 18th, honey. Okay. Alrighty.
Music.
(31:02):
Hey, this is Babe Bright, the bad boy Indie Soul, and I'm in the zone with Smiley J.
All right, all right. It is that time. And I want to thank you,
all of you, for your time and your attention. You know, y'all rock. Yes.
I want to thank today's guest, Felice, for hanging out with me today and sharing
her journey, her way. Yes.
(31:23):
Y'all know the rules around here. You like what you hear. You download it and
you add it to your favorite playlist. lists.
Now, remember that we are celebrating Women's Month, and it's not always about
looking back, which we should do, of course, but it's also about supporting
and uplifting women in the present and also in the future.
(31:44):
Now, speaking of support, if you'd like to help support the show,
please feel free to donate at patreon.podbean.com forward slash T-S-J-A-Z.
That's patreon.podbean.com forward slash T-S-J-A-Z.
All show donations are tax deductible and of course appreciated.
(32:10):
Now, although men still dominate all of the world's decisions,
remember, women, we have the power to inspire by using our power for the greater of good. good.
Now, ladies, I'm going to need
y'all to have my back on this by being the change that you want to see.
Until next time, I'm going to need y'all to be well, stay safe,
(32:32):
and remember to listen to good music.
Your ears will thank you for it. I'm Smiley J.
Music.
The Smiley J Artist Zone is a cool space dedicated to independent music creators,
conversation, music, information, laughter, and much, much more.
Now, here's your host, Smiley J.
Music.
(00:21):
Welcome, welcome, welcome. What's up, y'all? I hope everyone,
wherever you're listening from, I hope that you guys are feeling fantabulous. Yes.
I am so glad that you're here hanging out with me in the artist zone. Yes.
Today, I have a great show lined up for you.
But you know what? I want to first shout out all of my new listeners. Yes.
(00:43):
Welcome, welcome. I'm so glad that you are here and I hope that you come on
back and we do this thing again.
Now, as mentioned, this is a fun show dedicated to independent music artists
where you get to hear about the artist's journey, told their way.
Yes. And also how they're growing their career, expanding their fan base.
And you might, you know, you just might learn something.
(01:05):
Yes. Yes. Because guess what? We learn around here.
Yes. You just got to be open and, you know, ready to learn something.
Yes. Be a student of life.
And of course, there is music. Yes. My favorite part of the show.
Now we are in the the month of March, and March is Women's Month,
where we will celebrate the achievements and contributions, you know, of women.
(01:27):
You know, like, where would this world be without women?
Can't even imagine, right? I know that's right.
Now, yes, we do need women because, you know what, we need that feminine energy
because as women, we are, you know, natural nurturers.
We are are compassionate, we are caring. And you know what?
(01:48):
A good woman is always going to check on you. Yeah, she's going to check on
you and check for you. Yes.
Now, as a creative woman myself, I want to encourage you to honor women.
You know, there are several meaningful ways that you can honor women in your
communities, you know, in the world.
Because this show is dedicated to independent creators, you know,
(02:11):
celebrate the female artists.
Yes, I've had quite a few independent music artists right here in the artist
zone who are making dope music.
Yes, we have folks from Mesa to Violinist, Artasca, The Boy Bond, just to name a few.
Just go ahead and celebrate female artists, stream their music,
add their music to your playlist.
(02:33):
We also have some authors. There's some great authors out there.
There. Check out some of their books.
And if you don't like reading, you know, like me, I don't really like reading
a lot, but check out some of the Audible chefs.
You can listen while you drive or run or walk, whatever it is that you do.
And my favorite is, you know, just a simple act of kindness,
(02:53):
you know, to that woman in front of you at the Starbucks, you know,
maybe you can buy her coffee.
Just a simple act of kindness.
Yes. You guys get my point. Y'all know that women, we are, You know,
we are making a difference from the boardroom to the stage and all in between.
Speaking of contributions, today's guest has been, you know,
(03:15):
she's been spreading love through her music.
So before I bring her on, I want to tell you a little bit about her.
Her name is Felice Tillman, and she is the best kept secret within the underworld
of independent R&B and jazz.
Her career as an independent artist has taken her to both international and
local venues, where she has captivated audiences with her full lyric collection.
(03:37):
Soprano spanning a four octave range. And you guys are going to hear a little bit more from her.
But first, I need you to help me welcome today's guest, the lovely Miss Felice Fillman.
Welcome to the Smiley J Artisan. How are you today?
Hello, Smiley. Good evening. How are you? I'm doing wonderful.
(03:59):
Thank you so much. Yes, ma'am. Listen, we met last year at a Kwanzaa celebration
that was presented by the Smiley J Artisan,
where I had the pleasure to meet
you as well as host the show for former guests and friends of the show,
Crank La Congo, Matt, aka Swamp Guinea. Absolutely.
(04:20):
I remember that was a wonderful evening, a fantastic show. The vibe was everything.
Matt is a dear friend of mine from many years ago, from my old alma mater, Duke Ellington.
And yes, that was a wonderful performance and show that you put on,
Smiley. Yes. You know what?
And it was a nice turnout. Speaking of turnout, like I just love how you Duke
(04:44):
Ellington alumnus support one another like that is so cool.
It is. We we do that. You know, we were we were taught to do that from our former professors, too.
They really encouraged support among artists and support among community of
of of of artists, even at a very young age, even in high school.
(05:05):
So, yes, my Duke Ellington tribe is solid and we can be anywhere in the world.
And if we see each other, it's like we are reconnecting and just cheering each other on.
Oh, yeah. Love is real. I love the love that you guys have.
And let me just say, let me just say to all my indie artists out there,
you know, you always have to be prepared, prepared.
(05:27):
You know, to self-promote as an independent artist. Felice came up to me after
the show. She introduced herself.
She expressed her interest of being a guest on the Smiley J Artists Show. I absolutely did.
Look, I got my own show name wrong. You got your own show.
The Smiley J Artists Show. And she sent me all of her information within 24 hours.
(05:53):
And voila, here she is today, a guest of the show.
Absolutely. You have to. You, as independent artists, you are your own walking billboard.
You are your own PR firm. You know, we got to wear many hats.
Booking agent, recording manager, tour manager, songwriter, vocalist.
(06:13):
Yes, all of that. Absolutely. All of it. And you were so gracious.
And let me just say thank you so much for following up and just being a beacon
of light for the independent artists in the DMV and other areas as well. So thank you, Smiley.
Yes, yes. Thank you so much for that acknowledgement.
And listen, congratulations to you on your new single, Tell Me All About It.
(06:38):
We're going to talk about that single. All right.
And listen, before we get into tell me all about it, let's talk about Felice
the Artist, your music journey.
Now, I know that you have worked in the creative arts fields for many years.
So just briefly tell us a little bit about your journey.
Wow. It has been a journey and I'm still on the journey. I am originally from
(07:00):
Washington, D.C., born and raised.
I have been singing ever since I taught.
I was born with the gift of music and was also born into a family of musicians and artists.
So my grandmother was
a infamous amazing jazz pianist and composer and singer her name was Clara Bow
(07:24):
and this was like in the 40s and 50s era 30s 40s and 50s and she was a very
one of the leading African-American women who had her own band back then.
She was friends with Billie Holiday. She played for Billie Holiday when Billie
would come into the DMV area.
This was the time of the heyday of the Howard Theater.
(07:47):
I grew up in the old Lee Joy Park area in Washington, D.C. And at that time,
it was very, you know, for upper middle class Blacks that grew up,
you know, that was, you know, populated in that area.
So Clara Bow was amazing.
And she also worked with Ben Webster's and John Malachi's and so many other jazz cats that are gone.
(08:11):
And her mother, my great-grandmother, was a classical pianist in the early 1900s.
So I was born, you know, in a legacy of music, you know, powerful women.
And so I would go around the house and my little tutu and sing for everybody. body.
(08:32):
And went on to Ellington, Duke Ellington High School, did my audition to get into Ellington,
received my bachelor's of music vocally at that time, and then went on to Virginia
Union University and received my applied music vocal theory degree in Richmond, Virginia.
HBCU, Hall of the Panthers.
(08:54):
And throughout that time, I would do my talent shows and my gigs gigs,
and then went on to, after I graduated,
I had the opportunity to just do a lot of the, you know, DMV area, you know, gigs.
I was a performer in the Spirit of Washington and the Odyssey at that time.
(09:14):
I was a resident singer at that time.
And so many other, you know, jazz clubs back in the day that are no longer, you know, around.
So my musical journey has been And just an amazing journey full of rich experiences.
I had a chance to do Europe and go to Israel and perform out there for a number
(09:38):
of months as a young woman and
just took the bold step of faith and was like, I had the offer to do it.
And I left for about four months, went away from the nest and was,
you know, the singer at those types of beautiful resorts.
It's.
(10:02):
Recording and all of that. It's just been my, my journey, my musical journey.
So I'm sure that you had a lot of great memories during all of your travels,
both, you know, domestic and abroad.
So do you have any like fun stories or a fun memory that you, you want to share?
And I think, okay, so yes. So while I was in Israel and a lot Israel.
(10:28):
Which was it's like equivalent to a very fabulous it's
kind of like the beach town or las vegas
of israel and there was
this very wealthy couple who was
getting married and they had a three-day because you know jewish custom they
(10:49):
celebrate weddings like a week long or sometimes you know So this particular
Jewish couple had an elaborate wedding reception for three days.
And so the band that I was in, we performed for three days.
All of these various gorgeous castle-like majestic places out there,
(11:13):
like, you know, by the Red Sea.
It was just magnificent. So here I am at 25 years old, top of,
it was this type of red rock mountain and they had me on top of the mountain
with fireworks going off and I swear,
I felt like I was a little queen back then.
(11:34):
You know what, that sounds fabulous. Now, I know you have some pictures.
I know back then all of those pictures are gone now.
I was thinking, I was like, oh man, I have a few pictures from Israel,
but not a picture of that, that evening.
But yeah, I think I did a Celine Dion song, Because You Love Me for their wet.
(11:55):
And I pre-recorded it in a studio. and then they had me lip-sync to my own track
of her song on top of a mountain with fireworks going off.
I mean, these people were like, you know. Oh, they were bald.
That sounded like a whole video shoot right there. That sounded like a gift. I was like, wow.
(12:17):
And they were just so gracious. I mean, I have never experienced anything as elaborate as that.
So that sticks in my memory as one of the most intoxicating moments.
Performances i've ever had that but it sounds beautiful like
you know top of a mountain i'm sure the scenery was beautiful
oh my god it was beautiful yeah so let's talk about
(12:38):
the song tell me all about it you know it's it's a remake but you you added.
Your flavor you know the song is reductive and and you know sexy you gave it
you gave it some sex appeal there now now was this song because you know i gotta
ask that's what i do now was this song intended for a special special somebody?
(12:58):
Not per se, no.
However, I will say that it was not a difficult song to emote because I have
told a special someone to tell me all about it before, okay? No, that's fine.
As a grown woman, so it was not like a huge jump, you know, where do I get this emotion from? No.
(13:20):
But I love Michael Franks.
And part of my.
Part of my intent when I was, you know, engaging in the recording and creating music,
wanting to do that cover was just like, I've always loved Michael Franks.
(13:42):
He's an amazing, you know, jazz classic, composer, singer, writer, all of that, you know.
So that song has always stuck out to me.
And that you know tell me all about it is my latest release that was released
in november of last year and you know me and my good friend of mine who we also
(14:04):
went to illington together his name is damone arnold shout out to damone who's
a producer in la and he and i collaborated,
on the feel of it we wanted to you know of course put my stamp on it and put
our put his production production stamp on it.
And I grabbed another gentleman by the name of Al Carter, who was a fantastic
guitarist in the DMV area.
(14:26):
Yes, I know Al, yes. Yeah. And Al put that Spanish guitar flavor on it.
Yes, indeed. And I created my different arrangement to the song. And that's what I love.
People are just so, especially smooth jazz enthusiasts, they just love it.
They're just like, oh my God, this is you you've really put the
(14:47):
stamp on on this classic you know
and so I'm very pleased by that well you know the
folks get to hear it today my audience get to hear it
today all right and you know what I want to talk about you also had another
song brighter love which you released last summer and and that received a lot
you know a lot of love you know yeah airplane airplanes over in the UK by the
(15:09):
way shout out to all my folk in the UK we appreciate all right appreciate all
the of love. Brighter Love.
Brighter Love was my original composition that I penned.
And again, Damone and I collaborated on the music, but that was my first original
R&B recording to be released last year. And it is still making its way.
(15:35):
Across the globe. When I do my warm reports of radio spins, it's getting spins
in Nashville now, in New York, in Japan, you know, London, UK is still grabbing it.
And reviews, it's on a luxury CD compilation.
You know, a record company contacted me to put my music on among other other compilation artist.
(16:02):
And it's just been getting a lot of love.
And it's an R&B type of sexy, vibey, chill, relaxed song.
And I think that's what's resonating with so many people because it's coming
from a place that love is okay to love and be loved.
It's okay to want brighter love. Okay, right. We want all of that. Yeah. We want all of it.
(16:25):
Yes, we need that. We are celebrating Women's Month this month.
And, you know, throughout history, women have, you know, just women have just
made a remarkable contribution to the world of music, you know,
across all genres from, as you meant, from Billie Holiday to Beyonce.
Absolutely. I have to ask, like, who are some of the women in music that have inspired you?
(16:50):
Oh, my God. And I'm sure it's a long list. Oh, my God.
Yeah. Oh, my God. With pleasure. So definitely my grandmother Clara Bow was on that list.
My great-grandmother Joyce Cockrell.
Also, you know, the Nancy Wilsons of the world, the Billie Holidays.
Sarah Vaughan is a big inspiration. Miss Ella Fitzgerald is a big influence. influence.
(17:17):
Also, the more, you know, the Chaka Khan's, the Anita Baker's, Phyllis Hyman.
Oh, my God. You know what? You just poured out the whole 18.
Listen, she acknowledged the women from the past to the present. And it's so much more.
It's so many more. So many more. And the young There are young women now that
(17:40):
are, you know, Lettucey, you know, Jill Scott.
Oh, my God. Sade. Up now you're talking. And Indiari. And so many independent
artists, too, as well. Yes.
A sister by the name of, her name is Sly.
Just amazing sister out in Europe.
(18:00):
Just doing it. I'm going to have to check her out. Okay. Yeah, she's fantastic.
Yeah. Women, we are phenomenal. We always have been phenomenal.
We have always done incredible work in spite of all of the things that we've
had to face over the centuries.
Yes. And all of that. Oppression and everything.
(18:24):
So, yes, those are my top. Oh, my God. Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston.
Oh, listen. Okay, that's it. And I got to, that's it. You had to say them too.
Okay. You gave us at least 12 names. And I appreciate it. Because, no.
I can't pick one. You gave a good balanced list.
You named your grand, you know, your grandmom and you named in music,
(18:45):
the women from the past to the present.
Because there's so many and we want to acknowledge all those beautiful women
and their talents and gifts. We appreciate.
We appreciate. Oh, my goodness. Absolutely.
And the ones that are in the studio now, there's the up and coming one.
We appreciate you. You know? Yes.
Yes. Yes. So. Yes.
(19:05):
I want. You know what? Do you have a. Okay. Because we are celebrating Women Month.
Do you have a go-to song to kind of inspire you and lift your spirits?
Wow, that's a great question. Oh, my God. So many.
Yes, I do. God, I love some Roberta Flack. Her songs encourage me.
(19:26):
Definitely my gospel artist, Yolanda Adams inspires me. We know Yolanda will
bring the inspiration. Oh, she's going to bring, she's going to inspire you.
She's definitely going to inspire you.
And the Clark sisters, you know, Be Blessed and Blessed and Highly Favored,
you know, those type of songs are just, you know, when I'm feeling down,
(19:51):
you know, and need a spark, I will turn on those type of sisters in a heartbeat.
We all have that one go-to song or songs that we have to kind of lift our spirits
because, you know, we all have those moments, you know, it's called life.
Music is so powerful and it has a powerful release. So we can release some of those emotions.
(20:11):
Oh my goodness. Yes.
Music therapy. Music therapy.
And sometimes I find, sometimes I need instrumental music.
I might not need swerge. I just need a beautiful piano, classical piano or a
song that is full of frequency music that you would hear in a spa. Yes.
(20:36):
You just reach to that playlist that you need in that moment.
Like, absolutely. You better have it.
It's music therapy, man. Music is a powerful tool.
So I'm going to switch gears for a minute. Okay. I met you at the lovely Carlisle Room,
and I just want to acknowledge the Carlisle Room for giving the Smiley J Artisan
(20:57):
a platform to bring independent artists to their stage. age.
And for my listeners who are not familiar with the Carlisle Room,
it's a lovely, quaint and intimate music venue that's located in Washington,
D.C., where you can hear some of the most talented artists from around the world.
(21:18):
So today, I'm happy to announce that the Smiley J.
Artisone will be presenting a night of jazz and R&B with today's guest, Felice.
And that's going to be on April the 18th. So to my listeners in Washington,
(21:39):
D.C., Maryland, Virginia, DMV, grab your tickets.
Meet us down at the call-out room, April the 18th. Now, if you're in the Washington,
D.C. area, because you know that's around cherry blossoms.
Isn't Isn't that around Trey Blossom? Oh, you know what? That's right.
You're absolutely right. So listen to all my folks, you know,
abroad and in other states. If you are in the Washington, D.C.
(22:00):
Area, be sure to come through and hang out with Felicia and myself. Yes.
Oh, my goodness. I'm so excited. And thank you so much, Smiley,
for the invitation to perform at The Carlisle, which is a very very established,
quaint, and well-known, respected venue in the Washington, D.C., D&B area.
(22:22):
And I am super excited.
And, you know, it's going to be an amazing, amazing, lovely evening.
I got the best of the best musicians.
All right. And we're going to set that place on fire.
And listen, the food is good. The ambiance is beautiful.
It's a garage parking. So, you know, grab your tickets and meet us there in the call-out room.
(22:42):
Come on out. Come on out. You won't be disappointed.
I can guarantee that you won't. I want to thank you so much for hanging out with me today.
Now, you know what? I think, you know what? But before we go,
I feel like a little fun game. You up to a little game?
I'm down. I am down. Let's do it. She didn't even think about it. She said, I'm down.
(23:03):
My count of people. Okay. It's called Fit B, fill in the blank.
Okay. Okay. Three seconds, three questions. You ready? Uh-oh.
I feel like I'm on family feud or something. Okay. Let's go.
You got it. No, you got it. You got it. Okay. Okay, if you're given the opportunity
to open up for any female artist, who would that artist be?
(23:25):
Would open up for, at this time, Mesa.
Okay, good answer. And choose a Mesa. Okay. Yes. Okay, number two.
Mm-hmm. You are given a round-trip ticket to travel any location in the world.
Where are you going? South Africa.
(23:47):
All right. Yeah, South Africa. Yeah. Okay. Yes, yes.
I want to experience home. I want to experience that. You know,
I want to visit South Africa too. Oh, yeah. Yes.
Okay. Okay. Every girl has a favorite go-to in their cosmetic bag. Oh. What's yours?
(24:08):
Oh, my God. What can I, I cannot live without my lip gloss.
Okay. Listen, I thought she was going to say lashes or something.
I want my lips glossy. I want my lips glossy.
I love it. I love it. I don't like, we don't want no crackly lips. Oh my goodness.
(24:34):
Thank you so much for being such a fun guest. Now, before you go,
now, really, before you go, I'm going to need you to tell all these good folks
out here how to keep up with you.
Sure. With pleasure. So, everyone, I am on Facebook, Instagram.
Under Facebook, it is Felice Antoinette. Or you can find me Felice Tillman.
(25:00):
And that's spelled F-E-L-E-C-E.
Antoinette or Felice Tillman. Also on Instagram, my handle is Felice2000.
And I'm also on YouTube under Felice2000.
She Rocks, S-H-E, She Rocks. You would find me there.
(25:20):
And my music can be streamed and or download on all digital media platforms
to include Spotify, iTunes, Amazon, iHeartRadio, Pandora, all of those.
All the usual suspects. All the usual suspects, yeah. Okay.
Yeah. And if they're Spotify listeners, just add me to your playlist and just
(25:44):
have a a great time listening to my music. Yes.
Well, thank you so much for coming on the show today.
Thank you so much. I'm looking forward to, you know, sharing.
Well, I'm just going to bring you out. You won't have everything from there.
But April the 18th, and I hope all my listeners, especially in the Washington, D.C. area, can join us.
(26:06):
Until then, Felice, keep doing what you're doing, girl, and I see you on the stage. age.
Thank you, Slyly, Artist Zone. Thank you so much. You're welcome.
See you April 18th, honey. Okay. Alrighty.
Music.
(31:02):
Hey, this is Babe Bright, the bad boy Indie Soul, and I'm in the zone with Smiley J.
All right, all right. It is that time. And I want to thank you,
all of you, for your time and your attention. You know, y'all rock. Yes.
I want to thank today's guest, Felice, for hanging out with me today and sharing
her journey, her way. Yes.
(31:23):
Y'all know the rules around here. You like what you hear. You download it and
you add it to your favorite playlist. lists.
Now, remember that we are celebrating Women's Month, and it's not always about
looking back, which we should do, of course, but it's also about supporting
and uplifting women in the present and also in the future.
(31:44):
Now, speaking of support, if you'd like to help support the show,
please feel free to donate at patreon.podbean.com forward slash T-S-J-A-Z.
That's patreon.podbean.com forward slash T-S-J-A-Z.
All show donations are tax deductible and of course appreciated.
(32:10):
Now, although men still dominate all of the world's decisions,
remember, women, we have the power to inspire by using our power for the greater of good. good.
Now, ladies, I'm going to need
y'all to have my back on this by being the change that you want to see.
Until next time, I'm going to need y'all to be well, stay safe,
(32:32):
and remember to listen to good music.
Your ears will thank you for it. I'm Smiley J.
Music.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com