PRAYZEHYMN Online | where gospel music lives [Interview with Lejeune Thompson

By J. MATTHEW COBB
Founder, Editor-In-Chief of PRAYZEHYMN Entertainment

BILLBOARD MAGAZINE cited her for being the "diva in waiting". Now the "diva in waiting" waits no longer as she begins the final stages of metamorphosis, a future project recently recorded at John P. Kee's New Life Fellowship Center located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Of what we have witnessed of Lejuene Thompson's career, we have gathered enough information to know that her best is yet to come. Many may recall her beginnings with Donald Lawrence's Tri-City Singers, touching us with her calming vocals on "Cast Your Cares" from the infamous "Bible Stories" project. But she blew us away on the heavy-hitting dance machine of "Testify", which also invaded the the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts and proved to be a seasonable cut on the Tri-City4.com project in 2000. She also made a round of appearances on projects from T.D. Jakes, John P. Kee & New Life, GMWA Youth Mass Choir and a host of others. She then launched out on her own, with the assistance of her husband and renowned producer Cedric Thompson, with the EMI debut "Soul Inspiration". The buzz then leaked out about her amazing tone of voice, her remarkable sense of milking a song and effortless ability to float like a vocal chameleon going from smooth & soulful to gospel-styled belting. Recently, she also contributed her gifts with the New Life Community Choir, a group that has paved illustrious walkways for the careers of many gospel artists, as they reminisced the wonderful years of powerful ministry and birthing on the 2-CD collection; "The Reunion".

Now the morning sun is resting upon Lejuene once again as she readies for the blooming release of her live recording session. Michael G. Marshall, a good friend of the PRAYZEHYMN Fellowship and guest contributor, attended the musical celebration and sat down with Lejuene to discuss matters of the heart, details on upcoming events, her opinions on the gospel music industry and other important topics concerning her ministry and her life.

PRAYZEHYMN (PH): Are you releasing the project independently? Will it be nationally-released on a major label?
LEJUENE THOMPSON (LT): It will be independently released and will be nationally distributed. It is on LeCe Entertainment and that's the label that my husband and I are launching tonight.

PH: You have sung with Donald Lawrence and the Tri-City Singers for several years and have blessed their projects with a wealth of vocal talent. How did it feel contributing to Finale and what do you think will come of their musical departure?
LT: WOW. It was a bittersweet experience. You know, it's like saying "bye" to your family, because Tri-City was really a family, but there are so many ministries and so much coming out of that. Sometimes the mother eagle has to push the babies out of the nest and that's what Donald is doing...pushing us all out of the nest to branch off to minister effectively.

PH: What songs can we look to hear you on from that project?
LT: They did a walk down memory lane so on "Gods Favor" and on "Cast Your Cares".

PH: Who are your musical influences? Who do you look up to or inspire to as an artist?
LT: I have to say Pastor John P. Kee and that's because he has poured so much into me as far as vocally, musically...and as well as Donald Lawrence; they have just poured into me. Pastor Kee for over 20 years and Donald at least 10 years, so it's a blessing to me. They never cease to amaze me with what they come out with. So those are my two most notable influences.

LEJUENE THOMPSON
Album & Guest Appearance Discography

2006:
Donald Lawrence presents the Tri-City Singers: Finale' "Cast Your Cares", "God's Favor"

2005:
New Life Community Choir featuring John P. Kee: The Reunion "Survive", "Grateful", "Me Out", "I Worship Thee/I Want To Love You"

2004:
John P. Kee: The Color of Music "I-C-U"

2002:
Various Artists: WOW Gospel 2002 "Born Again"

Bishop T.D. Jakes Presents Woman Thou Art Loosed Worship 2002 "Be Glorified"

2001:
Various Artists: College Survivor "Born Again"

Lejuene Thompson: Soul Inspiration

Various Artists: Gospel Remixes "Testify" (Junior Velasquez Remix)

2000:
GMWA Youth Mass Choir: New Orleans 2000 "Your Name"

Donald Lawrence & the Tri-City Singers: Tri-City4.com "Testify"

1998:
Greg Hoover & the Charlotte Community Choir: It's Gonna Be Alright "God Will"

1995:
Donald Lawrence & the Tri-City Singers: Bible Stories "Cast Your Cares"

PH: BIG QUESTION: "Soul Inspirations" was your debut, and long overdue, solo project. It has been almost five years since the release of that project. What have you gained and learned artistically since then?
LT: WOW, Finally comfortable in my own skin. Not trying to duplicate, you know, what's popular or whatever, just being true to who I am as an artist. I finally learned that out the hard way, its not about being a cookie cutter. It's about being true to who God has called and designed you to be and that's the only way you can really effectively minister. When you're trying to duplicate somebody else, it's not authentic so when you're true to yourself and to what God has ordained you to be then you are effective.

PH: Of course, the music industry has its share of flaws. Being with EMI Gospel and after witnessing their failure to seriously market your project, what will you do to make this project different from your debut?
LT: Umm, definitely I think they were trying to tap into something, like I said, it wasn't true to who I am, and you know as a lot of people may know and understand when you're with a label, you don't have as much creative control, you know they want to go with what's marketable and with what's happening now or where they think the next "IT" is going to be, whatever "IT" is. You know instead of marketing what that artist has offer that's unique and I think that's where we are now with Metamorphosis [the album title]. First of all I'm finally comfortable so we can really tap into who I am as an artist, who I am as a minstrel, who I am as a woman...all of that plays part in that.

PH: Who do you dream to work in the near future?
LT: Ohh wow! My list is extremely long, I would love to work with...oh my God...Angie Stone is probably my first and foremost favorite that I want to work with. Umm, continuing to work with Pastor Kee, Donald Lawrence, Karen Clark, these are all my favorites. So you know doing work on an artist level, I've done work for her [Karen] as well and as far as working with her on a different level so Karen Clark - definitely. Daryl Coley, he's my favorite [pauses] My list is long.

PH: Do you prefer to sing live or to record material in the studio? Which is most comfortable to you?
LT: Live definitely; because of the audience, the anointing...just being able to feel the energy from the people and connect. So definitely live.

PH: Your debut project presented you in a "neo-soul" mode - singing material highly influenced by the modern contemporary soul movement. Is Metamorphosis an extension of that project? Will it focus on the popular praise-and-worship subgenre or will this be a definite return to your contemporary gospel?
LT: This will definitely be an eclectic blend of all of that. I love all types of music and I'm soulful to the bone and I don't know why its called "neo-soul", but I just call it "soul" because I sing from my soul...because what comes from the soul touches the soul...but it will definitely be an eclectic blend of neo-soul, praise and worship, some churchy stuff and some traditional so it's a good blend.

PH: Are there any special guests or collaborations on this new project?
LT: Donald is going to do something, Pastor Kee is going to be appearing, Micah Stampley and I believe Cedric has something up his sleeve, I don't know.

PH: Will there be any studio tracks added on the upcoming project?
LT: Oh yes there will be some studio tracks. We will probably be finished within the next month or so hopefully.

PH: Any extensive touring in the future?
LT: Yes we are definitely going to take this on tour. We want to touch as many souls as we can with the message and we are just looking for opportunities. We're ready for whatever God has for us.

PH: Do you think the gospel music scene is better now compared to how things were 10 years ago? If so, explain? If not, what solutions are needed to make the industry healthier and wiser?
LT: Ohh its definitely better because gospel is on a larger scale now - the gospel is being sung in all markets, thank God for people like Kirk Franklin who can perform on a level with Grits and those guys. You know it's just wonderful and it's a blessing for the gospel to go that far.

PH: What's next for LeJuene Thompson? Tentative albums launch date?
LT: Definitely more albums. Probably just getting into speaking to young women, you know. Through my experiences, I have been married for almost eighteen years and being able to speak to young women, you know the trials that they face, trying to find their own identity, not trying to live in their husbands' shadow and being able to be submissive and yet pursue a career as well. So definitely speaking and a lot more singing. We are anticipating a launch date of late June or early August of this year.