Exclusive: Justine Skye Talks 'Ultraviolet,' PARTYNEXTDOOR, & JAY-Z
Justine Skye is ready to show off her “fearless” side on her debut album Ultraviolet. The R&B songstress recently visited Rap-Up HQ to discuss the long-awaited project, which arrives today via Roc Nation Records.
“This album is kind of like another side of me,” says the Purple Unicorn. “It’s the side of me that you’ll see on stage, you’ll see out at a party, at the club. Just the more confident, fierce, after-a-few-drinks, saying anything on her mind, going for it. Justine Skyers is shy, nerdy, and very weird, very awkward. But this girl, on this album, is fearless.”
In addition to WizKid (“U Don’t Know”) and Jeremih (“Back for More”), Ultraviolet features two collaborations with PARTYNEXTDOOR (“You Got Me,” “Goodlove”), who encouraged her to express another side of her personality.
“I learned a lot from him,” Skye says of the OVO star. “He opened the door to push me to sing in a tone that I didn’t normally sing in. I was kind of scared. He was like, ‘You need to say things that guys would say. You need to speak like a ni**a. You gotta really get at them.'”
Looking back, Skye says she’s grateful for PND’s advice and guidance during the making of Ultraviolet. “I’m glad that he pushed me to that level,” she adds. “I love those songs…Every song is my favorite, but when I play them for people, they stick out.”
Her Roc Nation boss JAY-Z was also part of the process. “JAY is as involved as he can be,” she said, acknowledging his business ties and family duties. “He is very involved with his artists, giving advice, in the office, just chilling. It’s literally like a family.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BeI9BPylXXk/