Influential '80s dance diva Jody Watley talks success, the music biz, and Sunset Junction.

By Ken Knox

In the late '80s, Jody Watley was one of only a handful of African Americans working in the pop music field. From her smart, mature music to her forays into multi-media (in addition to many magazine layouts -- she was one of the very first music artist to be featured in Gap ad campaigns), she defied categorization and helped pave the way for a melding of music, fashion and fabulousness that is necessary today for any artist hoping to make it.

From her start as a dancer on TV's Soul Train, to being a singer in the R&B group Shalamar, it wasn't until her debut solo record, 1987's Jody Watley, and its accompanying videos that she made a name for herself. Watley's most recent project is The Makeover, a re-imagining of past hits and overlooked gems that promises to introduce her to a brand new generation of savvy music fans.

We caught up with Watley as she was preparing for her upcoming Sunset Junction appearance, and found that the friendly, sexy lady is nothing if not "some kind of wonder."

IN Los Angeles: So what do you have planned for your appearance at Sunset Junction?

Jody Watley: It's going to be hot; that's all I can tell you. [laughs] This will be a very different presentation from a lot of my other shows, and there are still a lot of people who haven't seen me in a while, so they definitely need to come out and catch up and get in the mix of what's happening with Jody Watley.

A lot of people might wonder where you've been for a while, but in actuality you've never stopped writing and recording since you left the limelight.

Yeah, every two years I've released a record. And the thing about me is that I've pretty much been on my own path, and sometimes it's commercially connected, and then I've made some choices creatively to do music that isn't so much for the mainstream. But I have a hardcore group of fans who have followed me.

Does it bother you that the radar seems to have lost touch with you?

No, because I'm still fabulous. (laughs) I've made conscious choices to be true to who I am and what I'm doing and to really embrace that. I keep it in perspective because again, I haven't done anything but get better, but I haven't adapted to the type of formula that's really necessary to keep the radar focused in. But again, the people that know what I'm doing totally appreciate it.

You launched your own record label in 1995. How's that been for you?

It's been great. I was inspired a lot by Prince when he really started to work outside the box of major labels, because they really are very different than the model of what they were before. I think it's definitely more open to artists who are more entrepreneurial in that sense, and also the Internet is an incredible vehicle for marketing. To be an independent spirit, it may make the journey a bit more difficult, but ultimately, for me, more rewarding.

Your latest release is a remix album. What was it like to approach some of these songs today as opposed to back then?

Well, the thing of it is that it's not remixed like a lot of dance remixes. The songs will be spanning a lot of genres, like smooth jazz to electronic to ambient. But everything is new production, new vocals and arrangements and the whole bit. So again, it's a different approach, and maybe it will inspire other artists to revisit their own songs with an eye on the future, with their own material. Because a good song can be a good song forever.

What's next for you?

Well, I want to finish The Makeover first and then I'll go from there. There's still a lot of music left in me as well. I'm still very passionate about what I do, and I think at the Sunset Junction show that will really be evident. Performing for me is really my favorite thing about being an artist. So get ready!

The Makeover is available for download at iTunes.com, and will hit stores in September. Check out Jody Watley's line of exclusively created merchandise at www.jodywatley.net.