Toronto R&B-soul singer Jully Black had a major breakthrough two years ago with her first Top 10 hit and Juno-winning take on the Etta James old school soul song, Seven Day Fool.
So, not surprisingly, her decision to inch closer to the rock world on her third album, The Black Book, seemed a risk which caused some nervousness in her camp.
"Of course, they're very, very nervous," said Black, 32.
"But it wasn't like I woke up and said, 'Hey management, hey label, guess what? I'm about to make a rock-ish record.' It was my creative process. It was authentic, very natural. My voice has always sounded great against the guitar."
The girl, who grew up in Toronto's tough Jane-Finch neighbourood as one of nine children (her twin brother died at birth) of a single mom, insisted she's aways been a rock chick at heart.
"It's what has been going on in my life but I just didn't have the confidence to just come out with it," said Black, who recently reunited with her dad through "the power of forgiveness."
"Growing up, I heard Bruce Springsteen, The Police, and U2. Still I heard Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, RUN-DMC, all on the same station, so to me I almost became a child again making The Black Book.
"Where children don't see colour, they don't have rules, they just know what they know until they're taught anything different.
"So this is like a birth of what has been in me my whole life."
Black, who will tour across Canada in February and March with her six-piece band, The Pages (she'll be at The Great Hall in Toronto March 13), refers to her sound as Durban rock -- dance-urban-rock.
"This is what I call my Tina Turner moment," she said proudly.
"I was really young when she did What's Love Got to Do With It, We Don't Need Another Hero, and Private Dancer, etc. But I do also remember Proud Mary, and Nutbush (City Limits) and the songs that were all the way soul/R&B.
"And I can only imagine what it was like back then, her taking a departure into a more rockish realm. ... So, risk, sure, this is my third album. I know there will be a fourth and a fifth and a sixth.
"I'm finding a place where I'm here to stay. ... Like my art brought me to sit here with you.
"From Jane and Finch, I found out what I'm supposed to do and I get to sit here right now and tell my story.
"It's amazing."
