[two_columns border="border"]In just 5 minutes she tells us everything we need to know about. The rising Queen of Jazz, jazzes things up with fabAfriq Magazine and shares the secret to her winning ways. Not only has she got a beautiful voice, she is drop dead gorgeous and wears a Grace Jones look. Read on for her Bio and get inspired! FAM: It is wonderful to know many young people are warming up to Jazz and really engaging in it. Have you always wanted to be a Jazz singer? NR: I was about 15 years old when I asked my parents about “Ella Fitzgerald”. I asked who this lady was and they were like, “well she is the Mama of jazz, you should get to know her, everybody does.” I wasn’t much interested in Jazz in my teens though. I liked R&B music, hip-hop, pop and neo-soul. I listened to artists like Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Method man, Wu Tang Clan and son on... As I got older, I  realised my taste in music changed. When I decided to study music was when I got into jazz, Brazilian, Classical, and so on. Studying at the Conservatory of Rotterdam really opened up my musical eyes. The horizon was wider now. I discovered jazz, in it’s many genres, be-bop, free, Latin/jazz…there were so many doors to open!! I totally fell in love with Jazz, because of the freedom and the discipline the style requires. Jazz also goes with many other styles. Like for instance African music , Brazilian and Pop. As a singer and songwriter I love to dig in Jazz Harmony, Functional Harmony and mix it with soul, pop and my African Roots. I guess you could call me a millennium jazz singer because of that. My Jazz singing is not “pure”, nor is my “soul”, or all these other ingredients that I use. All of it is me. I am one of those young people rooting for jazz, because it is more crossover nowadays. So, yes, it is great because it is good and positive music. Food for thought and for the heart. FAM: What motivates you to sing? is it the money, fame or passion? NR: Well, it sure isn't money! Haha... and it sure isn't fame either. It is of course the passion. It is not a matter of vanity for me. God gave me the gift of music. So I take this task that I have as a musician very serious. That’s why I will always be a student of music, a lover of music and a fan. I want to spread music that is aware, conscious, peaceful and  positive. I crossover in life and in my music. I am passionate about God and life. God to me is love, and my love is music. It is all one. Fame and money have nothing to do with it. It all starts as a spiritual quest to please my creator and share the gift that I’ve got with other people around the globe. To reach the world, I need to be the in music business. I am aware of that. I think it’s a matter of not selling your soul to the devil in this quest of “making it to the top”. I want to stay true to myself. That is not the easy way, but it feels good, real and rewarding. I want quality, not quantity. I want longevity in my career, I am not interested in being the ” it” girl. I am trying to make a living while staying true to my music. That is my aim. FAM: How long have you been singing for and when did you know it was time to go for it? NR: I have been singing since the age of 14. I took singing lessons next to school to develop my technique. In my teens I was already performing and singing in studios. I was gaining experience bit by bit.  After high school  I decided to study music at the Conservatory. I started to release music in 2005. That year I recorded my first demo. I have been a recording since. Two years later my first 12” was born. Patience, a single from  my first album ATOUBA, followed a few months later in January 2008. Both records were produced by Appletree records, a small Indie label in Amsterdam. We  parted ways in 2009 but  this did not stop me from recording and performing. In Fall 2010 I released my second album called “Elle”. They are all available on ITunes. FAM: Are there any challenges you want to share with our readers? NR: It is a challenge to be an independent musician, trying to make it in the music business. I am trying to sell a vibe of consciousness and awareness…that is not really popular to the big audience. Record labels don’t often see money in that but nowadays the audience and the artists are more in charge. That’s why I am in charge of my own business called “NtjaMusic”. It is not a record label, but my independent little company. I am a recording artist, producer, vocal coach, singer, composer, lyricist, model… and so on. I am an artiste. I sell my art in my own name with my own effort. I cannot run this business by myself, it would drive me mad. So like every other company, I have a great team around me. My management, my musicians, my producers, my booking agency, my styling people, my financial partners. Artistic friends who help me make my video’s, my websites, artwork and so on. Quite a bunch of people. Ntjam Rosie is more than me being a singer. It is also a business. We have got to make ends meet at the end of the day, and be organised. That in my opinion is the only way to make it in this business. FAM: What makes you stand out from the crowd? NR: I believe that you stand out when you are yourself. There is only one of me. Even twins are different beings. I am not trying to be something that I am not, sell something that I’m not. I stay true to myself, and my beliefs. That in itself is nothing out of the ordinary, being yourself. The doctrines of the industry I have to sell my product in are the opposite of what my product is about. I don’t stand for sex, cosmetic surgery, Hollywood smiles, fake this fake that… I stand out because I rock it with what God gave me. I am not perfect, I am human, so is my work, it’s real. FAM: Do you ever worry about making it big or not? NR: Yes, sometimes I do worry. When times get hard, I sometimes wonder if all this effort is in vain. You know, sometimes this business can get the best of you. The path I chose is not an easy one. So sometimes  I wonder if I am not crazy doing this. Giving so much. I soon snap out of it, however. You know why? Nothing makes me happier. Nothing! God gave me this gift. He calls the shots, not me. So I am content either way. As long as I can make music I am happy. And I hope to make it big one day, on God’s terms. I want to please my creator, not an industry. So I am willing to work really hard and enjoy every minute of the ride. [/two_columns] [two_columns_last border="border"] FAM: What's the biggest  show you have entertained and what did you get out of it? NR: I have played at quite a few festivals  and venues here in Holland. My favourite gigs, are the ones in small, intimate and cosy venues to be honest with you. I like up close and personal. I remember playing in a small club in Brussels Belgium, it was the best gig ever. The stage was surrounded by people, the place was packed. The vibe was warm, and intimate. When I play with for a bigger audience I try to keep my act personal and close to message. The music speaks for itself anyway. It is about good sound, a good performance and connecting with your audience, big or small. FAM: What's your next move in building your musical career? NR: At the moment I am busy with my new singles. I am working with two video directors. I will release two new singles in March. That needs a lot of preparation. My album has been well received, my first single “In Need” too. Now it’s time for a second round of “Elle”. More people need to know about my newest album. I hope to reach a wider audience and go abroad with my music. I believe I will, I believe I belong out there. I am aiming for an international career. FAM: What's the most interesting thing that has happen to you recently and what lesson did you learn from it? NR: The journey of my newest album “Elle” has been a big learning process. I was in charge of the whole process. I have never done that before. I gave up a lot of my time to realise this dream. It was heavy to compose, record, assist the mixing, making sure it was well mastered, be a bandleader, be the executive producer, with all the deadlines!! I had to make all the decisions. The making of this album was a big learning curve for me. And I couldn’t be more proud of the result. A lot of tears and sweat went into the music. I am glad my producers were able to capture that with me on this record. FAM: Do you consider yourself glamorous? what impression do people have about you? NR: I have a glamorous and a simple side. As an artist I love glamour, I love fashion, make-up and all that girly stuff. It is fun and it is part of art. So in that sense I take it serious. Conscious independent artists need an image and marketing tools too. We also promote our albums and tours. I like this rock  and roll side of the business. The photo shoots, interviews, performing…  All of that is for Ntjam Rosie. But the Rosie behind the scenes is very private, calm, enjoys the simple things in life. She has nothing to do with show business. She just loves life and all it’s beautiful things. She could not be bothered by fashion or how she looks without make up. She is just like everybody else. I do not need to perform 24/7. It would drive me crazy. On the inside I am an optimist and a lover of life. People that know me well know the differences and the similarities between Ntjam Rosie the artist and Rosie. But those who don’t, tend to sometimes call me a diva. They have their own impressions of who they think I am. FAM: Does your sense of fashion impact on your music? NR: Yes, to me fashion and music are one. Art is a statement that goes further than music alone. It is in the lyrics I write, in the video’s and pictures I make. The way I dress, is a way to tell the people around me who I am at that moment. True fashion speaks for itself. It is art. Just like music is. FAM: Would you describe yourself as confident? NR: Definitely. I love myself with all my imperfections. I hope I can be an inspiration to other women by saying and meaning that. Off course I am insecure sometimes. I am human. I embrace the fact that I have feelings, all feelings should be dealt with carefully and in an honest way towards yourself. That makes you grow as an individual, gives you character. I am a spiritual person, I believe in taking time to discover who you are. FAM: Are men intimidated by you? NR: Yes, I am afraid they are. Not all of them of course. But that’s ok. I know there is someone for me out there. It is not easy to be with an artist. My job is surreal. I am not the type of woman that needs to be taken care of all the time. I can handle my own business. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want or need to be loved. Love has nothing to do with being a confident independent career woman. The fact that I love myself and my life does not mean I do not want to be in a beautiful relationship. I just don’t want to settle for less than I deserve. I understand that this way of thinking can be intimidating to some men. FAM: Do you think being married will set limitations on your career and mean fewer male fans? NR: If I were married, I would proudly let my fans know. I am not your average pop singer that deals with fans that fantasize about me as a sex symbol. My message is totally different, so I think my male fans would respect me, married or not. I don’t think that they will stop buying my albums. FAM: What do you do first thing in the morning? NR: It is different every time. When I have a day off, I love to stay in bed and watch a full movie before I get out of bed. I love to stay a bit too long in bed when I am free. I love to be lazy when I’m free. But when I am not, it’s laptop on, check emails, brush my teeth in the meantime, jump in the shower, choose an outfit and go! FAM: It was nice having you around, keep rocking the Jazz and Keep up the Grace Jones look. It brings back sweet memories. [blockquote type="blockquote_quotes" align="right"]Men are intimidated by me but that does not mean I do not want to be in a beautiful relationship. I just don’t want to settle for less than I deserve[/blockquote] [/two_columns_last]