• Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Power 40
    • Money & Career
    • SOKO MRKT
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
    • Essence Holiday Gift Guide 2023
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND CONSCIOUSNESS MEET

Sign up for ESSENCE Newsletters the keep the Black women at the forefront of conversation.

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
Select the newsletters you'd like to receive:
Please select at least one option.
By clicking Subscribe Now, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
      • Hair News
      • Natural
      • Relaxed
      • Transitioning
      • Weave
      • 4C
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Power 40
    • Money & Career
    • SOKO MRKT
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
    • Essence Holiday Gift Guide 2023
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home • 2013 ESSENCE Music Festival

Jody Watley Dishes on Her Career, Fashion & Upcoming Memoir

Grammy Award-winning artist Jody Watley speaks to ESSENCE.com about her career, fashion and her ESSENCE Festival performance.
Jody Watley Dishes on Her Career, Fashion & Upcoming Memoir
Jody Watley ESSENCE Cover
By Monique Valeris · Updated October 28, 2020

When you think of Jody Watley, her ability to produce songs that combine elements of everything from electronica to soul comes to mind. But that’s not all the Grammy Award-winning artist is known for. If you take a look at just about any of her music videos or photos, you’ll also note her brilliant fashion sense.

ESSENCE.com caught up with Watley to chat about her achievements in both music and fashion, and find out what to expect from her ESSENCE Festival performance on Saturday, July 6.

ESSENCE.com: What’s in store for fans attending your ESSENCE Festival performance?

Jody Watley: My live show always surprises people who haven’t seen me perform. It’s dynamic, it’s funky, it’s stylish, it’s hits, it’s surprises, and it’s some rare grooves. I’m also previewing two new songs from a forthcoming project. I intend to turn it out.

ESSENCE.com: Can you elaborate on your two new singles?

Watley: The first single is called “Nightlife.” It’s a nod to my disco funk past, but it’s totally current and modern. The second song is called “The Don,” which is another funky dance jam.

ESSENCE.com: Since you’ve had such a great music career, what have you learned about your craft over the years?

Watley: What I have learned is to have my priorities straight in life. My career and pursuit of achieving my goals should never get in the way of living life as a human being. I’m a person that believes in the fact that life is short. Whatever I’m doing has to come from the heart. Though I have accomplished and achieved a lot, I am always a believer in new dreams, new goals and new plans. It doesn’t stop.

ESSENCE.com: Are you enjoying the process of writing your memoir?

Watley: I’ve always enjoyed writing since I was in junior high school. I wrote poetry, short stories and novels, which led to my songwriting. I am trying to write my memoir myself and not use a ghostwriter, so it is definitely a process. I am also working on a fictional novel. The character is a go-getter.

ESSENCE.com: You’re known for mixing high and low brands when it comes to fashion. Why does this work for you?

Watley: It stems from my mom. My mom taught me the first thing I knew about dolman sleeves, Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. I always liked to look nice. Sometimes it was off the beaten path of what other people were doing, but that is authentically me. One of the things about me is I have always been self-styled. With my videos, I never had anyone telling me what was cool. I like that mix of high-low like throwing on a Chanel jacket with some ripped-up jeans. I still see a lot of that in younger artists today.

ESSENCE.com: Share some of the artists you believe have great style.

Watley: One of my favorites is Erykah Badu because she just does her own thing. Rihanna keeps people surprised by her. She changes it up a lot and she reminds me of myself in that way, too. She can do high-low or be totally chic with a gown, but it always has a bit of an edge to it.

Janelle Monáe is very much authentic and has her own vibe. Someone tweeted me the other day that Janelle’s new song “Q.U.E.E.N.” is very much like a Jodi Watley joint. I hear that a lot about Solange as well. Her music makes people think of me, and I take that as a tremendous compliment.

ESSENCE.com: What fashion trends are you enjoying at the moment?

Watley: I love black clothes because they are classic. I also love the recent trend of pops of color, patterns and being bold. I still love vintage, which probably started when I danced on Soul Train. I am always discovering new designers. Through my blog, I discovered ChiChia London, who works great with African prints.

Check out the other artists on the ESSENCE Festival lineup this year. And stay tuned for the July 1st launch of our “Fashion Closet,” your ultimate personal online styling tool to find the right outfit for your size.

COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now