JENNIFER MEADE

This ability to play the voice instrument with 􀅂exibility between its higher and lower register is a technique ADELENE Meade knows comes through her own voice with ease. And it’s something that has long been in the making. After three years as a stay at home mom, she is now working on the 􀅀nishing touches to her 􀅀fth studio album, which, according to the sultry vocalist, “will include words of wisdom and experiences by Jennifer.” Such words are usually enveloped in a warmth that is gospel and soul, rhythm & blues. In a word: spiritual. “I won’t de􀅀ne my style as strictly gospel,” con􀅀des Meade, a furtive smile playing her lips, “my content is spiritual, a mixture of jazz, pop and soul, and I try to write something of my everyday life, food for thought and share it.” She says this as she sits in a corner of her studio in Montreal, home of Jam Vocal School, an establishment she founded.

“My passion for music, blessings of the Lord that puts (me) in the right place at the right time,…”

Between sessions, her enthusiasm for vocal expression does not tone down. 􀄻e smile takes over and words start to 􀅂ow. “Musically, I was just all over the place,” Meade says of her beginnings. “I started to work on my own with choirs. I loved singing with a group and I loved also teaching and directing. I started touring when I was in my 􀅀rst group, the Harmonettes at the age of 15.” 􀄻e gospel group is where Meade considers her singing career began. Her work as young singer caught the interest of Second Regard the CBC Quebec show featured Meade in their gospel documentary. After the Harmonettes, she became part of another group, Touch of Heaven, in which she did encounter a certain musical paradise. “Working with that group opened me up to other genres of music,” says Meade.

I met musicians and vocalists from Montreal, and with them I worked in the studio doing a lot of little compilations here and there.”

Of those musicians, there was Freddy James who she sang back-up for and Quebec singer Joanne Blouin, with whom she did the opening act for Aretha Franklin. As she mentions the legendary soulful singer, Meade’s eyes grow wider.”/ didn’t sing with her, but being able to share the stage with Aretha Franklin, just to be there was such a blessing.”

Meade’s recognition of blessings is a big part of her musical career. She credits them for having taken her to where she is now. “My passion for music, blessings of the Lord that puts [me] in the right place at the right time,” are what has helped her evolve musically.

Dubbed the ‘First Lady of Gospel’ by the Montreal community, Meade has long been a part of the city’s spiritual voice. After having been fully immerged in gospel during most of her childhood and youth, at 19 she took her passion one step further and began to teach. She had derived inspiration from a number of vocalists, such as Rachel Farrell, Bobby McFerrin, C.C Wayans, and Will Downing.Meade’s admiration for these artists was due to their “connection and understanding of how to play their voice as an instrument.” Having achieved this herself, she wanted to share it with others.

While studying at McGill University’s conservatory of music, she became convinced that this was what she wanted to do. “I developed skills as a musician and met other artists and fed off their passions- and made it concrete.”

These skills are what she now passes on to her students, who, in turn feed off her own passion for vocal expression. Of the soul, blues gospel-inspired music Meade is involved with, she says, “it’s a very emotional, gut wrenching quality that comes through-a very soulful cry.” This is what she strives for in her own voice and those of her students.

Being a vocal teacher has also given her the capacity to better manage her voice, and has added versatility to her sound. While many vocalists have a specific time during the day when they excel, Meade is vocally strong and centered most of the day.

“Get to know your voice, sing as naturally and as real as you can, develop your voice and style, there are no two voices that
are alike.”

It is obvious when talking to Meade, that she knows her strengths. It is this vocal self knowledge which she encourages in her students. “Get to know your voice,” she says, “sing as naturally and as real as you can, develop your voice and style, there are no two voices that are alike.”

As for Meade’s own vocal characteristics: “/have a lot of movement in my voice, a lot of smooth intertwining techniques,” she says, using her hands to describe the flow. And of course, her tone is her vocal trademark. Meade says her smooth sultry voice makes those who know her say, “Yeah that’s Jennifer, that’s her tone …”

As the Montreal winter winds down, Meade’s teaching continues at full force. It’s Tuesday afternoon and Meade calls on her next student. Standing in the warm glow of the studio, the breathing exercises begin. Different notes are sung as hands are placed on the diaphragm. For Meade, taking care of the voice involves the whole body as a vessel: mind body and soul.

Eating definitely plays a role on how her voice performs. “When I have to sing I try to avoid greasy stuff, and avoid singing on a full stomach especially when wanting to control breathing,” Meade says. “/ try to stay away from dairy products, chocolates. Things like that I really try to avoid for sure and I do drink a lot of water I do -well/ try,” she laughs. “Having a healthy diet does affect your vocal chords. Once you have a good regime everything will work well, physically mentally, vocally-everything.”
It appears that for Meade, everything is working well. With an established vocal school, years of musical experience under her belt and an upcoming album, her career shows much promise. She already knows how she wants to be welcomed into the next step of her profession, “/want an audience to know the relationship with the center of my life which is Christ,” Meade says softly.”/ want them to know that I’m real passionate, that /love what I do,” The message is loud and clear-and soulful too. •