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 | | Julie Dexter at The Drum |
The dynamic voice of Julie Dexter has earned her the credibility many artists would envy. This star from Handsworth is a fine example of the wealth of black talent in the UK. Julie, a critically acclaimed singer/song writer, gave a special performance at The Drum to a crowd of appreciative followers, friends and family.  | | Julie Dexter at The Drum |
This classically trained musician who arranges, composes and producers her own work, captivated her audience with her version, of what she describes as "Jazz and Soul dipped in Roots Reggae". Glittering Amongst Stars At just 33 years old, Ms Dexter's accomplishments tell you she's one serious artist. She's shared a stage with icons such as Omar, Donnie, Jill Scott, Bilal, Kindred, Ursula Rucker, Jody Wately, Mint Condition, The Roots, Jazzy Fatnastees, Amel Larrieux... the list goes on... and on... need I say more? Despite this Julie admits she still gets star struck:  | | Julie Dexter by Paul Mainor |
"It's hard to be cool and humble, but these artist look at you, the way you look at them. Jill Scott sang one of my songs to me, and she was like 'what do I do?' She told me that she would play my tracks when she was on her tour bus. I was so amazed that she looked at me the same way I looked at her. She plays my music and I play her music. She doesn't look at me like some little person, but someone whose music influences her, and inspires her. That's the highest compliment for me". From Handsworth to Atlanta Performing to a home crowd is more nerve racking for Julie then anywhere else, she explains: "These people have known me all my life, or since I was little. I have to try and keep it real and be myself because of this. It's a really passionate experience for me, because I am attached to my home town, attached to Birmingham, the people, and there's so much things that go on here that have affected me and influenced my music." | "There's so much Black history that you can't help but appreciate being Black in Atlanta." | | Julie Dexter |
This Handsworth export is very proud of her background, her parents are from Jamaica, and she was born and raised in Handsworth til the age of six, then moved to Kings Norton. Julie went to Turves Green Girl School, Joseph Chamberlain College (same as me) then moved to London, and then to the states. Now a resident of Atlanta, the Mecca for some of America's most wealthiest and culturally conscious African Americans', Julie feels right at home. She tells me how she used to live in a house, opposite to where civil rights leader Martin Luther King was born and raised.  | | Julie Dexter at The Drum |
"It's a very historical place, you have the Martin Luther King Boulevard, places focusing on Rosa Parks, the Civil Rights Movement. There's so much black history that you can't help but appreciate being black in Atlanta. It's a very Black city and it makes you feel proud to be black". Empowerment The strong presence of successful African Americans in Atlanta has clearly been a tool of empowerment for Ms Dexter, this is evidential in the way she speaks, her career progression and her outlook on life, she explains why: "I have two strikes against me being black and female, but being in Atlanta has taught me that I have to 'step up' and prove that I am as good as any man or any white person, and I can wear that badge with pride.  | | Julie Dexter by Paul Mainor |
"That's what I really love about Atlanta, and that's why I went there, black people are so successful, but not just in sport and music. Their business owners, doctors, lawyers, they own their communities and they're successful". I became very jealous as Julie talked about Atlanta (a place I will be visiting in the near future), but her choice to 'up sticks' to the states was a smart business decision more than anything else. Find out why in part two of my interview with Birmingham's very own Soul Sister. The Robert Beckford Show on BBC WM Tune into The Robert Beckford Show, Saturday evenings 8pm-11pm on BBC WM 95.6FM, for the best in black entertainment, news and discussion. | 
