JoJo Interview (pg. 2)
By: Sindy
Sindy: You've grown up a lot since entering the music industry. What do you think it's taught you?
JoJo: It's really taught me a lot. People aren't always honest. They aren't always who they say there are. Some people will really kiss your... bum in this industry. You can't just believe what they say. This industry isn't all glitz and glamor. There's a real dark side that I don't want anything to do with. I just want to make music. I'm trying to take the high road.
Sindy: Do you have any fears about the "child star" syndrome?
JoJo: I really don't have any fears about that because I don't think I'm a "child star". I'm just a young woman trying to make a career for herself - I'm not being exploited and I'm not going to let myself be exploited. You're not going to see me go crazy when I hit 18. That's not who I am.
Sindy: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
JoJo: Ten years? That's a long way off - I'll be, like, 25. Maybe I'll be married or something (laughs). I really hope I'll still be recording and performing. I think I will be. I'd also like to work for a label, maybe have my own. I think I'd like to work with other artists - do some producing. I think I could accomplish that by my mid-20s.
Sindy: There are a lot of expectations about how you should look in the entertainment industry. How do you deal with them while keeping a healthy self image?
JoJo: Well, it's pretty easy because I like to eat. I do it every day (laughs). I know there are certain expectations for what I look like - and I do work out. But I'm not going to starve myself. I'd rather exercise and eat than not exercise and starve myself and have no energy.
Sindy: Do you enjoy your celebrity status or is it just something you have to put up with to enjoy a career as a successful musician?
JoJo: I do enjoy it. I'm not going to pretend it's some sort of burden. I really enjoy my life and have fun. I do miss some people because I'm really busy but, other than that, I have no complaints. Life is good.
Sindy: Who's the coolest person you've worked with to-date?
JoJo: Probably Diane Warren (one of the most successful and prolific songwriters ever). She's amazing.
Sindy: Who would you really like to work with in the future?
JoJo: Definitely Pharrell. And his production team, The Neptunes. I would love that. I'm also friends with Benji from Good Charlotte so I think it might be fun to do something with them - or their producers - on the next album.
Sindy: Have you seen Bill Cosby again since you were discovered on Kids Say the Darndest Things days?
JoJo: No, I haven't seen him, unfortunately. So I don't really know what's up with him.
Sindy: It doesn't seem like anyone can record an album these days without doing reality series to go along with it. Are we going to see you on reality TV any time soon?
JoJo: I can! No, there are no plans to be on reality TV any time soon. It's not something I'm particularly interested in.
Sindy: So what kind of stuff are you listening to these days?
JoJo: Lots of stuff - Erykah Badu , Bob Marley, Joni Mitchell, Justin Timberlake, Black Eyed Peas, really, just lots of stuff.
Sindy: Thanks for talking to us. Good luck with the album.
JoJo: Thanks so much.
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