R&B vocalist Sevyn Streeter was enlisted by Mary J. Blige to perform at The Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit in Atlanta this past weekend. The show took place at The Tabernacle on Friday night, where she performed alongside Kiana Lede, Rubi Rose, Emotional Oranges and more.
In 2021, Sevyn released second album Drunken Wordz, Sober Thoughtz. On this project, she exercises a great amount of transparency and gives some insight on where sheβs been these past few years. It has its introspective moments on songs like βFall Backβ where she speaks directly to the other half of a toxic relationship that is coming to an end. Then, thereβs songs like βWet Dreamzβ featuring singer Jeremih and βChange My Mindβ where Sevyn shows off her naughty side while delivering addictive harmonies.
The album is the perfect balance between sweet and sour and perfectly encapsulates how the singer has grown musically and personally.
The catchy melodies and flawless vocals are what draws people in to the world of Sevyn, but it’s her duality that hooks you. And at the end of the day, Sevyn is just like us. She, too, has her fair share of problems and emotions to sort through. The only difference is that she used those emotions to create one of the best projects of the year.
We spoke with Sevyn to discuss the inspiration behind the album, touring and what it’s like working in the studio with music industry vet Jermaine Dupri.
The Knockturnal: How have you been?
Sevyn: Iβve been amazing and in a good space, just creating new music.
The Knockturnal: I saw you linked up with Jermaine Dupri, so were you guys working on something?
Sevyn: We are working on my new project. We just started but weβre having a great time. Heβs the G.O.A.T. and such a legend and it’s such a honor to work with him. Heβs super cool and so talented. To sit there and watch him make a beat last night, I was just staring like βyo, you really that n***a.β
The Knockturnal: How are you enjoying Atlanta?
Sevyn: I love Atlanta. Iβm a Florida girl, Iβm a country girl. So, Atlanta feels very close to home for me.
The Knockturnal: I have been a fan since your first project Call Me Crazy, Butβ¦ Youβve came a long way since then and youβll only get bet bigger. But, I have been waiting to ask you this: you released your EP Shoulda Been There Pt. 1 seven years ago… your fans have been been begging for a part two since then. Will we be getting a part two?
Sevyn: Listen, Twitter is gonna love you for this cause they be on my head about that! I mean, Shoulda Been There was a little moment. I donβt know if Iβll ever do a part two, Iβll be honest. I feel so bad because I was gone for four years and left you guys but Iβm not gonna do that anymore. I promise to give an abundance of music. Thatβs where my head is, just to give you guys more music and more visuals.
The Knockturnal: You released your album Drunken Wordz, Sober Thoughtz last year. What inspired the title of that album.
Sevyn: When you hear drunken words and sober thoughts you think, βOkay, Sis had one too many drinks and is telling all of her business.β And itβs a little bit of that because I definitely had a couple of drinks and told some of my business. But, when I really think about it in my mind when I was creating it, I felt like you can be under the influence of a million emotions. Anger, heartbreak, jealousy, love, so many different things. I wanted to write from all of those different spaces. I just like that at any given moment, no matter what you’re going through, you can pick one of those songs off the album and if youβre under the influence of a certain emotion then you can play that record.
I started a lot of [the album] before quarantine and I finished it during quarantine. We were all under the influence of different emotions during that time. Some days, I was sad. Some days, I was angry. Some days, I was so at peace and happy to be home. I just allowed myself to not be afraid of those emotions and just dive right in to them, then write from that space. Thatβs really where the title came from.
The Knockturnal: You hit 5 different cities during your tour for this album and it was very intimate but will we be getting a bigger tour from you soon? Β
Sevyn: Weβre in talks of doing a bigger tour. It was a little warm up for me and I hadnβt seen [the fans] in so long. So, I wanted to be able to be so close that I could touch them. To be able to yell at them and they could yell at me back, it was very close and intimate and I love that. But, we are going to do a bigger tour and have more fun. I love live shows and going tour because my Street Team is crazy. They be yelling at me, telling me what songs I should sing. I live for it, though.
The Knockturnal: If you could open up for any artist who would it be? And donβt say Beyonce because everyone says that.
Sevyn: Actually, my old girl group RichGirl opened up for Beyonceβs I Am Sasha Fierce Tour back in 2009. That was fun. But thatβs a great question. I would have to say Rihanna. I would love to open up for Rih, I think that would be so much fun. Once she has the little baby, if she gives us this album that weβre dying for then I would love to open up for Rih.
The Knockturnal: As a woman, where do you find your strength from and what is your greatest strength?
Sevyn: I find my strength from a number of different things. The older that I get, I find that I get a lot of strength from what I call my trinity: my mother, my aunt and my grandma. The three of them keep me together. I will call that four in the morning if I need to cry or vent or talk or just get some knowledge on things. Weβre talking about three different women who have obviously lived different lives but they have so much wisdom to offer from their experiences, the good, the bad the ugly. They won’t lie to me and thatβs what I love the most. Even when the conversations are not so great, they always end up in a positive light. There’s always something to be learned.
