Teen Today meets Jojo

Free diamonds and holidays, her own stylist and travelling the world: JoJo is one lucky 16 year old. teentoday.co.uk’s Max Carren sits down with the pop princess and talks about the perks of stardom. Be warned, this interview may cause extreme bouts of jealousy…

First of all welcome to the UK JoJo and thank you for taking part in this interview, I will actually be seeing you tomorrow at your show too!
Oh good!
So how does it feel to be the youngest solo artist to have a No.1 song on the Billboard Charts?
I mean it’s an amazing feeling, I’ve been working towards it forever and it happened when I was 13! So I didn’t know how to take it. I was actually over here when I found out, so it was just a dream come true and the success of the second album has been even more great
The question the fans want to know is what’s happening with the Anything video?
Erm nothing is happening with the Anything video…
What’s the reason behind this?
The reason behind that is my label in America.
OK
I have some conflicts with them *laughs*
Cause it is a very strong single!..
I think it’s a strong single too, but ya know my label, have some bad feelings about them *laughs*
OK, now I’ve heard the next single will be Coming For You?
That’s what I heard! Yeah I like that record
Will we get a video for that!? *laughs*
Um I don’t have an answer for you. If it was up to me I’d have a video for every song on the album. *laughs*
So do you feel like you’ve ever missed out, considering you started out at such a young age?
Well that might be a personal opinion you have but I’ve never felt that way.
‘Cause I read you had quite a hard upbringing?
Yeah! that is true but it doesn’t mean I’ve not had much of a childhood, I’ve had the same best friend for 8 years, still live under my mum’s roof and her rules, having a learning permit so I’m getting a license in 2 months, my first car, so I still feel cool and I worked to achieve that, so in a lot of ways I’m still very much a kid.
How does a13yr old become a popstar, what steps did you have to take to get to where you are, I mean did you have to hand a tape in to a record company or were you discovered? To aspiring teens who maybe reading this, what would you advise?
Well I’ve been singing since I was 2, came very natural to me like walking and talking, had it in my blood. I was doing TV shows since I was 6, acting and things like that, theatre, and then when I was 11, my mom and I moved to LA for about 7 months, stayed with a cousin, did a TV show there and after the show a guy came up from the audience and gave us a card, he’s a manager and gave us an interview with the executive for the album. Honestly, it’s about combining talent with being in the right place at the right time, and meeting the right people. It’s really about that. Some of the most talented people in the world never get signed simply because they weren’t lucky and some who don’t have talent are huge superstars simply because they have the right tools and the right people and that’s the reality of this business. So what I’d say is sing for anyone who will listen, hone your craft and don’t let anyone stand in your way, if you want something you really can achieve it
OK so a lot of it is to do with luck?
Not simply luck, you got to have the drive and ambition to go with it.
Time to ask you some silly questions now! *laughs* What’s your favourite colour! ?
White!
White!? *laughs*
I know its not really a colour! *laughs* but its so clean and fresh! I love white!
Have you ever gone into a chat room or posted on your own fan site forums as someone else?
Oh no no.. I’m so nervous I don’t like to read things about me, its too much! *laughs*
Tell me about The High Road, how much involvement do you have with regards to writing and is that something you wish to do more of in the future?
It’s def. something I want to do more of in the future. As a young artist its hard to control what you want especially when there are some factors which are out of your control as far as the business side, but next time I’d love to. As far as The High Road I vocal-arranged all the songs, I did all my vocals on every song, and I was in for a lot of writing of the record and I wrote the second single in America called What It Feels Like To Be A Girl so that was important to me. Even if I didn’t write the songs, it had to be something I can relate to, then I can put some emotion behind cause I don’t like to sell a product if I feel I don’t have any feelings towards it.

What about the style of music you do, it is quite pop and soul/rnb at the same time, is that the direction you wanted to go or what you’ve been directed to?
It’s a combination of both, yeah in my next album I’d like to use a lot of live instruments, write a lot more, and I think something that will enable that is the fact that I’ll be 18 at the time when I’m starting the next recording, you know I’ll be considered an adult, even though I’m sure I won’t feel like an adult! *laughs*
What would you say is your favourite record right now?…not yours! *laughs*
Not mine, OK well actually I recently got Ne-Yo’s Because Of You that’s a great record, really album as a whole.
OK what about artist, any current favourites?
I’m a huge fan of Jo Scott actually, I love that music so much and Beyoncé is a role model of mine.
I’ve heard that you’re also a fan of Mariah Carey?
Yeah!
Is it true you thanked her on one of your albums?
Oh I thanked about two dozen artists on my album *laughs* thanking them for inspiring me.
Right next question, do you have your own stylist?
Yes!
Is it your own input?
Yeah
What about make up, what’s your fav brand?
Yes, well MAC makes great brushes, I also love Nars, Urban Decay for more fun and colourful things like that but Bare Minerals is a really good company that makes really good mineral foundation.
And the question that every 15 yr old wants to know! How much does JoJo earn!?
Oh a lady never tells!
Good answer! Now I’ve also heard that you’re a genius?
OMG! *laughs*
MC: Tell us about that!
*laughs* I don’t know, people ask me that question here all the time, I’m nervous I don’t know!
Where did that come from if it’s a rumour?
Well no I don’t know where that started from, I think my mom said that in an interview. I think I was tested when I was younger, that might have been accurate then! *laughs*
OK! tell us a secret nobody else knows!
Umm.. well I pierced my own ear cause my mom wouldn’t let me, I took a needle to my ear and jabbed it thru but I didn’t get infected cause I sterilised it! *laughs*
Finally, do you get any freebies because of who you are and if so what has been the best thing you’ve actually received?
I do and I think its just because of the job and I don’t deserve these things cause its crazy like when you cant afford them, nobody’s sending you anything and when you can all of a sudden they are, free vacations, jewellery, phones, electronics.
Anything particular that you liked?
I like diamonds! *laughs* So when they arrive..
Who sent u diamonds!?
Oh I don’t remember the particular company *laughs*
OK, one last question! What have you been doing since you’ve been here in the UK and what are your plans besides tomorrow night, cause I know a lot of fans are waiting for a tour but I know you don’t have any plans for a tour currently?
I mean I’d love to do a UK tour but while I’ve been here for a week, I’ve seen 2 shows and it was very good, I got shopping done been watching lot of soccer games on TV *laughs* and keeping up with what the prime minister has been saying, really enjoying London and eating scones.
Are you really looking forward to tomorrow’s performance
I am! I’m nervous cause I’m not going to be with my band, its not my normal show
Oh right!
I usually have 7 piece band but it’ll just be me and 2 dancers, very cute though will be fun.
I think you’re going to enjoy it cause its actually quite a good atmosphere!
That’s what I hear everytime I tell someone!
MC: I think you could be the next gay icon! “laughs”
Oh! *laughs* that’s so sweet.
Thank you very much JoJo!
Thank you.

TT Meets Mel C

Solo sensation? Fat lesbian? Or just another
ex-Spice Girl? teentoday.co.uk’s editor Olly tries to discover the real Melanie C.

Hey Mel, been a busy day today has it?
Every day’s a busy day when you’ve got a record coming out.
Yeah okay… tell me about your new album?
This album is very much a pop record. It’s a lot smoother than my last album. My last album was quite rock inspired. It’s a lovely collection of songs. There are some ballads on there. But there’s some more up-tempo stuff as well. I’ve worked with some really cool people like Guy Chambers, Cathy Dennis…
Yeah. And you release on your own record label now?
I do. This is the second album I’ve released on Red Girl Records and it’s been brilliant learning so much more about the industry and having complete freedom when you’re in charge of your own destiny.
Are you a bit of a business head now?
Definitely more than I used to be but luckily I work with lots of people who are fantastic at their job. It such an intricate business, there’s so much to learn.
What’s your favourite song on the new album?
It’s so hard for me to pick one because it’s so new.. I’m so excited about everything. I love the opener Understand.. one of my favs. I love Don’t Let Me Go, What If I Stayed, This Time is another one of my favourites.. and The Moment You Believe.. Of course I Want Candy is very different, single for the movie, so that’s more poppy and up-tempo and uplifting but I love that too.
I think you’ve named every song.
I know..
You need to listen to it 5 years down the line and look back?
Y’know my favourites come when I’m performing more. I’ve just been doing a few little small acoustic gigs, I did some radio sessions. That’s when you really fall in love with the songs.
Which song do you love to perform more than any other?
*straight away* You’ll Get Yours
I really love from Northern Star… Closer?
Oh yeahhhhhhhhh Closer’s lovely. There’s so many. I love Reason as well, that’s one of my favourite songs.
I loved some of the atmospheric sounds on Northern Star…
There are a lot of atmospheric moments on this album you know. I think this album is probably more similar to my first album than my other two.
A lot of fans love that album, others say you need to progress.
I think you always just have to always really express yourself, y’know. For me music is always about what’s going on in my life.
So what about I Want Candy – it’s got to be the campest video I have ever seen…
*squeals* Ahhh! Brilliant
Was that a lot of fun to make?
Yeah, it really was. I thought with doing the song and with it being so poppy I thought it was just a great opportunity for me to have loads of fun and do something really different.
I mean I think sometimes people worry that you take yourself too seriously?
*Laughs manically*
Oh no! I don’t mean it nastily.
No it’s fine it’s interesting to hear people’s opinions, because I don’t know do I!
But I don’t take myself seriously.
I think you take music seriously?
Yeah I suppose It’s always like I’ve got something to prove because people are like “She’s a spice girl, she’s a spice girl” whatever and I am trying to show people there’s more to me than that. I’m just trying to prove a point.

Have you ever read unusual thing about yourself?
All the time… all the stuff about the Spice Girls reunion is bizarre to me.. I don’t know where that comes from because it’s completely untrue.. all the lesbian rumours. The list is kind of endless. The British press have got quite a bad reputation in the rest of the world. They’ve got too much imagination.
Do you think one day there will be something with the other girls?
Well.. I have spoken to a couple of the girls… ‘cos obviously these rumours are surfacing all the time… there are no plans for a tour with our without me. We’ve said we definitely would consider doing a one-off event for a fantastic cause but it’s not gonna be anytime soon because as I’m sure you know Emma’s pregnant, Mel B’s just about to have a baby. We’ve all got other priorities at the moment.
You’ve worked so hard to move away from that and express yourself. You don’t want to undo the hard work?
Well, I don’t know if that is the case. To be honest with you, I am so happy doing what I’m doing now. I am very proud of my Spice Girls past but I don’t think I want to go back there. I look back and it was a magical time, I don’t think we could do it again. I wouldn’t want to tarnish the memory and also I’m free, I’m independent. I do what I like, when I like. I don’t want to compromise again. Everybody has to work at the same time, has to take vacation at the same time… and it’s like you have to do music that suits everybody’s taste, you have to be careful in interviews what you say because you are representing 4 other people, it’s.. it’s tough.
Any really embarrassing moments?
Lots.. I’ve fallen over on stage.. I’ve dropped my mic: made a very loud noise, my trousers have ripped on stage. I forget the words..
Didn’t you hurt your leg once on stage?
Well I had a very serious knee injury in the TV show The Games… about 3 years ago in the judo competition.. I ended up in hospital. Had an operation and I couldn’t walk for about two months.
I noticed in your new video you’ve lost shitloads of weight?
*Laughs* I think y’know, when I did put on weight about seven years ago now I was having some personal problems at the time… I was suffering with depression, and I was recovering from an eating disorder. My metabolism was all over the place and I wasn’t able to exercise because I was just feeling so horrible. And just over time I’ve got balance in my life, I exercise regularly, I have a predominantly healthy diet but I don’t deprive myself of anything. The weight has just come off slowly and steadily.
What advice would you give teenagers who are going through depression?
I would say please, please talk to somebody. You can’t deal with it on your own. If you can’t speak to your friends or your parents go to your doctor. To me my doctor was the best person. He pointed me in the right direction to find people to talk to with therapy and counselling, even with medication. You really need to turn somebody professional to help you through it. I tried to cope on my own and I just ended up a lot, lot worse.
You’re in a much nicer place right now though?
Absolutely. After I sought help and I was very patient and I learnt how to look after myself. I made it through. I’m back to full health and I feel great.
Fantastic, thanks for taking time to talk to teentoday.co.uk Mel C.
It’s alright mate!