The ‘Harlem’ Cast Talk Pivoting, Priorities, & The Principles Of Joy
They’re back! Angie (Shoniqua Shandai), Quinn (Grace Byers), Camille (Meagan Good), and Tye (Jerrie Johnson) are back on Amazon Prime for another season of Tracy Oliver’s brilliantly written original series Harlem. Life, love, relationships, and careers can all be a bit daunting to handle at once when you’re navigating through a culturally courageous city as potentially intimidating as the Manhattan subsidy, but that makes for more great binge-worthy episodes.
The ladies of Harlem caught up with xoNecole to discuss what it looks like when it’s your season, how they define joy, and what it means to embrace the power of the pivot.
A Real Season Debut
“Every season is my season and I'm going to take every season as my season, and I think it's being intuitive as to what the season is requiring,” Shandai told xoNecole about defining what it means to be in her season.
After an affirmation from her junket-sister and castmate Byers, Shandai continued to share what her seasons looks like from isolating oneself to “cultivate your voice” to being rooted in hardcore discipline. “I think it's being very, very in touch with spirit and self and praying,” she added. “I would say don't take anything for granted. I look for the lessons and the seasons. Even when I go on a vacation, I'm like, 'okay, what am I supposed to get from this land and this place?' Being incredibly intentional, I think, is the best way to master any season.”
The Definition of Black Joy
As mentioned by Harlem series creator Tracy Oliver, this season would be filled with laughter, love, and joy, but what does joy mean to our thespians off-screen?
For Byers, joy equates to freedom. “I think joy looks like freedom in a way because I think that's where joy lives. It lives in an uninhibited place and I think a lot of times it's difficult for us to express that because there's so much outward criticism as to what it should look like, how it should live, or how you do express it,” she told xoNecole.
As a personal favorite, Byers prefers “big gut laughter” with side holding and crying as an expression of joy, but she does not fail to recognize that joy comes in multiple layers and lives a multifaceted life that shows up as “sadness and chaos” or “resistance and gratitude.” She continued, “It's the freedom to do each of those things and so I think it's having that open space to be able to express that type of joy inside of you.”
Shandai added, “For me, joy is really looking like healthiness and this era of my life and really prioritizing self, and not in a way that's selfish, but making sure that I'm taking care of me in a way that I haven't done before, I hadn't prioritized before. I was so focused on output that now the joy comes from what I'm inputting, and I feel like real joy is not as uncircumstantial.”
While she jested at the fact that she believes she had “made that word up” on the spot, Shandai went with the flow because for her, happiness is a result of what’s happening but joy is everlasting and effervescent. “It doesn't matter what's going on in your life or career or finances; it's something that lives within. I think in order to have that inner joy filled, it's what you're putting into you as well.”
Stop and Breathe, Sis
A self-proclaimed nomad, Johnson attributes her constant need to move and be on-go to her Aquarian nature. From being in college and moving up the ranks from resident to RA to orientation leader and fast forward years later when she catapulted her career by moving from San Francisco to Los Angeles to New York, the actress has never been too shy to make the necessary moves to put her where she needs to be. But that doesn’t take away from the idea that she wants to practice stillness and bask in her own ambiance.
“I kind of feel like I'm getting to a space where I want to own something and I want some roots. I want a place that I can always go back to and I think for me, that home space will be the grounding force to where I think I will be able to be more open to the craziness of where am I going next?” she shared candidly.
Johnson continued to explain how she relates to super producer Metro Boomin’s notorious “want some more” ad-libs, and how she brings it back full circle to her own career endeavors. “I'm like, what's happening? Why haven't I done this yet? Why haven't I done this yet? People are like, oh my God, you're so good on this show, but why?” she began to explain.
“But I think that that voice gets louder when I'm not in a space that feels like me, like my space, like I'm safe in this space. I'm grounded in this space. I want to be connected to the earth in this space,” Johnson added. “I think finding that one thing that grounds you is helpful for when you are trying to figure out the what's next of life. It can be your home, it can be your car, it can be travel, it can be your partner. Whatever that thing is that brings you back to your center can be helpful when you're in the chaos of life.”
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Featured image by Arnold Turner/Getty Images for Prime Video
Exclusive: Melanie Fiona On Making High-Vibrational Music & Saying Yes To Partnership
Melanie Fiona is back! After taking a little more than a decade-long hiatus, she has officially made her return to music and blessed us with two singles, “Say Yes” and “I Choose You.” While both singles are very different from each other, they both reflect who she is today and the type of music she wants to make. In our conversation, the mom of two expressed what she learned during her time away.
“It's interesting, even when I said it is like coming back, I don't ever feel like I really left because I was always still performing. I've still been public. It's not like I went into being this recluse person or version of myself, but the thing that I really learned in this process is that I think things take time,” Melanie says in a xoNecole exclusive.
“I think often we're so caught up in it, being on the timing of demand or popularity, or, like, striking while the iron is hot and the thing that I've learned is that everything is on God's time. That's it. Every time I thought I would have been ready, or, like, things were taking too long, I had to reship some things, personally, professionally, in my life. I also gave myself permission to make a living, not just make a living, but make a life for myself.”
Making a life for herself included getting married to Grammy-nominated songwriter Jared Cotter, starting a family, and embracing new landscapes, such as podcasting as a co-host of The Mama’s Den podcast. She also began doing more spiritual work and self-care practices like meditation, sound healing, Reiki, acupuncture, and boundary setting, which allowed her to get in touch with her inner voice.
“I wasn't putting out music, and I wasn't experiencing a number one record, but I was being a number one mom,” she says.
“I was experiencing things that were allowing me to heal and get in touch with myself so that I could make new music from a space of joy and freedom, and excitement again because I definitely feel like I did lose some excitement because of just politics and industry and what it can do to your mental health and even your physical health. So giving myself the space to really just say, ‘Hey, it's okay. Everything's right on time.’”
The joy and excitement are felt in one of two new singles, “I Choose You,” which is more of a lovers rock vibe, a tribute to Melanie’s Caribbean roots. While the Grammy award-winner is known for ballads like “It Kills Me” and “Fool For You,” she is becoming more intentional about the music she makes, calling it high-vibrational music. She says her music is a “reflection of my life,” as it captures every facet, from hanging out with friends to riding around in her car.
“Say Yes” has the classic R&B vibe Melanie is known for. However, both songs are inspired by her relationship. Melanie and Jared got married in December 2020, and the Toronto-bred artist dished on their relationship. Fun fact: he is featured in the “Say Yes” music video.
“When we first started dating, I had come into that relationship post a lot of self-work. I had gotten out of a long-term relationship, I had a year and a half to date and be by myself and do a lot of work on myself alone. And when we met, I remember feeling like this has to be my person because I feel it,” she says.
“And so when we went into that relationship, and we started dating, I was very clear. I was like, I know what I want. I'm very clear on what I need, and I'm not going to withhold my truth about myself in this process because of pride or fear of rejection. I know you love me, but I'm coming with my heart in my hand to let you know that if we're gonna get there, we have to put fear aside and say yes. So that was kind of like my open letter to him, which is why the video is us having a conversation.”
Melanie also shares that saying yes to her partner has empowered her in many ways, including motherhood and showing up for herself. Her new EP, also titled Say Yes, will be available at the top of 2025.
Check out the full interview below.
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Feature image by Franco Zulueta
There's something about snuggling up in your favorite blanket and watching a comfort show or movie on Netflix, and what better time to do just that than in December? As the weather outside gets cooler, staying in becomes more of the norm. Thus, Netflix and Chill is a go-to. Luckily, Netflix has released new Black films and series on their popular streaming platform.
From Tyler Perry's historical drama The Six Triple Eight, starring Kerry Washington, to the Will Packer-produced comedy starring Marsai Martin, Regina Hall, and Issa Rae, Little, this season is looking up.
See the full list below.
Little (12/1)
Regina Hall's character is a bossy tech mogul who has everyone scared of her, including her assistant, played by Issa Rae. However, when she transforms into her younger self (Marsai Martin), she learns how to be more kind to others.
Daddy Day Care (12/1)
Eddie Murphy stars in this film as a father who decides to open a daycare after losing his job.
30 For 30 Collection (12/2)
30 For 30 is an ESPN docu-series highlighting some of sports' legendary figures and moments. Some of the episodes include Winning Time: Reggie Miller Vs. The New York Knicks and Celtics/ Lakers: The Best of Enemies.
Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was (12/10)
In this special, the multi-talented Jamie Foxx returns to stand-up to give an unforgettable performance.
Blood, Sweat & Heels S2 (12/13)
The short-lived Bravo reality TV series documented the lives of a group of girlfriends making it in NYC. The show starred model-turned-podcaster Melyssa Ford, author Demetria Lucas, and the late TV host Daisy Lewellyn.
The Equalizer S1-3 (12/16)
The hit CBS show starring Queen Latifah is now available on Netflix. Watch the beloved actress kick ass and take names in this popular drama.
The Six Triple Eight (12/20)
The new Tyler Perry film starring Kerry Washington is a true story about the first and only Women’s Army Corps unit of color during World War II.
Christmas Game Day Ravens Vs. Texans (12/25)
While many will tune in to watch the Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans game, others will tune in to watch Beyoncé perform during halftime.
Michelle Buteau: A Buteau-ful Mind At Radio City Music Hall (12/31)
Comedian Michelle Buteau's comedy special will focus on her life with twins, going viral, and much more.
Evil S3 (12/31)
While Evil was unfortunately canceled by CBS, viewers can rewatch the series on Netflix, with season three premiering December 31st.
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