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| Res |
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"I could sing R&B if I wanted to and it would be kinda nice, I think, but that's not me. I mean it's music, you know? F*** R&B. F*** alternative. F*** the rock and roll world. Just do what makes you feel good."
-Res
| Date of Birth: 1978 |
| Birthplace: suburbs of Philadelphia |
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| In 2001, Res released How I Do, a critically acclaimed album that mixed elements of hip-hop, rock, alternative, trip hop, reggae, and soul. The hype surrounding her has been building up steadily thanks to a score of magazine articles touting her as the next best thing. |
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| Take the soul of Aretha Franklin, the sex appeal of Tina Turner and the intelligence of Lauryn Hill, and you've got three solid reasons to like Res. |
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Nee Shareese Renee Ballard, Res (pronounced Reese) was born in the suburbs of Philadelphia in 1978. She lived comfortably in a middle-class home that was always filled with family and music, usually the sounds of Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Teddy Pendergrass, and Bobby Womack. The brilliant music of these artists registered deeply with young Res, who would beg her parents for the chance to make some music of her own.
Surrounded by the larger-than-life images of Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin made it almost impossible for Res not to aspire to sing. She wanted it so badly that she was willing to put in the work with a professional, and when she was just seven years old, she began voice lessons with an instructor. To say she was a natural is an understatement.
Res developed so quickly that by age fourteen, she was singing Italian arias from operas at recitals. Her talent at this young age was tremendous, and if her parents had been more showbiz driven, they could have taken steps to try and get her a record deal. But her parents stressed the value of education and refused to do anything to take her away from the prestigious Academy of Notre Dame Catholic school.
After graduation, Res again eschewed the opportunity to try and strike out on her own as a young diva and instead attended Temple University in Philadelphia. Surrounded by all types of people and music, she began to develop an appreciation for a diverse swath of music, specifically Pearl Jam, Annie Lennox and Massive Attack. A new understanding of different types of music only furthered Res' interest in performing and exploring new musical spheres. Though she knew she wanted to make music, she pursued music as more of a hobby than a career. That is, until she decided to call a family friend that would change her life.
Santi White, a longtime acquaintance of the family, worked as an A&R assistant at Epic Records in New York City. On the urging of almost everyone who heard her perform, Res decided to give her a call and ask a few questions about the music industry. White in turn asked Res to sing for her over the phone. Soon thereafter, Res was on her way to White's New York home for a more personal meeting.
The two began writing songs together and worked on a demo tape. White even brought Res into Epic Records, who took one look at the attractive singer and wanted to put her in a group called Groove Theory. Res considered it to be a bit of a pre-packed neo-soul outfit and gracefully declined the offer. She shopped her demo around other labels until MCA offered her a solo deal in 1999.
Before she could set out working on her album, the label wanted to create some buzz around her. They decided the best way to do so would be through some guest appearances on other artists' tracks. The idea was a tremendous success, as Res' work on Wu-Tang frontman GZA's Beneath The Surface, and Talib Kweli and Hi Tek's Reflection Eternal made most of the conscious hip-hop world take note.
When the time came for her to finally start work on her own project, she needed a producer who could really understand her vision. She didn't want someone rooted exclusively in hip-hop or soul because of the conventional attitudes that go along with it. The man she eventually chose was Doc, a Minneapolis-based producer who had done work on Esthero's dreamy trip hop Breath From Another album. His experience outside the world of traditionally "black music" made him a perfect candidate to help create something totally new. |
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© David Edwards
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