Pinkett-Smith, Wicked Wisdom set to rock La Villa Real
November 25,2005
Kate Lohnes
The Monitor

One look at the band Wicked Wisdom will inspire a double-take if you
know Hollywood celebrities. Surely the lead singer with the frizzed-
out `do isn't Jada Pinkett-Smith, actress and wife of actor/rapper
Will Smith?

It's safe to believe your eyes, because that really is Pinkett-Smith
at the helm of the progressive rock/metal band. In a recent phone
interview, the actress said she has always wanted to put together
band in the vein of Led Zepplin and Metallica. In this respect, her
image has been a mixed blessing.

"It works for me and it works against me," she said. "People see an
image of folks and click into that image. They believe that's all
the person is. It's tricky to get people out of the Jada they know
and introduce them to a new Jada, but it shows you can let all
facets of yourself live and breathe."

Pinkett-Smith's candid nature makes her an enigmatic front for the
band, said Wicked Wisdom drummer Phillip Fisher.

"I think she has an extremely strong personality, and behind the
scenes she's normally like that," he said. "She's very honest. She's
definitely a leader and a great friend, as well."

While Wicked Wisdom has been a band for more than three years, the
current line up is fairly new. Pinkett-Smith said the band has been
through several transitions, and the only original member left is
Pocket Honore, the band's lead guitarist.

"Pocket and I wanted to go in the same direction," she said. "We had
the same sensibilities musically, so we've been kind of grooving
into what it is right now."

Pinning down what Wicked Wisdom sounds like isn't easy. Fisher
called the band unique, and which he attributed to Pinkett-Smith's
vision.

"We definitely want to be heavy, melodic, intense, dynamic and
determined," he said.

Pinkett-Smith dubs what Wicked Wisdom brings to the table
as "progressive/aggressive rock," emphasizing intensity and lyricism.

"We like to bring really heavy sound with a melodic feel and groove
on it," she said. "I like melody, and growing up listening to Ozzy
(Osbourne), those were songs. Ozzy has some of the best hooks in the
history of music. We definitely bring that element, as well."

Osbourne has been more than a musical influence for Wicked Wisdom —
this past summer the band played a stage at the singer's annual
Ozzfest alongside performers like Rob Zombie and Black Sabbath. The
band has also opened for Static X, Otep and Papa Roach.

While playing with headliner bands has been a good experience,
Pinkett-Smith said taking the band mainstream is secondary to having
fun.

"We're working toward people loving the music," she said. "I love
what I do and I love reaching out and touching people. If it comes,
it comes, but this is just about me enjoying it and having a good
time."