Since a young age, Jekayln Carr has always had the spirit of God in her, and she’s been able to show that through her soothing and elegant voice. Now Grammy-nominated and a winner of multiple Stellars Awards, Carr is back after four years with her self-titled album, JEKALYN. Calling this one of her most intimate and transparent albums, Carr is ready to give listeners a different sound, but the same message.
Tell us about your album, JEKALYN.
It has been four years since I’ve recorded an album, and to be able to put out this album, it’s so many feels that I’m feeling because it is time. I will say within that four-year time period, God literally had me in a place of understanding or broadening my reach and my sound. You have some people that he may use in gospel, jazz gospel or hip-hop, but the thing about it is that the message is the same. With this album, you’re going to hear a few different styles that are different from what you’re used to hearing me sing, but one thing about it, God is like, we can’t allow what you’ve already done to hold you to that place, or make you feel like that’s all you have. No, there’s more in you, and I want the world to see that. That’s what you’re going to get through the album, Jekalyn. We’re going to go to Jamaica, we have gospel hip-hop, and it’s so many different things, but the substance is still there and the message is still there.
What did you learn about yourself over the four years?
I learned to not be afraid to grow. Every season of my life does not look the same, and I don’t allow people to hold me to a place where I was if I’m not there anymore. A lot of times it’s not that the foundation isn’t there, it’s just that God is opening up even more doors to reach more people because even my reach is not the same, my platform is not the same, and my influence is not the same as it was when I released my album four years ago. With that being said, I have new people, and I want to win even more people over, so I learned to open myself up to that and allow God to use me in this place that he has me in and to do it in confidence, and not be afraid. It’s there, and at the end of the day, the message is going to hit who it needs to hit.
