‘Empire’ Breakout celebrity Jamila Velazquez Dishes on Romancing Hakeem & Her Solo Music: Exclusive

March 3rd, 2021 Posted in review

Jamila Velazquez within the ???Be True??? episode of “Empire” airing Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015 on FOX.

In the event that you??™ve been viewing Empire in 2010 — and also you better, since it??™s oh-so-good — you could have noticed there is certainly lots of Latin celebrity energy, such as from Becky G and Pitbull, each of who guested on current episodes.

But on last week??™s Oct. 14 episode, a voice that is fresh, also it had been a face we’dn??™t seen before. Nevertheless, she had Hakeem in love, had us significantly more than had and intrigued Twitter blowing up. That voice/face includes a title, plus it??™s 19-year-old Jamila Velazquez, an actress/singer of Puerto Rican, Dominican and Ecuadorian descent who??™s making her Hollywood dreams become a reality.

The very good news is beautiful solamente of hers we heard (???Lago Azul,” a Spanish cover of Linda Rondstadt??™s ???Blue Bayou???) won??™t function as final. There is many more Jamila where that originated from — she actually is in 9 out from the 18 episodes in season 2.

We called within the singer/actress that is budding who??™s originally from Bronx, ny, it is in Chicago at this time shooting the show. She provided us the information on everything Empire, her influences that are musical and just exactly just what she??™s got cooking into the months ahead both regarding the music and television front side.

If you like a unique taste on her behalf noise other than her Empire music, check always down her heartfelt pop/rock ballad ???Nothing as if you,??? which she penned by by herself and reminds us of a new Shakira right straight right back when you look at the time. There??™s a version that is bilingual of, too, therefore the opportunities for crossover stardom are endless.

And do you know what, A&Rs? She??™s still unsigned! Though probably maybe not for very long??¦

just just How did you land the Empire role?

I??™ve been chatki review acting and performing since I have ended up being just a little woman and I also began auditioning since I have ended up being 15. After about couple of years of auditioning is whenever we booked my very first role on legislation & Order: SVU, I quickly got a recurring component on this show called Twisted on ABC Family. After which, literally per week before we auditioned for Empire, i obtained only a little visitor component on Orange may be the brand new Ebony (the future 4th season). I became therefore delighted whenever i obtained the decision about Empire because my loved ones and I also are such big fans of this show. I became really wondering, why aren??™t there any Latinas on the website? And lo and behold, they penned a right part for a Latina.

Therefore awesome! Exactly what do you reveal regarding the character?

Laura Calleros is her title and she??™s a Nuyorican through the Bronx. You will see a love fundamentally between her and Hakeem. Personally I think like she??™s simply very real, in comparison to everyone else Hakeem can be used to using the services of. She??™s a woman whom actually demands their respect and works difficult; she??™s perhaps maybe not the sort to rest her method to the most effective. I believe doing is considered the most part that is exciting of from the show, because before this, We wasn??™t really heading out here and doing any gigs. I became actually stressed because I knew they might make me sing and dancing but In addition felt like it??™d be amazing training to obtain better at being fully a performer and commanding the phase. It surely introduced my self- confidence.

That really must be this kind of fun set. Do you really connect to Cookie Taraji P. Henson at all?

It really is! She??™s simply great, constantly improvising. We think that is one of the best elements of the show could be the freedom for the cast to generate their very own things. It generates it additional enjoyable to view and she??™s undoubtedly the only whom brings that the essential to create.

Talking about the Cookie Monster, does she accept of the relationship with Hakeem?

Well, you??™ll see??¦laughs

Who??™s your character that is favorite on show?

We just love Porsha (Ta??™Rhonda Jones), whom plays Cookie??™s assistant. This will be her very first job that is acting she??™s simply therefore charismatic. She??™s always bringing the comedy.

We heard ???Lago Azul,??? that will be stunning. Is the fact that indicative of Laura’s noise from the show?

There??™s likely to be more songs that are official the show plus some features with Hakeem . It??™s gonna be dope. Most of the songs come in English, for the reason that pop sound that is urban. I’d really never ever been aware of “Blue Bayou” before this, but my loved ones did. They provided me with the history and revealed me personally the vocalists that sang it before me personally. We enjoyed it; I thought it absolutely was the perfect introduction for my character.

Please elaborate!

Well, into the scene you can view that this is certainly her very first performance, the track starts suprisingly low and peaceful and it also simply develops up after that. There??™s so much area to actually, really sing for the reason that track. It had been perfect she??™s doing but then eventually she just lets go because she??™s not sure what.

Who will be your influences that are musical?

Growing up, I actually liked Cher; she??™s a symbol, has been doing amazing films and she??™s had an abundance of hits, too. Fiona Apple is certainly one of my favorites. We have a range that is wide We get from Led Zeppelin and Alice in Chains to Future and Drake. I always loved Amanda Miguel when it comes to Latin music. That??™s whom my moms and dads revealed me personally whenever I began performing ballads that are spanish. I love Laura Pausini and undoubtedly Shakira, because she??™s simply amazing.

Whenever do you learn you’d that big sound?

I usually enjoyed to sing nevertheless when I became around 10 my parents were like, “There??™s one thing here, she will actually do that.” We took lessons that are vocal I happened to be about 14 or 15. We haven??™t done coaching that is vocal because I??™m busy because of the show, however it??™s certainly one thing I would like to return to it because i would like it.

So what??™s waiting for you for your needs beyond the show?

I’ve a track called ???Nothing it??™s a classic, alternative, pop/rock break-up song, and that??™s kind of where I want to go, but I might also go in a different direction like you??? on YouTube. And I??™m nevertheless auditioning for acting functions. For me personally, both acting and performing simply mesh. I adore telling tales so that they both just make me because happy.