A Funky Soul Band With A Hip Hop Swagger
5:30PM ET September 28th, 2011
Contributor : Malcolm Strong
A Rocky Williform Company

The J'Da Prynce Experience is about soul. The J'Da Prynce Experience is about heart. And the J'Da Prynce Experience is about family. Frontman J'Da Prynce has taken the long road to stardom, making a name for himself in his home state of North Carolina, before taking his show on the road throughout the southeast and East Coast. Now, the fiery soul singer with the larger-than-life stage presence has emerged a tried-and-true professional ready to take his next leap forward.

"My initial vision for starting this band [was that] I just really was at a point in my life where i wanted to pursue my creative passion," J says. The former schoolteacher decided that it was now or never. "This is the very reason why I moved to the Atlanta area. I was living in North Carolina for some time, pursuing music there."

Once he arrived in Atlanta, J was focused on taking the next step towards realizing his vision. "My thought was [that] I wanted to put together a unit that will [rally] behind the vision that i have," he explains. "Which is to create a sound that encompasses multiple styles and genres." Slowly-but-surely, the Experience became a reality: featuring vocalists Letitia Bowler and Bee Wade, versatile keyboardists Sir James and JoJo Morst, and a pulsating rhythm section of bassist Sterling Gittens and drummer Kris Rahming; all with J'Da Prynce at the center of a heady mix of soul, funk, hip hop and pop. Letitia serves as J's visual and stylistic counterpoint onstage, he's passion and fire, she's cool as ice. And the two complement each other remarkably, as does the rest of the Experience. "What I enjoy most about working with the Experience is that we all challenge each other in different ways to step outside of our comfort zones," Letitia shares. "To be the best singer, performer or musician we can be."

J'Da Prynce's work ethic and commitment to his art are evident in his performances and songcraft, and when he shares what legendary artists helped shape his vision, its understandable where he learned his artistry and showmanship. "I don't know of a single person that has not been influenced by Michael Jackson," he says enthusiastically. "He's one of my greatest influences when it comes to music. His passion and his ability to reach a global audience, an international audience. as a child, that had an impact on me. And James Brown. [Others like] Beyonce, John Legend, Anthony Hamilton. I love Sade. Her stamina and her story."

J's songwriting is the engine that drives the band. Tracks like "Cold" and "Operator" reveal a singer/songwriter with a strong point-of-view, and the Experience provides the sonic punch to bring all of J's ideas home. That creative synergy is not lost on the show-stopping frontman. "What works is the fact that its all about family," J says about the Experience's musical philosophy. "Musicians play best together when they are a family--when they feel connected to each other and share common struggles common goals and at the same time have their own individual goals. The individual goals are as respected as the collective goals. My vision is to create a family, first and foremost."

And in an era of digital tracks and AutoTune, the Experience relishes the elasticity and organic flow of performing as a band. "I believe all vocalist should perform to live music," Letitia says matter-of-factly, before adding with a laugh: "Tracks are wack." "We want to be able to entertain," echoes J. "We have so much fun, just being together and knowing that we all have a passion and a drive for true performing and genuine music. Real, heartfelt music. that's what brings us together."

Follow J'Da Prynce at Twitter.com/J_DaPrynce
and Check Out the Experience At www.reverbnation.com/jdapryncethenewprynceofrb