STACEY PALEVSKY, Courier Staff Writer | Posted: Thursday, June 17, 2004 12:00 am
CEDAR FALLS - The Js - JT Trudeau, JB Baker and Jasmine Terrell - will reign in 2004.
At least, that's what J Trey's new album, "Jaze Reign" hints at.
"It's almost jokingly, and we know it's big of us to think this, but we really feel like with this album, the Js will reign," Terrell says. "It's our time to do what we can and be as good as we can be."
You can catch their "reign" Saturday at the Reverb in Cedar Falls, with Tremayne and Mynus 1.
J Trey arrived on Iowa's small hip hop scene four years ago with its debut release "The Time Has Come."
At that time, Terrell's only involvement was an occasional back-up vocal. Skylar Johnson rapped alongside JT in the group's earlier years.
Creative differences motivated Johnson to go solo with his music, leaving Trudeau and Baker to reevaluate the group's sound. Initially, J Trey was heavy with Johnson and Trudeau's rapping, and Baker's singing.
Trudeau and Baker decided they wanted their next album to reflect more melodic vocals, and invited Terrell to join the group. She and Baker share singing duty; Trudeau weaves his rapping into J Trey's songs.
"It's a great change," Trudeau says. "People who listened to the old J Trey might not even recognize us."
Terrell not only adds an extra singing voice, but often harmonizes with Baker and adds a feminine touch to the group's lyrics. "Jaze Reign" is a melting pot of rap, R&B, soul, indie and pop music.
"I really think we're giving something that can be received by everybody," Terrell says.
The beats on the album come from producers hailing from three corners of the globe - Funkdaddy from Seattle, Kaysha from Paris and Iowa's own PM from PK21 Productions.
The album was recorded locally at Catamount Studios.
"I've been recording for a long time and I've never had so much fun being in the studio," Trudeau says.
When the boys officially asked Terrell to join the group, the three sat down and crafted a mission statement. They also outlined goals to chart the band's future directions.
"I think they wanted a clean start," Terrell says.
While the band members were committed to J Trey's strength, it was a rough start. Baker lives in Dubuque, Trudeau lives in Des Moines, and Terrell lives in Cedar Falls.
Terrell is also the mother of two, including a five-month-old, and so to accommodate her parenting needs, the guys usually came to Cedar Falls for rehearsals.
"The good part is that we're all in three major parts of the state, so we have a chance to build our own connections and a scene," Trudeau says.
This summer, the group will tour around the state. In the fall, the three are hoping to extend that tour to regional cities like Chicago, Minneapolis and Sioux Falls.
Terrell says hip hop groups with male and female vocals - like the Black Eyed Peas - are slowly gaining more attention. She hopes J Trey can capitalize on their momentum.
"There are a lot of collaboration groups comprised of different people who make this huge, totally cool art thing that people are digging right now," Terrell says. "I think people will really respond to 'Jaze Reign,' because that's what people are hearing on the radio."