By Ava Simone Collier

“The ‘z’ on the end of my name is for Zen because I’m a Zen master at what I’m doing. It’s powerful and I have a strong faith in God, a strong spiritual sense of being. I combine the two philosophies and they work for me in my life.” Saint Jaimz is talking about the unusual spelling of his name. “I don’t have to do gospel music to lead people into the light of where they need to be in their lives. That’s why I’m called Saint Jaimz because I’m called to lead people back to the realness about music and things that will change their lives and bring healing through my music,” Saint Jaimz continues.

This handsome and talented independent artist doesn’t sing gospel. Instead he is a balladeer, almost a lost genre in today’s world of hip hop, rap and music with lyrics that talk about anything but love. But don’t misunderstand. Saint Jaimz says he does not sing love songs. “I just loved Luther Vandross, Peabo Bryson and Jeffrey Osborne. When you get down to the soul crooners like these cats are, they’re the unsung heroes of the R&B world and were phenomenal. People still need that stuff. I sing Life songs, not love songs.” He says it doesn’t mean singing about the fantasy of love, but the reality of love. “The fantasy is that ‘I’m gonna cook your food and run your bath water every night.’ No dude is gonna do that every night after work, let’s be honest. But he can love you and be honest with you. He can be real instead of lying and cheating on you. There’s so much pain and betrayal and lack of loyalty out there.”

Saint Jaimz says he’s serious about this message and the key to love is loving yourself. “I think the global society has lost the real essence of what love is all about. It’s not sex, money or how you look. It’s you loving yourself to the point that people have to respect and admire you when you love yourself. People will know that they can’t get over on you when you love yourself. When we don’t love ourselves enough, how can we love other people?” He adds, “Weather someone stays in your life or leaves, you’re okay.”

Saint Jaimz’s newest project is entitled Luv is a Pzy-cho. The first release, No Body But U, can be heard by visiting his website at SJmuzic.com. You can also purchase this single from his website. “I’m an anointed R&B singer…anointed by God to do this. I’m not just some singer singing empty lyrics and melodies. I just want the music to open the door and speak and touch those people who need it.”