JSS INTERVIEW IN PUERTO RICO.
Interviewer: Can I do the interview in Spanish
JSS: Yes.
(laughing in background)
Interviewer: Ok perfect. Are you think of staying with Journey? All this time that we’ve been trying to interview you, we’ve been told that even though your performance is spectacular, you are simply substituting – you are in place of someone else.
Guy: Yeah, she – I’m going to translate, she’s asking you if you’re going to stay with the band because they’ve been trying to interview you for a while and uh after all these like really great, you know, shows you’ve been having with the band, they still hear that you’re only --
JSS: Temporary
Guy: -- temporary.
JSS: Right now I can’t say much, but in um -- how do you say weeks?
Interviewer: Weeks.
JSS: In about two weeks there is going to do an official press release
Interviewer: Ah-ha. To announce that you are going to stay?
JSS: To say more, that is going to say everything that – that --
Guy: -- that is going to happen.
JSS: -- that is going to happen.
Interviewer: Well, since we are not in the United States and we get the news later –
JSS: No, no, no, it will --
Interviewer: -- we want to know now.
JSS: Everything will – everything will -- everybody will know.
Interviewer: So there is a possibility that this Puerto Rican flag that you represent will be in the band Journey? Is there a possibility --
Guy: So there’s a possibility that this Puerto Rican band that will be represented by you will be in the band Journey?
JSS: I can’t comment. (laughs)
Interviewer: So then tell me, why you? How did you get to Journey?
JSS: Um, I was in a band called Soul Sirkus with Neal Schon uh two years uh -- how do you say ago?
Guy: Ago
JSS: Ago –
Interviewer: Two years ago.
JSS: -- And nothing much -- uh, fuck, I wish I could speak better.
Interviewer: No, don’t worry, don’t worry, just try.
JSS: Not too much happened with that band because uh Journey was -- became too busy, and Neal needs to do a lot of work with Journey and nothing happened with Soul Sirkus. So when Journey had a problem with the mouth (touches throat) Neal called me and told me, you know, can you do that song, if you can, come on the road with us and – and Steve needs to go home. Can’t cancel the tour. Can’t –
Interviewer: Show must go on.
JSS: Yeah, they lose too much money, the tickets, the fans, Def Leppard has to cancel if Journey cancels, there’s no way. So they have to – show must go on –
Interviewer: -- with you.
JSS: -- Steve was sent back – home -- and I came.
Interviewer: What does it represent to you?
JSS: What does it represent to me?
Interviewer: Yes to be in Journey.
JSS: Um it -- to me singing for Journey is – is like breathing. It’s – it’s like life. It’s – it’s uh -- I -- there’s no words to describe it. I mean, like waking up everyday and feeling happy to be alive that’s how I feel about singing with Journey.
Interviewer: Now tell us, quickly, because I know you area tired. Your roots are “boricua” (nickname for Puerto Rican) You were born here? You were raised here? You were born here and went over there? How was it? Your parents --
Guy: She’s asking, you know, your roots -- you know, your “boriquen roots” --
JSS: Yeah, yeah.
Guy: -- where you born here?
JSS: No.
Guy: -- where you born there?
JSS: No, New York. Brooklyn, New York I was born. But my parents are both born in Puerto Rico, and they were raised in New York, and I was born in New York.
Interviewer: You speak very little Spanish, but you do speak Spanish.
JSS: Yes.
Interviewer: Um but --
JSS: Spanglish. (laughs)
Interviewer: Spanglish. What other things do you do like a “boricuoa”? Do you know what a good “bacalaito” is? Do you know about “tostones,” “pasteles”? [traditional Puerto Rican dishes]
JSS: Of course. Well, I mean, I was raised – I was raised with a Spanish family, all the parties, the music, the food. Everything is exactly – even though we live in New York, it’s like we lived in Puerto Rico. It’s uh -- the only difference is I don’t speak Spanish. You can speak everything to me in Spanish, but I can’t – respond back so --
Interviewer: Ok, and do you keep in contact with your family, with your parents?
JSS: Yes, yes. My dad and my mom are in California. And um – have family everywhere in U.S. and Puerto Rico.
Interviewer: What would you tell all those people who are watching now that are proud because a “boricua” like you is in Journey, a very important band, but that perhaps don’t know about all the “boricuan” people that are trying to better themselves/succeed in the U.S., like you?
JSS: Tell me a little in English.
Interviewer: Ok, um – how do you feel that um many uh Puerto Ricans um saw you with Journey, it’s like uh an idol, it’s just like a dream --
JSS: Yeah, oh, yeah.
Interviewer: How do you feel about that?
JSS: It’s an amazing feeling because I know – I know how important – how important this band, Journey, is for the Puerto Rican people. And to have a Puerto Rican singer for one of the important bands, for me it’s ooosh all night it’s like sshhh --
Interviewer: It’s like a big energy.
JSS: Yeah, it was – it was -- more – more than any of the shows on the whole tour, and this is – this is the second to last. We have one more show, and the tour is done for the year. So it’s like they saved the best for last.
Interviewer: Oh, my god.
JSS: Yeah.
Interviewer: I’m proud of you. Send a message to – what is your program?
Guy: Rockontour.com
Interviewer: Uh, rockontour.com, rockontour.com a message
JSS: To – to -- ?
Interviewer: Yes, a message, a greeting, say hi.
JSS: A message for Rockontour.com
Interviewer: A greeting to the show “No Te Duermas” (Don’t go to sleep)
JSS: A greeting for the show “No Te Duermas”
(END)