Back in the day,  I used to work at Sesame Place in the Entertainment Department.  It was one of the most awesome jobs you can have as a teenager who loves to dance.  You get paid to dance in shows and parades, it's a great workout, it was very fun, and most of all I met tons of really awesome people.  Sesame Entertainment must have a great eye for talent, as many of the “Sesame Alumni” have gone on to do a wide variety of awesome things, from TV, movies, theater, Sesame Street Live, even running Sesame Place!

One of those uber-talented people that I met back in high school was Lauren O'Keefe.  Since her Sesame fame, she has gone on to be one of the members of Jada, a hot girl group signed by Universal Motown (Stevie Wonder, Nelly, Lil' Wayne, Erykah Badu, Akon and more). I recently caught up with Lauren to interview her for BH. Read on: you are about to be “in” on the next big thing!  Enjoy!!!

LO: I grew up in Yardley and went to Pennsbury High School!

Go Falcons!

BH: What types of activities and after school jobs were you involved in here?

LO: I was involved in all of the plays and musicals at Pennsbury which I loved being a part of! I especially loved the group of people who I acted with in my class. We had so much fun and have become and stayed such great friends! We still get together and reminisce about thespian times when we are all home!

I also worked at Sesame Place as a dancer which was an amazing experience! I loved working there and met people who I will be friends with for the rest of my life! It was probably one of the best and most fun jobs I ever had! I miss those times!

BH:  What are your favorite memories of Bucks County?

LO: I would have to say one of my favorite memories is walking through down town Yardley with my friends to the Yardley Ice House or WaWa. I live in Boston now and we don't have those amazing places here! I have a true appreciation for them and when I am home I try to make a few trips a day to get my fill:)

BH: How did you become interested in singing?

LO: I have been singing since I was a little girl. I feel like I started singing before I could talk! I was always really shy about wanting to sing, but it wasn't until Mrs. McDonnel at Charles Boehm Middle School helped me find my voice and encouraged me to try out for the plays. That was where I met Mr. Hallman who was so fun to work with and absolutely hilarious! Then Mrs.Hohweiler, Mr. McD, Mr. Keller, Mr. Bedee, Mrs. Everett, Mr. Man, Mr. Moyer (whew) and the gang gave me more opportunities to really explore my love for the stage at Medill Bair and Pennsbury Highschool. I feel really lucky to have had such great mentors and a school district with a really strong music/theater program to get me to where I want to be today! It sounds cheesy but it's true:)

BH: When did you decide to make a career of singing? Was it a conscious decision, or did the opportunity simply present itself?

LO: I always knew I wanted to be a performer just didn't know what angle. It wasn't until college that I realized what I wanted to do! I was going to Emerson College in Boston for performance and saw a flyer that said “Do You Wanna Be A Popstar?” I said to myself: “Ummm, why yes I do!”. I grabbed the flyer (because I didn't want anyone to see it!) and went to the audition. I auditioned for a spot in a pop/r&b vocal group (now known as Jada) and won the spot! Jada was developed at Bristol Recording and Voice Studios which is a recording and artist development company here in Boston. I was so excited when I got the call saying that I got into the group! Owners of Bristol Ric and Laura Poulin (also our production company/mgr) developed us as a group and Ric also trained us in his pop/R&B method of singing which is really incredible. For the first time I felt like I really found my true voice and my true calling:)

Jada has been super busy even since! After working really hard developing the group we got signed with Universal/Motown Records, toured all over the US, have two singles out on the radio, and a music video for our single “American Cowboy”(written by Akon and RedOne). Our single was also on an episode of Fox's “House” and another one of our songs was featured in MTV's “The City” and on the “Bring It On: In it to Win it” soundrtrack. We have been busy girls with many sleepless nights, but I love it and can't see myself doing anything else!

BH: Where did you grow up and go to school?

BH: Where did you go to college? What was your major?

LO: I went to Emerson College which is a performing arts and communications school. I also took a few classes at Berklee School of Music. I majored in Music Business and Musical Theater. My Dad also told me I also went to “Jada University” because while I was in school learning about the industry I was also gaining hands on experience in Jada from learning about recording contracts and what it takes to audition in front of major labels, to recording vocals, to learning how promote and market yourself as an artist, and understanding the real business of the music industry! It was really cool to experience both at the same time! I definitely learned alot about the biz!

BH: If you weren't singing, what would you be doing?

LO: I would probably be acting and singing in NYC! I am SO not a “9-5” kind of girl so I would be auditioning and trying to make it as an actress or singer. Performing is so much a part of who I am I would feel “off” if I wasn't doing it.

BH: What are your hobbies?

LO: Besides singing, acting, and dancing, I have become really interested in cooking lately! Might seem like as odd “hobby”, but I was never much into cooking and then something sparked in me and all I want to do is find new cool recipes. Don't expect anything crazy I'm just getting my feet wet, but if you have any cool cook books let me know! lol

BH: Do you make it home often?

LO: Not as often as I would like to. It wasnt until I moved away for college that I realized how much I loved growing up in Bucks County. It is so beautiful and a really great place to grow up. I get home sick alot! We are so busy with touring, shows, and all sorts of events, that I am only able to come home a few times a year. But when I do the whole crew gets together and has a blast! Going to Rice's with my family and hitting up Rita's Water Ice is a requirement when I go home! I really look forward to my home time:)

BH: Do you have an stories of meeting people from our area in random places during your travels? Have you felt a great deal of support from people from home?

LO: I feel really lucky to have such a strong support system at home! My family and friends are huge Jada fans and help get our name out there everyday! One of my friends is a teacher in Philly and had her students download Jada's first single “American Cowboy” as extra credit! Now that's a die hard Jada fan! lol

BH: What is your best memory of your “Jada Journey” thus far?

LO: There are a few, but I would have to say performing at The Comcast Center in Boston this past summer. Every year Boston's top 40 station Kiss 108 has a huge summer concert and we were asked to perform! We were so honored! It was a dream come true to be in that huge venue performing along side some of the biggest names in the biz such as Akon, Black Eyed Peas, Sean Kingston, and Ciara to name a few. It was a whirlwind!!

It was also such a cool experice to hear our single “American Cowboy” on Fox's “House”! The song played during a great bachelor party scene! We were rehearsing for a show the night it aired and Elle's mom called her screaming about our song being on the show so we all ran to find a tv, but we missed it by two seconds! We were able to watch a re-run and see it online so it turned out ok:) It was really exciting!

It has also been so fun getting phone calls and emails from friends saying they heard our singles “American Cowboy” and “Break Up Song” at Express, the gym, and various juke boxes! I have yet to hear them randomly around town, but when I do I'm sure I will freak out!

BH: What are you most excited for in the next year?

LO: World domination lol. Jk! I am really excited to travel and perform at tons of shows! We have alot coming up with a college tour and more events and appearances! Mid-March we are showcasing a few nights at SXSW music conference in Austin, Texas. We can't wait! Keep checking back to our myspace page because we could be playing in your area! I really hope to come through Bucks County again to perform soon. It's always so fun to have my family and friends at our shows!

Here's how to hit up Jada!

You can get Jada's singles “American Cowboy” and “Break Up Song” on iTunes! Support them by requesting their singles at your local radio station.

More info on Jada

Four extraordinary singers united by a common goal, Jada is the latest iteration of the classic female vocal group.  Since coming together six years ago, all four members have devoted themselves heart and soul to Jada. Their self-titled debut marks the culmination of a remarkable journey in which these talented individuals came together to create a beautifully cohesive whole.  From the album-opening ballad “Is It Love” to the sassy RedOne/Akon-produced first single, “American Cowboy,” “JADA” is a bright and brazen mix of pop, soul, dance, and R&B, spiced by Jada’s characteristic gospel-inspired harmonies.  The powerhouse sound is not dissimilar from the girls themselves – soulful and sophisticated, sexy and strong, heartfelt and honest, flirty and fun.

The four members of Jada came together while studying at Boston’s Bristol Recording and Voice Studios. Each singer has brought her individual perspective and style to the table – Jacyn’s tastes run from pop to rock and from Pink to Paramore; April takes inspiration from hip-hop’s urban sound and fashion, blasting T.I. and Timbaland every day of the week; Lauren’s musical influences stem from her growing up in suburban Philadelphia, home to neo-soul legends like Jill Scott and Musiq Soulchild; Elle professes an eclectic appetite for music ranging from Rascal Flatts and John Legend to Lady Gaga.

Having all grown up inspired by such classic Motown superstars as the Supremes and the Temptations, Jada was justifiably thrilled when they signed with Universal Motown Records.  In January 2007, Jada teamed up in a New York studio with Grammy-nominated producer/songwriter Toby Gad (Fergie, Beyoncé, Natasha Bedingfield).  The sessions proved a creative turning point for Jada, as they joined forces with Gad to co-write the powerhouse ballad, “Is It Love.”  With its complex harmonies and distinctive verses, “Is It Love” gave Jada a cornerstone track from which to build their album upon.

Jada traveled to studios all over the country, from NYC and Atlanta to Miami and Los Angeles, collaborating with such superstars as Danja, Wyclef Jean, and J.R. Rotem.  Sessions with Jordan Omley from production/songwriting team “The Jam” (Leona Lewis, Jennifer Hudson, Jordin Sparks) were among the girls’ favorites, yielding “The Problem With Love,” “If You Wanna Go,” and the inspirational “Hold On.”  An alliance with UK team Wayne Wilkins, Andrew Frampton, and Savan Kotecha (Natasha Bedingfield, Carrie Underwood, Delta Goodrem),  resulted in the mid tempo “Break Up Song” and energetic club track “Play a Playa,” while NYC hitmakers Sturken & Rodgers (Christina Aguilera, Rihanna) contributed the poignant ballad, “Shattered.” For the album-closing “Can’t Let Go,” Jada found a collaborator close to home in Ric Poulin, who produced the group-penned track.

As recording continued, Jada was awarded as “Outstanding Pop/R&B Music Act” at 2008’s Boston Music Awards.  The year culminated with a December session alongside producer RedOne (Lady Gaga, Brandy) at Jada’s homebase, Bristol Studios.  The sessions yielded “Model That” and the group’s boisterous debut single, “American Cowboy” (co-written/produced by Akon), two tracks which provided the final bit of magic.  The girls felt immediately that the songs were special, especially “American Cowboy,” which they knew would serve as the perfect introduction to Jada’s distinctive sonic vision.

 

With the album wrapped, the girls barely paused to catch their breath before embarking on a major national promotional tour, presenting “American Cowboy” at multi-format radio stations from coast to coast.  The hectic schedule and nearly non-stop workload has proven to be a boon for Jada.  The group maintains direct communication with their ever-increasing number of fans – a.k.a. the Jada Ninjas – by taking a hands-on approach to online relationships via MySpace, Facebook, and an ever-growing mailing list.

With boundless talent and irrepressible energy, Jada remain focused like a laser beam on their singular goal.  The tightly knit harmonies aren’t just something the four singers break out when the mics are turned on – united by fate, the girls of Jada have formed a bond that’s closer to a family than a pop group.

That pugnacious spirit informs everything Jada does – from their dynamic stage show to the album’s captivating creativity.  The girls are working long and hard to reach the mountaintop and their innate sense of diligence and professionalism is certain to keep them pushing ever forward.  Having already ascended this far, for Jada, the sky is now the limit.

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