With old school soul classics providing the soundtrack for his childhood, you
could say that Jeremih Felton was born into music. Raised on the South side of
Chicago by two generations of musical talent in his mother and grandmother,
singing was not just a hobby, nor was it a choice; it was a way of life.
ìI wouldnít say I was forced into music, but while other kids were getting video
games and toys for Christmas, I was given musical instruments. Mom worked hard
to make sure I had all the tools available to develop a talent she saw in me
even then. Within no time I had all the essentials of a band.î
Basically self taught, by the time he reached high school, Jeremih could play
the sax, the drums, the piano, the bass guitar and the quads. But he was yet to
add his astonishing vocal ability to the mix. All that would change by
happenstance once he got to college.
ìI was set to perform in a talent show where I had to be Stevie Wonder. Being
that his music has had such a strong influence on me, I knew I had to kill it,
sort of as a tribute to Stevie.î Jeremih poured his heart and soul into that
performance and the response of the crowd was so strong, it awakened a desire in
him that he had not previously been aware of. From that defining moment, Jeremih
knew he had found his home on stage.
ìI guess you could say I am more of a rapper turned singer. I have always been
into writing poetry with witty rhyme schemes. I just decided to put a melody to
it and I had my sound. Once I started playing the keys and singing, it was like
a dynamic duo.î
So strong was this new found performer in Jeremih, that he decided to ditch the
ìsafeî career path in engineering science he had been carving out in favor of
something more true to his passion. He returned to Chicago to enroll in a music
business degree program at Columbia College, where a chance meeting with a young
producer would set his dream in motion and his sound in stone.
In their short time working together, these two amazing talents have completed
Jeremihís yet untitled debut album, which is an explosive blend of urban/pop
beats set to the soulful, crooning lyrics of Jeremih. This combination has all
the earmarks of a smash, with something to please every listener, and is
destined to race to the top of the charts.
ìHe doesnít have just one sound,î insists Mick Schultz, Jeremihís producer and
collaborator. ìHe can rap whatever you want and sing whatever you want. You give
him a track and heíll run with it.î After listening to the album, it is
impossible to deny that Jeremihís musical arsenal is complete.
Jeremih admits that working with Mick Schultz has brought out a side of his
talent that he did not know he possessed. ìThis album was born from what the
beat's told me. I mean we came up with the song Runway just sitting in Mickís
place, listening to beats while Americaís Next Top Model just happened to be on
in the background.î Jeremih insists that the two of them working together on
this album, creating beats and lyrics in tandem, was like shuffling a deck of
cards where ìeverything just fit perfectly together.î
While looking toward the future, Jeremih hopes to release his debut album and
insists that once his sound gets out there, he will be crowned ìRookie of the
Yearî. As this energetic young man puts it, ìThe way I feel is that in life you
have two choices; be entertained or be the one entertaining.î And very soon the
world will know which category Jeremih falls into.
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