Grammy Nominated Singer Charts Her New Course

Yasmeen Williams is a Grammy Nominated singer, published and award winning songwriter, and author. Original group member of the Grammy Award Winning soul ensemble, Sweet Honey in the Rock; Yasmeen is a living legend. Don't let her years of experience fool you, she has a fresh take on music and has an interesting knack for bridging the old with the new and a unique way of blending deep soul sounds into various genres of music. She has a remarkable ear, stage presence, and spirit for music - with instrumentation or acapella.

Yasmeen's new project "There Is a River" is cool reflection of the woman she has become. She skillfully blends jazz, blues and soul overtones which woven together over contemporary gospel chordscreating a tapestry of music only a select few could master. The lead single
"There Is a River" is a mid-tempo groove that draws you in as soon as
the beat drops. It is poignant and reflective while its message of redemption is not over bearing. I recently sat down with Yasmeen to catch up with her to talk about her album “There is A River, her appearance during The Miss Black Collegiate USA Pageant Weekend, and her new social media campaign YSummerMusic.

You are music industry veteran, what made you decide to make the switch to and independent artist and start your own
music label?

 I was an independent artist when Indies weren’t cool. I started singing and touring when I was 3 years old with my family group – a group of women (my sisters, my cousin who is now in the gospel hall of fame and two of my church sisters). Although the music industry is male dominated I have never worked directly within that system. I met and auditioned for Sweet Honey in the Rock in 1976. It was managed by women. As a member I became one of the managers because we managed ourselves. It was like a Sweet Honey University, complete with how to be independent 101. Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, founder, oral historian, professor, curator, songwriter, playwright, and the list goes on was my mentor. Our booking team was a group of women called Roadwork, run by Amy Horowitz. Now, the initial mindset to be
independent was a taught at home. I was raised to be independent, to not depend on a man but to be a partner to one. Both my parents sang. My dad traveled as a quartet singer so that taught me some of the ropes. I’ve heard so many horror stories of women in the industry and decided that I did not want that to be my fate. Oh I have been approached by men, lawyers, producers, sponsors who have told me to raise my skirt a little higher or shake a little more and I would be more profitable, but I refused.

What is the concept behind “There is a River”?

Jesus is that river. He is the flow of life in our veins. The lyrics also include “there is room at the cross. Jesus at the cross symbolizes redemption, choice, and a change from the old to the new. This redemption, choice, and change are not stagnate – it moves
through like a river.

Being a part of such an iconic group
how has different music styles shaped your individual sound? How would you define your music?

I learned to be attracted to all kinds of music in church. Because my dad was Pastor and a singer he stressed a variety of church music from anthems, hymns, gospel, quartet, and more. I listened to classical music on road trips with my parents and wrote my own lyrics to them. I lay in front of the radio days and nights and learned the lyrics to every Motown song ever sung. I was the youngest child in the adult choir; my mother took me to the National Capital Baptist Convention choirs which housed some 100 – 200 singers sometimes. I thought I was in heaven. Sweet Honey sang the music I grew up with so it was a natural extension of my childhood and adult life. I define my music by the latter. Some have call it neo soul. My base is gospel. My soul is well “soul.” My lyrics are stories. I define it folk gospel!

What would you like your fans to know about Yasmeen the person and Yasmeen the artist?

I like to collect precious and semi precious stones. I love knowing the properties, the healing,and the colors. I like this because the Bible says heaven is lined with them. I liken these stones to people.

Who are you listening to? What do you think about the face of music today?

Musically I listen to Indies; they bring something very liberating and fresh to the music scene and music
business. I think the face of music has changed, had to change, and must
continue to change because that is the nature of art. It is supposed to
facilitate the spirit of life ---- like a river it flows through the lives of
people quenching spiritual thirst. I think some R&B is too graphic but the
music is unbelievably good. Technology has allowed us to navigate new moves
with sound that we only dreamed. Fans can catch updates on Yasmeen on Facebook
and Twitter @YSummerMusic or press/bookings email ysummermusic@gmail.com

Yasmeen will be in performing in Atlanta the weekend of October 26-29, 2012. Here is a list of her scheduled events.

 Friday Oct 26th - Launch Party for the Miss Black Collegiate USA
Pageant, 7:30 pm at the Twelve Hotel in Atlanta, GA

Friday, Oct. 26th -Baptist Collegiate Ministry Present Happy Hour Live with Yasmeen, Gods Gurl’s, R.B. and others at Georgia State University, 125 Edgewood Ave. S.E. Atlanta, GA 30303, 9pm - 12pm.

Saturday, Oct. 27th - Pageant Crowning Ceremony - Saturday, Oct. 27th 5pm, the Twelve Hotel - Yasmeen will Perform

Saturday, Oct. 27th - VIP Reception, the Twelve Hotel 8pm

Sunday, October 28th -Press/Award Reception, the Twelve Hotel, 12pm and dedication of Yasmeen’s CD "There Is A River"

Monday, October 29th – Michon’s Restaurant, College Park, GA – Yasmeen’s Listening party 7 pm - sponsored by Prayzefest Network