March 2019 Issue

MAGAZINE

BRONZE MARCH 2019

BRONZEMAGONLINE.COM

BET’s ‘HUSTLE IN BROOKLYN’ STAR

ALICIA GOODING on her hustle as a publicist and talent manager

R&B artist jas is ready for The spotlight

‘Now with Natalie’ host & exec producer

Natalie manuel lee talks identity and fulfilling your purpose

R&B Chanteuse Porcelan on her on her Top 15 R&B single, “Lois Lane”

Singer-songwriter

Judith Hill on her new album “Golden Child”

Bronze Magazine celebrates, empowers and inspires!

If you would like to share your own personal inspirational journey or good deeds in the community (or your industry) with our digital issue readers, then please submit a letter of interest to editor@bronzemagonline.com Your letter should include the following: •A brief bio about you and a history of your brand/company (may include any press releases, media kits, website info, model tear sheet, etc.)

•How you (company and/or brand) pay it forward by empowering and inspiring others to be their best.

•Why you feel Bronze readers will want to know about you.

•Your contact info (email, phone, etc.)

BRONZE MAGAZINE

MARCH 2019 Editor’s Note

Cover Credits: Photographer/art director: Amina Touray @aminatphoto Makeup artist: Niehla O @niehlaomua Hair stylist: Brittany Love @Brittanylovehair Wardrobe stylist: Janel Styles @janelstyles77 Top: Charles & Ron, @charlesandron

FOUNDER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Shawn Stuldivant CO-OWNER Barry Stuldivant GRAPHIC DESIGNER Alexandra Zabludoff WRITERS Patrica Rivers Dakota Somerville Kiara Timo

Happy Women’s History Month Bronze Beauties! I’m proud to say that we celebrate women every single month of the year, and our cover star, singer-songwriter Judith Hill leads the charge of amazing women in this month’s issue. I can remember seeing Judith’s powerful rehearsal performance with Michael Jackson for his This is It tour, as well as her performances on The Voice. She has an amazing voice and presence on the stage. It’s not surprising at all that she has worked with Prince as well. I truly enjoyed learning about her beginnings as a music artist and her journey towards her latest album,“Golden Child.”

Ladies, please be sure to find a way to celebrate YOU, because you deserve it! We tend to get so caught up in nurturing others that we forget to take care of ourselves. Don’t allow guilt or second thoughts to keep you from being good to yourself. When you reward yourself, you reinforce positive thoughts and feelings that improve your overall outlook on everything.

xoxo, Shawn nt a v i d l Stu

CONTENTS 6.

Feature: BET’s ‘Hustle in Brooklyn’ star Alicia Gooding

10. Inspiration: What I Always Knew in Retrospect by Dakota Somerville 14. Feature: R&B Artist JAS 18. Feature: Executive produc er and host of ‘Now with Natalie,’ Natalie Manuel Lee 30. Beauty: The Key to Gentle

Skin this Season is Dove Body Wash

32. Feature: R&B Artist Porcelan

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Cover Star: Juith Hill

Photo Credits: Photographer/art director: Amina Touray @aminatphoto Makeup artist: Niehla O @niehlaomua Hair stylist: Brittany Love @Brittanylovehair Wardrobe stylist: Janel Styles @janelstyles77

‘Hustle In Brooklyn Star talks on PR Career and New Projects’

By Patrice Rivers

What started as a job as a casting agent behind the scenes turned into an opportunity in disguise for celebrity publicist Alicia Gooding, Star of BET’s “Hustle In Brooklyn.” Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York with West Indian descent, the reality star is also the founder of C.O.D.E., a NYC based Management, Marketing and Publicity firm. We were able to catch up with Alicia to discuss her career, how she got cast on the show, PR advice and her new projects.

BRONZE MAGAZINE: Tell me a little bit about your background in PR ALICIA GOODING: Okay, so the funny thing is my background isn’t really PR, it’s marketing. People wanted to work with me as a publicist, but it’s marketing. I’ve only done PR for two years with A Boogie as my first ever music client. I worked with him and helped him roll out his first project. By doing all of that, I think that really capsuled me to being a publicist within music and entertainment.

BRONZE MAGAZINE: So basically, you founded your company, C.O.D.E.?

ALICIA GOODING: I had a business partner, she had a background in PR. I’ve never done PR in my life. My background was marketing so I would come up with a lot of brand marketing strategies. It was my job to get all new businesses and think about how we could get multiple press and marketing, but I never would handle the press. Her and I split in 2016. The company was founded in 2014; I wasn’t touching any of the PR side. That was all the stuff I had to learn.

BRONZE MAGAZINE: Now working with C.O.D.E., you have worked with high-profiled clients, what industry/background were they in?

ALICIA GOODING: Yes, I started out in the TV/Entertainment side with Erica Mena being my first client. I have worked with Safari and Alicia Kirsten, but now our roster is very diverse and very music heavy. So, there’s a lot of producers, artists, you know, everyone around that field.

BRONZE MAGAZINE: And most recently, you singed Chinese Kitty as one of your clients?

ALICIA GOODING: I love Kitty Music! I actually signed Chinese Kitty on Hustle n Brooklyn. I really like her because I wanted to sign a female artist that I could help push and mold and at the same time I like taking her under the wing. We are doing a lot of great things with her and I’m excited for her project that’s dropping this first quarter. Her numbers have grown by over 100 percent every month since we started working together.

BRONZE MAGAZINE: Because you don’t have a college degree in everything that you have and is continuously learning in PR and Marketing, were you self-taught? How did you learn the business?

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BRONZE MAGAZINE: As a publicist and a talent manager, what is your day-to-day like?

ALICIA GOODING: Honestly, I tell people that being a publicist, especially an entertainment publicist, is an on-call job, just like a fireman is on-call, or a doctor is on call. It’s not like I’m saving lives or anything, but each day is different. I get up, I check my email, I pitch a client and do things like that. But the order I get to it is different. Sometimes I’m woken out of my sleep because there is an issue that happens that I need to handle for that client.

Sometimes I am getting up and I am researching something for a client because they are super-motivated. So everyday it’s like, what is the world gonna toss at me?

BRONZE MAGAZINE: Oh wow! So, did you help cast Baggy Large on the show as well?

ALICIA GOODING: I realized early that I was good with people. I didn’t know that it would be in PR and Marketing. But I’ve always been good with customer service and making sure people got more out of the situation than I did. But what I realized to branch off and do this for me was my ability to flip a story. One of my publicist’s homegirls said that I never judge anything, I just find an audience for it.

And I basically made a career finding an audience for whoever is that I’m working with.

I’m the type of person that can get along with anyone in any type of room, so I understand how people want to be marketed to, how to be spoken to; so I’m kinda like the glue for that (Lol).

ALICIA GOODING: Yeah, I had a friend that said I have a spuzzing artist; you should connect with him and they were like, ‘I think he would be good for the show,’ so they reached out to him and connected us via DM and from the time I submit Baggy, they thought he was a good-looking guy; he would be good for the show. So Baggy and I, we started to form a friendship; or so I thought, from like March/ April of last year. I walked Baggy through the process. Baggy and I linked up way before the show. I took him to events and I kind of showed him what it was like to be an artist in the states that he should be in.

BRONZE MAGAZINE: How was it working with the other castmates?

BRONZE MAGAZINE: How did you get ALICIA GOODING: I mean it was cool, it that casting opportunity to be on the show was alright hahaha..I’m not going to say any‘Hustle n Brooklyn’? thing bad; it was interesting.. um the dynamic east-coast people…yeah that’s all I have to say ALICIA GOODING: Well, originally they about that. came to me about how to cast the show. I originally came on as the casting agent -findBRONZE MAGAZINE: Now that the season ing people, reaching out to them, filling out finale is done, what are some of the current spreadsheets of people that I thought were projects you are working on now with your great, their Instagram, writing notes about company? them and so on. So, three weeks into casting, the casting director reached out to me ALICIA GOODING: I’m so nervous beand said, ‘look we are still missing something, cause we have so much that’s going on, but are we’re putting together a really great cast, but definitely rolling out a lot of artists’ projects; there’s something that we’re missing, could some of those roll outs have already begun. you get on Skype?’ So, I got on Skype with I’m getting ready to launch a podcast. I have a her and literally the next day they called and background of four years experience in radio. said BET wants you for the show.

I really want to get back behind the microphone plus as a publicist.

BRONZE MAGAZINE: What does the CODE stand for?

ALICIA GOODING: So, the CODE is an acronym. It stands for Curators of Defining Experiences. So, I knew when we started our company I kinda wanted to be the new standard of how people should market their businesses and themselves. You know, our motto is “Do Good Business,” so what I realized is before I started my company, people buy anything based on the way it makes them feel. So, my company is built on that entire motto. We are going to create the experiences, the moments that will lead to winning. We are going to curate defining experiences for people to fall in love with our clients. It’s not a publicity something, it’s a branching thing. It’s a youtell-me-where-you-want-to-be-in-five-years and I’m building you the road map to how you get there and how you enter the room with the people that gets you there and how you become effective in those rooms, how you become viral in those rooms, how they remember you over everyone else in those rooms. So that’s what Curators of Defining Experiences stands for.

BRONZE MAGAZINE: If someone wants to follow your footsteps to become a publicist, what advice would you give them?

ALICIA GOODING: A few things. Figure out where your relationships lie. You will only feel respected as a publicist when you start to work towards your goals or achieving them right. Its bigger than just pitching a client, you have to know what your natural knack is. Some people may have a natural knack in entertainment or in politics, you just have to know where your relationships lie.

“We are going to create the experiences, the moments that will lead to winning.”

IG: @msgooding @thecodenyc

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What I Always Knew In Retrospect

by Dakota Somerville I feel absolutely empowered these days, mainly because of the vast amount of knowledge I’ve gained along this exciting road of becoming a freelance writer. Somewhere early in my journey, a very wise old woman told me to stick with my vision.

It was an epiphany type of moment for me. From a very young age, as far back as I can remember, writing poetry and journaling was my thing.

I used writing to escape family dysfunction that somehow seemed to follow me around, just like so many of you. It warms my heart to its very core when someone expresses to me, that something I wrote inspired them to take a leap of faith. >>

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“It is my sincere hope that anyone who reads my article will also feel resilient and brave in pursuit of their most cherished dreams.”

We all have our own brief synopsis of how we think our lives turned out. In retrospect, some can say absolutely phenomenal, some may utter, oh, just a little above average, and of course there are those who crashed and burned along the way. I would insert myself somewhere in between average, crashed, burned, lost, angry, and simply uninformed, at least until the age of eighteen. I always knew I was special; blessed to survive, so-to-speak. No matter how many times I was told differently, my dreams of being somebody someday never left my spirit. Even amid the harsh reality of alcoholism in the home, pretending molestation was normal, hearing but never fully listening to stories of generational curses, I somehow managed to rise above the negativity, and continue on my journey in the pursuit of happiness.

We have all seen movies, or heard stories of how it was back in the day, when children were told, “What goes on in this house, should stay in this house”….hmmmm….how about this one, “He may have hurt you, but you didn’t die from it.” My story may sound familiar to many men and women who grew up in the 60’s and 70’s era. Although this may have been a time of simple living, it was also a time when women’s rights began to come to the forefront, and many other monumental events took place.

What I personally learned along the way, maybe even later in life, is that you are the master of your own destiny. You and you alone are accountable for the choices you make. I alone made the choice to marry a man who had his own struggles with drugs and alcohol, because to me, even at the age of thirty years old, I really thought this was normal. In hindsight, when you know better, you will make better life choices.

“Learn to be uniquely transparent, free your soul and allow the universe to send good vibes.”

Self-love can be misconstrued as being conceited. At this point of my life, I am so in love with me and so proud of myself for never giving up; I fell down way to many times to count.

But, I knew if I continued on a path of learning about myself and practicing my god given craft, those proverbial doors would start to open at some point. My overall vision statement is to encourage single mothers around the globe to never give up on your dreams and aspirations, stick with the dream, and you too will become triumphant in your pursuit of happiness.

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A New R&B Princess Is On The Rise

by Kiara Timo

Raised in the ATL, Jasmine Erica Robinson, professionally known as Jas, is ready for the spotlight. The aspiring R&B singer recently released her first single “Kick Up” to positive reviews and is ready for the rest of the world to hear what she has to say.

You recently released your debut single “Kick Up,” which is a song about hanging out with your friends and having a good time. How did this song come together?

I had just gotten back from my birthday trip in Miami. My friends and I had such a good time, and once I got back to the studio in Atlanta I was still on a high from the trip. Super Jay, the producer and co-writer of the track played the record for me and I fell in love with the song idea. We went in and started brainstorming and a few hours later, it started sounding like we had something good!

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How much influence has Atlanta had in your musical journey?

Lately, Black female artists are able to be a lot more authentic when presenting themselves in the media. How do you plan on expressing your individuality?

In other words, who are you and how is that reflected in your music?

Atlanta has had a huge influence on me. I’ve always looked up to my hometown’s artists, Outkast, Ciara, Usher, etc. There’s just something about us that can’t really be explained. It’s undeniable though - Atlanta artists are about to take over the industry once Anyone who knows me knows that I again. am all about supporting and fighting for Black women. When I think of what I want in the long run when it comes to my career, leaving things >>

“I am all about supporting and fighting for Black women.”

behind that have positively affected Black girls and women is so important to me. I plan on starting a nonprofit that supports young Black girls. As far as how I want to support Black women with my music, I want to make songs that make us feel seen and heard. For instance, I remember literally crying listening to Beyonce’s album, Lemonade, for the first time. Lemonade tells the story that many women of color experience.

The visuals represented us so well. I want to do that. I want to make sure that I always include women of color in my visuals. I want to make sure that I always tell our truths in my work.

Who are some of your influences?

There’s so many! Of course, the Queen, Beyonce is a huge inspiration.

Her work ethic alone is unmatched.

A few legends that influence and inspire me are Anita Baker, Whitney Houston, Donny Hathaway, Amy Winehouse, among others. D’ Angelo, Brandy, BJ the Chicago Kid, Alabama Shakes, and so many more influence me as well.

How has the response to your single been?

The response has been amazing. It’s

You made the decision to obtain a college degree from Georgia State University prior to officially releasing any music. What was the motivation behind that decision?

I’m a part of the first generation of college graduates in my family. Finishing school was important to me because I worked really hard to get there in the first place. My mother also played a big part in me finishing. She sacrificed a lot for me to have certain opportunities. So, whenever I felt exhausted from working full time and being in school full time, I would think about her. It made it easier to make it to the finish line.

Do you have any plans on using your degree in your career endeavors?

I do. I’ve always been passionate about working with young black girls. I think it would be pretty hypocritical of me to push finishing school to other young girls if I would have dropped out. So yes, even if it’s only to say, “I did it so you can too,” I do plan on putting my degree to use.

How can fans stay up to date on your music?

actually been pretty surprising. I can’t thank those who have been supporting me enough.

Do you currently have any EP or Album plans?

Yes, I do and I cannot wait! We’re aiming to release the project in the first quarter of this year. This will be my debut EP and I’m so excited to share it with my supporters.

What performances do you have coming up?

Fans can follow me on all social media platforms @officialjasmusic. My YouTube and Vevo channel are I Am Jas. We’ll be releasing more music very soon! Stay tuned.

Right now, I’m recording heavy. Most of my time is going to doing that, so I haven’t performed as much as of late. However, I always post upcoming things on my social media. So be sure to follow me on Instagram and Twitter @officialjasmusic for more updates!

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Natalie Manuel Lee Creates a show for the culture, ‘Now with Natalie’

by Patrice Rivers

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Natalie Manuel Lee is a kick-ass journalist, fashion wardrobe stylist and now a TV Producer and creator of Hillsong Channel’s newestseries,‘Now with Natalie,’ that talks about identity and fulfilling your purpose. From New York to L.A., Natalie has worked with CBS and worked as a TV producer with the television show ‘Extra.’ This is the prime example of what a boss babe looks like with ambitions and fuel to allow her dreams and visions to soar.

Bronze Magazine: You studied journalism in college. Tell us a little bit more about your studies.

Natalie Manuel Lee: So, in college I definitely had a passion for two different things.

Communicating with people and fashion. I did my vocal points in college in communications. Then I went off to New York and I stayed in Journalism for quite some time working with CBS Sports. I became a producer for the television series Extra and I was interning there as well and from there I came to L.A. and realized I do like communications; I do like journalism and I also like fashion. From there, fashion became something I wanted to pursue. I became a stylist; I’ve done music interviews such as Kanye West and Keri Hilson’s ‘Knock You Down,’ to styling extras in a music video then I started working with my brother and his company called ‘Fear of God,’ and was a brand manager for three years.

BM: Tell us more about your career as a journalist and TV producer.

NML: I did a lot of internships such as CBS Sports and Extra. It was a lot of background work that we all needed to do if we wanted to pursue as God has called us to do. But for me, I did pursue it. I knew it was something I wanted to do; I didn’t know how it was going to unfold; I just kind of had to trust the process. But again, I worked in New York for a little bit then came to L.A. to do CBS and Extra, then stopped that journey and entered into fashion.

BM: Did you always have a love for fashion?

NML: I did; it was always a creative outlet for me. I didn’t know it was going to make a way for me. We just have to lean into our instincts and discernments and realize that our gifts and our talents will make a way for us. >>

“We just have to lean into our instincts and discernments and... ...realize that our gifts and our talents will make a way for us.”

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Again, it was a creative outlet but in reality it was like God was saying, ‘I’m going to use this gift to open up doors that no man can.’

I started styling different athletes to campaigns to music videos. Then from there I started working with my brother to help build his campaign. It was always in me, but I didn’t know that it would be what it is now.

BM: What were some of the campaigns you worked with while working in the fashion inAnd I dealt with it while struggling with dustry as a wardrobe stylist? what my identity was; what my purpose NML: Mostly ‘Fear of God.’ But the beauty really was. I love climbing this ladder to of it was to be able to collaborate with him thinking that the peace and the joy would and help him with his vision and dream God lie ahead once I got to that fame and realizgave him. I found great joy, happiness and ing no, that’s not what it is. Identity isn’t in fulfilment in that. who we are (who are we)? We are chosen and more than conquerors and victorious and BM: Tell us more about your new tv show, justified and redeemed. And I saw a prob‘Now with Natalie’ and the purpose. lem that we needed to talk about; I wanted to NML: The purpose of the show is to really create a program such as ‘Now with Natalie’ notify and pull back the counterfeit of iden- to be a part of that solution and to be on the tity that is currently being sold and con- frontline for change and to shift our perspecsumed in our popular culture. The counter- tive and our thinking. The goal is to reach feits of our identity are that success equates people with the truth. our happiness and all the accolades will make us happy. What we do defines who we are. Like, how much money we have in our account and what jacket we have on and things we consume defines who we are. So, the purpose of this show is to dismantle that and to seek truth to what our identity really is. The culture has done a great job of creating false narratives about what it looks like.

BM: When will the show air and is the show weekly? When will new episodes become available for viewers?

NML: The show premiered on March 3rd, weekly in the evening. There are six episodes that will air every Sunday, but I’m pretty sure during the week you will see reruns. It is also on the Hillsong channel.

BM: Tell us more about supporting the Jerry BM: What was the motivation/inspira- Manuel Foundation. tion about creating the show?

NML: The Jerry Manuel Foundation is my NML: I saw the sight of humanity and where father’s foundation. He was a professional we are at as a culture, realizing that we have baseball athlete, basically all my life. He been glorifying the positions of what these played and he coached but he also found people and celebrities hold as opposed to a need in the inner-city world for the inner-city kids. He had a school in Sacratheir purpose. mento which is about six hours from here. It focuses on the qualities and integrity; a lot of Christ-like qualities that the curriculum

focuses on, which is young men getting back in the baseball world. So, for me of course it’s a focus for our society and for our people. It’s an organization and a non-profit for the inner-city kids not only in athletic but in their education.

BM: Besides your show ‘Now with Natalie,’ are there any other projects you are working on this year?

NML: Nope, that’s it. It’s just ‘Now with Natalie’ at the moment.

BM: For someone who wants to start their own TV series like yourself, what type of advice would you give them?

NML: Look for a need, look for a problem.

So, if you want to start your own program or series, if you want to impact a certain culture, see a need and create content around that. And know that that’s what God has called you to do and he will make a way.

Don’t let finances or thoughts bewail you from what God has called you to do. But if you’re convicted and you know that is something a part of your journey that you need to birth and get out, then you got to do it no matter what. But again, look for a need in that specific area in culture that you want to impact and create great content around it.

BM: How can readers connect with you?

NML: Through social media. My Instagram handle is @nataliemanuellee and @nowithnatalielee for the show. The Hillsong channel will also be pushing out the show as well @hillsongchannel

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‘The Voice Contestant and Music Composer

Judith Hill

Shares Her Experiences in Latest Album ‘Golden Child’

By Patrice Rivers

Los Angeles native Judith Hill is an American singer-songwriter (funk, soul, jazz, blues, pop, r&b) who was raised in a musical family. With roots stemming from Japanese & African descent, Judith’s mother Michiko is a pianist & her father Robert is a bass guitarist. During her career, Judith has been fortunate enough to work with the likes of Prince (her debut album “Back In Time” was produced by NPG Records), Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Robbie Williams, Josh Groban, John Legend, Dave Stewart & also participated in The Voice (Season 4; trained by Adam Levine) & an Oscar & Grammy-winning documentary “20 Feet From Stardom” (directed

by Morgan Neville; 2013) Judith has been praised by Rolling Stone for her “stellar powerhouse vocals”. She is currently promoting her second album “Golden Child.” Here’s what our cover star had to say...

e I

“A lot of people saw me as a background singer, but The Voice gave me that opportunity as a solo singer and to see what I can do.”

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Bronze Magazine: As a dynamic music artist, how did your career get started?

BM: You were a contestant on season four of ‘The Voice.’ What was that like?

Judith Hill: I started playing the piano when I was four. I grew up in a very musical family.

I went on to studying music as a composer.

After that I started playing at different places around the world. It has actually led me to doing my own career.

JH: ‘The Voice’ was really a great experience, it was really fun, I met incredible people. It was just a great opportunity to share with America my style. A lot of people saw me as a background singer, but The Voice gave me that opportunity as a solo singer and to see what I can do.

BM: Tell us more about the documentary ’20 feet from stardom’ that won you a Grammy.

BM: Had you ever watched The Voice prior to becoming a contestant on the show?

JH: ‘20 Feet from Stardom’ was an incredible project to work on. It really just highlighted some singers in the business and shared what it was like being background singers for different legends. I was amongst the one to be selected as a singer and basically the director Morgan Neville followed me around everywhere documenting my life and the things I was doing; alongside was Lisa Fisher, Darlene Love, Mary Clayton; some of the singers who sung with the legends. 20 Feet is about the unsung heroes who’ve been the voices behind so many records; it gives a face and a name behind the voices you may know.

JH: No, I never watched the show before I got on there. It was really just an experiment and it ended up just being really fun.

BM: At Biola University, where you went to school for music composition, what all did you learn there?

JH: It was an awesome experience. I loved my major because it gave me opportunities to compose music for orchestras and ensembles. It gave me a chance to study music at a deep level because I always loved classical music. >>

Photographer/art director: Amina Touray @aminatphoto Makeup artist: Niehla O @niehlaomua Hair stylist: Brittany Love @Brittanylovehair Wardrobe stylist: Janel Styles @janelstyles77 Shirt: Designer Eva Franco, @evafrancodesign Provided by: @pr_solo

“I just love when I can see people and experience things in person.�

Photographer/art director: Amina Touray @aminatphoto Makeup artist: Niehla O @niehlaomua Hair stylist: Brittany Love @Brittanylovehair Wardrobe stylist: Janel Styles @janelstyles77 Top: Charles & Ron, @charlesandron Skirt: Charles & Ron, @charlesandron Jewelries: Iris Trends, @eyeofiris Provided by: @maisonpriveepr_alexandra & @maisonpriveepr_la Shoes: JF London, @jflondon_walkoffame Provided by: @pr_solo

BM: How long have you been writing songs?

JH: I wrote my first song when I was four, but I’ve always written songs at the course of my life. It’s a part of life, you never stop writing songs.

BM: How was participating at the 2019 ‘She Rocks Awards’ event for the first time?

JH: It was an incredible experience. I’m a big Janis Joplin fan, so I had the chance to present the Hall of Fame Award to her family and then I sang a song as a tribute with other artists, which was a really fun day.

BM: What was the inspiration behind your latest project ‘Golden Child’?

JH: Golden Child was an album I started a couple of years ago and is like a coming of age album; it’s my sophomore album, so it takes the journey a second step forward. It really talks about people coming together and celebrating life no matter where you come from; it’s about embracing all of our differences. I wanted to tell stories that were meaningful to me. A lot of them are autobiographical stories about growing up and having a good time, falling in love, falling out of love and all of the pain of that. It’s kind of like a coming of age album where I reflect back on a lot of experiences in my life.

BM: If you could name your favorite top three songs on the album, what would they be?

JH: It’s hard to choose like that, but I would say, ‘Irreplaceable Love,’ ‘Queen of the Hill’ and ‘Golden Child,’ but there are so many of them that I like, it’s hard to choose.

BM: What were your ambitions behind the project?

JH: In addition to the album, I was putting together a story, a stage play version of the album. We premiered the stage play in December, which was an incredible experience. The dancers were telling the story of ‘Golden Child.’ The child was the version of me and I’m singing back to my child version and telling her that it is going to be alright and that the future is bright. I wanted that to be the inspiration, I wanted to share the message with every Golden Child out there which is all of us. That’s the inspiration behind me writing the album. >>

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“Golden Child … really talks about people coming together and celebrating life no matter where you came from; it’s about embracing all of our differences.”

BM: Have you thought about going on tour with JH: I think the challenges of cyber space and being in a world where everything is digital. I’m a very the stage play? “pass-out’ girl, I love stuff in real time and happening JH: Yes, we are putting the footage together right in the moment. That’s why I love performing live; I now. We want to do it again and tour because I think love being out there on stage and connecting with it’s a very powerful story. people. So, I think that as an artist, I find my joy when I’m connecting with people and living in the BM: Besides the album, what other events and proj- moment. It’s a challenge for me in the digital world ects are you working on? where everything is about content and about things JH: Well, I’m constantly writing and putting togeth- online. So, I try to do a good job of keeping up with er new music. I got a few projects down the pipeline the content-driven world; I just love when I can see right now. Stay tuned for some single releases. We people and experience things in person. just did a music video in Thailand, which was incredible. It features one of my songs that will be released BM: Who has inspired you to sing and who are in May. We are constantly touring; we have a few some of your musical influencers?

European tours this year.

JH: Some of my music influencers I would say is Aretha Franklin, Sly and the Family Stone, Stevie and Prince obviously; I just constantly listen to difJH: Different independent promoters pick it up and ferent artists around the world. A lot of blues artists play the songs that they like from it. Its always in- I like such as: Howlin’ Wolf, Jimi Hendrix, Janis teresting to see what songs they like. There are a few Joplin, those are just some of them. that different promoters like and play. But yeah, it’s all around the world- people in Europe love it and BM: Who are some of your favorite jazz artists? people in the states as well.

JH: I love Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Louis BM: Where else is ‘Golden Child’ being played at?

BM: What are some of the challenges that you face as a music artist ?

Armstrong, Oscar Peterson, Fats Waller and Count Basie.

Connect with Judith: www.judithhill.com Instagram: @judithgloryhill

Photographer/art director: Amina Touray @aminatphoto Makeup artist: Niehla O @niehlaomua Hair stylist: Brittany Love @Brittanylovehair Wardrobe stylist: Janel Styles @janelstyles77 Skirt: Eva Franco, @evafrancodesign Provided by: @pr_solo Jewelry: Amoeba earrings Acrylic, @eyeofiris Provided by: @maisonpriveepr_la & @maisonpriveepr_alexandra

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The Key to gentle skin this season is Dove Body Wash As you celebrate Women’s History Month, take a moment to pamper yourself with Dove Body Wash. Specially formulated with 100% gentle cleansers and combined with NutriumMoisture technology, this product is Bronze Magazine approved! Here’s some of the benefits of their different washes…

Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash • Mild body wash formula has the brand’s gentlest cleansers, Glycinate and DEFI, combined with NutriumMoisture technology • Microbiome gentle • Sulfate-free

• Improved lather rinses cleanly and quickly

• Provides softer, smoother skin after one shower • Ideal for dry skin

• Also available in a convenient pump format 30

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Dove Sensitive Skin Body Wash • Mild body wash formula has the brand’s gentlest cleansers, Glycinate and DEFI, combined with NutriumMoisture technology • Microbiome gentle • Sulfate-free

• Hypoallergenic and unscented

• Improved lather rinses cleanly and quickly

• Provides softer, smoother skin after one shower • Ideal for sensitive skin

• Also available in a convenient pump format

Dove Gentle Exfoliating Body Wash • Mild body wash formula has the brand’s gentlest cleansers, Glycinate and DEFI, combined with NutriumMoisture technology • Microbiome gentle • Sulfate-free

• Contains exfoliating beads and smoothes away dull, dry skin

• Improved lather rinses cleanly and quickly

• Provides softer, smoother skin after one shower • Ideal for dull skin

‘The Porcelan Doll has already Launched; Talks on New single and Inspiration behind ‘Lois Lane’

by Patrice Rivers

P

orcelan is a Memphis-made recording artist and songwriter on the rise who slowly but surely started making a mark in the industry with her debut single, the beautiful piano ballad, “The Real Thing Don’t Change” co-written by producer and Hall of Fame songwriter David Porter and multi-instrumentalist Hamilton Hardin. Porcelan sang before an audience for the first time at the age of ten, and with abundant school choir solos to sharpen her natural desire for perfection, she would soon find her voice as a songwriter, performer, and first-time recording artist by the age of sixteen. Listeners most often make comparisons to some of the great female voices of our time, but with great humility lurking just beneath a fierce vocal range, Porcelan delivers her own version...every time.

BRONZE MAGZINE: How did your start in music begin?

PORCELAN: I was doing stuff around my city, doing a lot of shows, a lot of different events; just anything that I could get on. Any opportunities I had to be seen, I just put myself out there and once I started doing that, my name actually spread abroad; more people knew about me. I started recording music in the studio and it just kind of flourished from there. I feel like keeping myself busy and staying motivated brought me to this point. I’ve just been working.

BRONZE MAGAZINE: How was singing in the school choir when you were younger?

PORCELAN: It was great because I tried the sports thing and I was like no, so I started getting into choirs. I literally tried everything like volleyball, cheerleading and track. And I’m like, no this is not me, so I went to choirs and I felt comfortable, so I stuck with it. It was great getting that experience and I’ve been into it ever since.

BRONZE MAGAZINE: Your first debut single was ‘The Real Thing Don’t Change,’ the piano ballad. how did that come about?

PORCELAN: I was at the studio where Hamilton Hardin and David Porter were working on a song that was written by David Porter. I came in and I liked what I was hearing and I felt like it was me. The reason why I felt like the song relates to me is because of just the words; like everybody would be able to relate to it. So, we were working on it in the studio; it just kind of came about. They started writing, David started singing the words and it just kind of went from there. My real connection to the music was what the real thing is for me. And connecting it to my grandmother; the real thing in your life can be a man in your life or a child, so that’s where the conviction of the record came from. So that’s one of my favorite records because it meant so much on a personal level for me.

BRONZE MAGAZINE: What was the inspiration behind ‘Lois Lane’?

PORCELAN: The inspiration behind that song is independent and strong women still want to feel like someone has their back. I feel like independent women who do have their own thing going on, they still want someone to take up the slack and have their back and rescue them at times. Lois Lane is saying, hey I want somebody, but I don’t want anybody.

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BRONZE MAGAZINE: Do you have an EP out?

PORCELAN: Not yet, but we are cooking up some stuff now. I’m excited about the direction of the music and how it paints the overall message of what I want to represent. I’m happy about that.

BRONZE MAGAZINE: Who are some of your favorite R&B artists out right now?

PORCELAN: I love H.E.R., I think she is amazing. Daniel Caesar; I love malonic sounding music and music that kind of creates a vibe. Yeah, H.E.R. is doing some great stuff right now. Ella Mai has some really good songs out now that I like.

BRONZE MAGAZINE: As a music artist in the entertainment industry, what are some of your challenges you have faced?

PORCELAN: So far, it’s just growth, you don’t really want to get too comfortable. I really don’t consider them challenges, I don’t really get too comfortable with people telling me that I’m good. You appreciate and accept it, but there is still room for you to grow. When I get to a new level, there is room for growth there; old habits have to be broken, so you have to start setting those examples for other people as well.

BRONZE MAGAZINE: What type of events have you done so far?

PORCELAN: I’ve done a lot of festivals. I’ve done a festival in Roanoke, VA, the Essence Festival, and Sister Circle; it was fantastic for me. I’ve opened up for Daniel Caesar, done a couple of radio shows; it’s just been a lot.

BRONZE MAGAZINE: Any upcoming projects for this year?

PORCELAN: A couple of things are coming up that I’m working on, some big stuff that I got to keep a secret. It’s just going to be a great year! I’m super excited! It’s going to be a great year for my entire team, the label; everybody who is a part of the Porcelan experience; the Porcelan project, it’s going to be great!

BRONZE MAGAZINE: How can people reach out to you and connect with you?

PORCELAN: Everybody can connect with me on my social media platform. Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @porcelanmusic

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BRONZE @bronzemagazine @bronzemag BRONZEMAGAZINEONLINE.COM Photographer/art director: Amina Touray @aminatphoto Makeup artist: Niehla O @niehlaomua Hair stylist: Brittany Love @Brittanylovehair Wardrobe stylist: Janel Styles @janelstyles77 Top: Charles & Ron, @charlesandron Skirt: Charles & Ron, @charlesandron