Our planned 30-minute session blossomed into a 90-minute virtual listening party, showcasing the incredible talents of singer-songwriter Janita Burke, known professionally as JB Psalm. Celebrating #WomensHistoryMonth and her milestone birthday, JB Psalm brought empowering music from her production company, Kairos 22 Productions, to our platform. Alongside her was Tiffany Michelle Thompson, her collaboration partner, adding her unique voice to the mix. Coach Tony Thompson (Chicago Made) and I, Valarie Johnson, aka Val “The Voice” were thrilled to host this special session on Interludes Extra Presents Talk on Tuesdays. It was not only a showcase of four new songs, including hits like “Rare,” “Thrive,” “Bloom,” and “Be Different,” but also an exploration of JB’s musical journey that spans four continents. We delved into her writing process, discussing how divine inspiration drives her to empower women with lyrics that feature strong rhythms and memorable choruses. This episode was a true celebration of creativity and empowerment, resonating with our audience globally.
The Music of “Rare”
In our special session, we delved into the soul-stirring track “Rare,” sung by Janita Burke, which premiered during the first weekend of March, aligning beautifully with International Women’s Day. This song resonates with organizations, churches, and specialty shops that celebrate this day, focusing on women’s empowerment, growth, and their intentional efforts to spread love. We were fortunate to share about a minute of “Rare” with our audience, thanks to JB Psalm’s gracious permission. As the song echoed from the Kairos 22 Productions YouTube channel, it was a sight to behold—our collective heads swayed to the rhythm while Janita mouthed the words, her pride in her creation evident. The virtual audience was captivated by the beautiful lyrics, which speak volumes about self-identity and strength:
“I’m nobody’s imitation, a divine and planned creation, yes, that’s me (yes, that’s me) Not on earth to be liked, make mistakes, and learn from hindsight. My superpower is humility. And know that it is not ok to treat this rare queen anyway I have a mind, a voice I won’t be silenced, let me state
Chorus x2
I am Rare
I am Rare
I am Rare
Uncommon and unique.”
The melody, message, and God-breathed words delivered a powerful and moving experience, highlighting the uniqueness of every woman.
International Sounds “Blooming” all Together
Janita, also known as JB Psalm, is no stranger to Talk On Tuesdays, and her return to our show brought the added delight of introducing Tiffany Michelle Thompson to our audience. The moment one of my writing mentors commented, “Two of my favorite people,” it was clear that our audience was eagerly anticipating and wholeheartedly engaged in what was originally planned as a 30-minute conversation.
As the session progressed, we featured snippets from two more singles, “Be Different” and “Bloom,” revealing that the collection of four songs we highlighted was recorded across the globe—from Nigeria to the UK and from Ghana back to the US. Janita shared the intriguing backstory of “Be Different,” which she penned for author Leah JM Dean. This song, another “song of empowerment,” perfectly encapsulates the theme of uniqueness, mirroring Janita’s divine inspiration to embrace her distinct path in her spiritual journey. The synergy between her music and Leah’s literary voice is a testament to Janita’s exceptional talent in crafting music that resonates deeply with empowerment themes.
The virtual chat room was abuzz, particularly with the author, Leah herself, present, cheering on the music and the powerful, God-inspired messages behind each song. Major kudos to Janita for her brilliant ability to intertwine spiritual and empowering elements into her music, continuously touching hearts and inspiring minds across the world.
God-Breathed Music with the Written Word
Coach Tony kept our guest, Tiffany Michelle Thompson, actively engaged by inquiring about her musical talents and exploring how she connected with Janita to collaborate on the fourth song, “Thrive.” During our session, we also previewed “Bloom,” beautifully sung by recording artist Bobbie Little, which featured a contemporary Christian rock theme. The track opened vibrantly as Little emphatically repeated the chorus, “Boom! Bloom!” I was particularly impressed by the artwork accompanying each track, showcasing the meticulous effort put into each piece.
The release timeline for these singles was well paced: “Rare” debuted on March 9th, followed by “Be Different” on March 15th, and “Bloom” was introduced on March 22nd. As the session progressed, it was finally time to preview “Thrive.” I found myself engaged in some live in-show editing as I prepared the only audio track with embedded visuals for a two-minute preview enjoyed by all of us. The response in the chat was overwhelmingly positive—I couldn’t have planned it better.
Janita informed us that “Thrive” was still in the final stages of mixing, with a full release scheduled for March 28th. Similar to “Be Different,” “Thrive” also connects with another talented author, Dr. Crystal Clay, who penned the book “Thrive in True Identity: 31 Days for Women to be empowHERed by the Word.” Dr. Clay was another enthusiastic participant in the live chat, celebrating the preview of the song. Janita highlighted Dr. Clay’s message, which emphasizes that women are born to thrive, not merely survive—a devotional book she encouraged our audience to explore.
Reflecting on this experience, I felt exhilarated to be hosting a virtual listening party alongside Coach Tony, featuring two incredible independent music artists. Interludes Extra is truly evolving into a platform where independent artists can share and celebrate their unique voices, fostering a community of empowerment and creativity.
As a producing team, Coach Tony and I are eagerly anticipating more shows and featured interviews where we can celebrate, preview, or review the creative works of incredibly talented individuals in music and film. For those who follow me on the app Clubhouse, mark your calendars for a special event: we will be hosting the release party of the fully remastered song, “Thrive,” on Friday, March 28th, 2025. Join us between 8 AM EST / 7 PM CST for an audio release party on the platform “The House of Creativity.” It will be a festive occasion as Janita and Tiffany join us to celebrate the release of “Thrive.” For an extra treat, I might stream the event to my “Interludes” Facebook Group so our fans can join in on the behind-the-scenes fun!
To experience our full interview and the preview listening party with JB Psalm and Tiffany Michelle Thompson, be sure to check it out here.
Also, don’t miss out on streaming or downloading the singles “Bloom,” “Rare,” and “Be Different” from Kairos 22 Productions. Follow #IamJBPsalm to stay updated on all her inspiring works.
For more information on how to get started with producing and developing your own podcast, book time with Valarie Johnson for a free 15-minute consultation today!