#tbt In 1995, the first song I ever played on Jazz 91.9 WCLK in Atlanta was Jhelisa Anderson "Friendly Pressure" from her debut album Galactica Rush.This song and album, released in 1994 on the UK indie label Dorado Records, charted an adventurous path for my now 28 year radio journey and I would never be the same again. Prior to releasing this album, Jhelisa was singing back up on Bjork's debut album titled "Debut"(like, how cool is that!) and lead for The Shamen. It's why I always referred to Jhelisa as the "Queen Of Next". She was on a celestial level not many soul artists were on at that time. This album was pre-neo soul and post-acid jazz. It had some of the BEST singing and songs from the 90s. Born in Mississippi, raised in the church(her sister is Pamela Anderson of Incognito, cousin is UK soul legend Carleen Cassandra Anderson and aunt/ uncle Vickie Anderson/Bobby Byrd of James Brown band) and later groomed on the music of Prince and the new wave movement, Jhelisa was/is like no other singer of our time. The album cover alone says who she is. Songs like Hold My Peace, Baby God and Sweet Dreams 4UIC, took us to musical places we had never been before. If you've never experienced this vanglorious record, I highly suggest you get involved. It's aged like fine wine so it sounds newer than most new music. Thank you Jhelisa for showing us what afro futuristic soul could sound like in the 90s. You are a one of a kind!
Jamal's First Song Played On WCLK--Friendly Pressure by Jhelisa
