Project Description

Interview with

JARID WILLIAMS

by Dave Bruce

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Jarid Williams

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It’s not every day an eleven year old at a party blows the room away with a rendition of Happy Birthday. But that is exactly what South African born Jarid Williams did when he sang the traditional standard at his Grandfather’s birthday to a room full of stunned onlookers at the tender age of eleven. As in many stories where destiny collides with a latent talent, that day marked an irrevocable change in Jarid Williams’s life when he discovered his amazing vocal gift. He then began mastering his craft with little shows around Perth until the age of 16 where he wowed an audience of millions with his show stopping rendition of Stevie Wonder’s Lately and being a top 50 finalist for Australian Idol in 2005.

Fast forward, Jarid Williams was living in Melbourne, Australia and pursuing his musical dream where he continued his rise in the music industry with regulars gigs, achieving a Bachelors Degree in Music Industry studies and most impressively writing and producing his own tracks with a refreshing maturity that belies his age. He also competed in the World Championships of Performing Arts in Los Angeles where he competed against 5000 of the world’s best and became Champion of the World for Vocal Pop and R&B/Jazz. Through this great achievement it led Williams to open for acts such as Brian McKnight at the formerly known Nokia Theatre in LA. He was nominated for an Australian Independent Music Award for his written material.

Come 2017, Jarid released his first digital release EP Unfall in Love which received rave reviews. It received national acclaim and commissioning in South Africa on the biggest radio station in the country 5FM leading to a multiple city tour. Williams also toured nationally in Australia as the support act for the Men of Rnb Tour comprising of Eric Bellinger, J. Holiday, Lloyd and RL from the group NEXT. Jarid Williams’s music is a fusion of all the great elements found in R&B, Hip Hop, Soul, Funk and Blues. His charismatic voice takes its cue from some of the greats and his songs stand alongside the kind of music artists like Justin Timberlake, Chris Brown and Ne-Yo are thrilling audiences with at present. Williams’s exceptional 4 octave vocal range is one of his greatest assets especially due to the fact that not many male vocalists have the ability to stretch their range as he can. Flaunted in fresh, ready-for-radio hits like Don’t Complicate It with its slick vocal harmonies and killer hooks or the fizzy, addictive dance floor anthem Wanna Love You.

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How would you describe your journey in the music industry so far, and where do you want to go from here with your music?

It has been one hell of a ride from the highs to the lows almost like a crazy rollercoaster ride. I mean I would love to take my music as far as possible reaching the highest possible level of success with it that would be a dream come true.

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When did you know you wanted to make music and perform as your career?

Ever since I was a young kid I loved to sing and perform. I feel like from birth I knew I was suppose to do this and it has stuck with me ever since.

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How do you find the balance between your everyday life and your musical one?

It’s tricky im not going to lie, I wish at this point it can be all music so that I can give 200% to it but for the time being I just have to take one day at a time and make sure that I have my goals in place and use my everyday life to work towards achieving those goals.

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Who have been your musical influences or artists you have admired growing up?

I am a huge Michael Jackson fan and Whitney Houston fan because they commanded such a presence when they performed and how they made people feel when they did what they did; they were really the best out there.

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Are there any artists or musicians that you have been so impacted by that it changed your view on life or mentality toward music?

Not one in particular but I like to hear various successful artists stories and how they got to where they are from the adversities they have experienced throughout their lives. It’s very inspiring when you see a person come from nothing with everything against them to make them succeed coming out triumphant. Also showing how easy it is to be influenced by the dark side when you have commercial success.

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Listen to ‘Unfall In Love’ HERE

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How do you feel your sound has developed throughout your time playing and performing?  

Well I started out very much into Soul music through my upbringing but as I started getting older I was eager to branch out into pop and the rnb genres which I feel exposed me to more and leading to find my niche.

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You’ve just released a new EP ‘Unfall In Love’ to rave reviews. How did that feel?

What were its origins? It felt amazing and performing my EP on national tours and hearing my song play nationwide in South Africa was such a huge buzz.

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What performance in your career so far has been the most memorable, or surreal and why?

Probably when I won Champion of the World for Rnb, Jazz and Pop in Los Angeles against so many other people from different countries.

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Do you have any touring plans for 2018?

At the moment that is in the works for later on in the year looking at late Spring early Summer.

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If you weren’t working in the music industry, what else do you think you would be doing with your life right now?

I would continue to run my business and strive for it to be a huge success.  

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Listen to ‘Wanna Love You’ HERE

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What’s one song fans might be surprised you really like?

Metallica’s ‘Nothing Else Matters’.

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If you could choose only one muso, artist or band to collaborate with who is no longer alive who would you choose?

Whitney Houston hands down.

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If you had to listen to one song on repeat the rest of your life, what song and why?

Heal the World Michael Jackson, The world is a crazy place these days it would good to see people love each other more.

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What item of clothing would you be most upset to lose, and why?

My sneakers. I’m such a huge sneaker fan.

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Where can fans see you perform live next, and download or stream your music?

They can catch me at the Laneway and they can download my EP of ITunes or stream on Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play Etc.

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Listen to ‘Don’t Complicate It’ HERE

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Follow JARID WILLIAMS
Facebook

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AMNPLIFY – DB