Jully Black!

Jully Black doesn't believe in holding back. And she never wants to. Whether it's singing her heart out on her upcoming debut album This Is Me, broadening her talents in the theatre production of Da Kink In My Hair, adding Destiny's Child and Nas to her songwriting credits, expanding her social consciousness in Bangladesh or overcoming the heartache of professional setbacks, there's an apparent fearlessness to Jully that's both admired and awarded. She's received four Juno Award nominations, four MuchMusic Video Award nominations and Fashion Magazine recently recognized her ambitious nature by naming her one of the most alluring Canadians. To explain her forward-thinking drive, Jully says: "My mom always said if you fall down, you can't go further than the ground. So if I fall, I know I'll just get right back up.".

The youngest of nine and the only singer in a family of visual artists, Jully grew up in the rough Jane and Finch neighbourhood of Toronto. She discovered her voice in church at the age of seven but as her vocal ability developed, so did the self-consciousness about her powerful alto range. "It was hard to deal with because the perception is if you sing high, you sing better," Jully recalls. Nevertheless, she persevered by going against the norm and strengthening her lower register. "Now I'd say my voice is gritty with smooth textures and I've learnt to love my rasp because that's my difference."

Her signature rasp and soul-stirring voice captured the ears of rappers like Choclair, Kardinal Offishall and Baby Blue Soundcrew, who recruited Jully to sing and write on their singles. Her association with Canada's hip-hop elite became a launching pad and rigorous training ground, teaching her how to write melodies and lyrics on the spot, appear in music videos, carry live shows and prepare for the spotlight.