can feel like a battlefield to some. Talking to Myers of NorthJersey.com, Temple says “I had a couple of young patients pass away, and you feel so helpless. Then you go home and everything looks like it’s normal. But you feel like you've just come out of a war zone.” To encourage her fellow nurses throughout this trying time, Felicia Temple recorded a stunning and powerful rendition of “Rise Up,” originally sung by Andra Day. Holy Name Medical Center regularly broadcasts the cover throughout the speakers in the hospital, as a way to uplift its hardworking and devoted nurses. Because of COVID-19, Temple was forced to put her singing and performing dreams on
INTERVIEW
hold. However, she did so with a willing heart, and has helped so many people in the process. She looked beyond herself, at a world that needed help, and decided she could do whatever she could to heal people, even when it came to holding their hands during their final moments.
FRONTLINE HERO
We had the chance to speak with Felicia Temple to not only get a deeper insight into not only her perspective as an artist, as well as her role as a nurse during COVID.
“I realized though, that giving up on music would be giving up on myself. I decided to keep going.”
What first got you into music?
I grew up in a super musical family. Everyone sang and played multiple instruments. Music is what some of my earliest memories are made from. What is your creative process like? The process is different for every song. Sometimes the melody comes to me first, other times it's the words. A lot of times, whatever situation I'm going through just comes out in the music. I'm not the fastest writer, but I write all of my own music. I haven't put out a song yet that I didn't write. I guess I would say creatively I'm a loner. I write alone, and I go to the studio alone, or record myself. I'll usually send a record to a few trusted people for input and tweak it. I've been known to record a song 3 or 4 different times in order to capture the feeling I want. My ears are super particular LOL
What is your top five favorite albums of all time? Why those albums?What is your top five favorite songs of all time? Why those songs? In no particular order: -Barbra Streisand "The Broadway Album" -Mariah Carey "Butterfly - Donny Hathaway "A Donny Hathaway Collection" -The Foreign Exchange "Authenticity" -Prince "One Night Alone...Live" These albums just spoke to me in ways I can't even explain. Sonically, they've influenced me. Vocally, they've trained me. They really changed the way I listen to music. Favorite songs are hard, I'm going to pass on that! But my favorite song ever is Donny Hathaway's 'For All We Know." What kind of singer would you classify yourself as?
Do you have any upcoming shows?
An intentional one.
Not currently, of course with COVID, in person shows are not happening right now. As far as virtual concerts, hopefully I'll plan something soon. I do have new music coming very soon though! ;)
What has been the best performance of your career so far?
If you could go open a show for any artist who would it be? Jill Scott
I put together and headlined a hometown show in July of 2018 in NJ and sold the place out. I had my band and did a 75 minute set. It was the most incredible night.
We Are Jersey Magazine: September 2020
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