BB: You have such a unique sense of style. Was it just one moment where you just said ok this is who I am?
JM: I think it’s all about having control of your image, as women especially. I think there is this unspoken thing: these are the clothes you have wear, this is the way you have to look. We need get rid of that notion. This world is very diverse and as women we need to be too. There are many different ways to be sexy. There are many different ways to be cool. I am a free spirit. I like the challenge of redefining what it means to be a woman, especially a woman of color creating music and telling a universal story in an unforgettable way.
BB: How do you stay healthy and fit so that you can have the energy to perform?
JM: I do a lot of meditation. I am a spiritual person, but I am happy—genuinely happy—when I wake up. When I go to bed at night and when I wake up, I choose peace. I choose to get up everyday and start my day with positive thoughts. It helps everything. I do 90-minute shows that are very high energy night after night. I definitely count that as exercise. I do work out, too. You know I try to eat healthy, but after a show I sometimes want a cheeseburger and shake!
BB: I bet it’s like finishing a marathon because you’ve been depleted so much. What is your favorite thing to eat after a show?
JM: It depends where I am. If I am going to New Orleans I may want seafood or a Po’ boy sandwich. If I’m in Memphis or someplace that does BBQ, I do that. Those are my little reward cards that I give myself.