In 2009, there was a new style of gospel music to hit the streets. Not only was it fresh and new, but it was also “Saved & Fly”!


Indie artist, writer, consultant and DMV native, Jocelyn Saunders, is a graduate of Suitland High School and Bowie State University. In the 90s, she honed her talents as a singer and formed an R&B girl group, called 4Bidn, which was signed to Elektra Records. Around 2006, Jocelyn decided to dedicate her life to Christ. After that, her life would soar to new heights!

Not only does this woman have musical talents, but she has a keen eye for fashion also! In the mid-2000s, she established a fashion brand entitled Jesus Groupie. The brand brought everyday, urban fashion with a message and purpose. One of the standout mottos became “Saved & Fly”, which seemed to define Jocelyn, and her endeavors, perfectly.


Going by the stage name, Jocelyn AKA iNDIGO, she released her debut solo album, The iNDI1st Project…Breakthrough, initially as an indie project. Overall, the album provided a young and fun platform to bridge the gap between traditional gospel, R&B, and hip-hop, which was influenced, in great part, by iNDIGO’s smooth groove vocals.

The album was so well received that not only was it picked up by Universal Records for mass distribution, but it received constant radio airplay on top gospel stations in the nation, including DC’s own Praise 104.1, for singles such as “Search My Heart” and, the anthem, “Saved & Fly”. This spawned other opportunities, such as numerous interviews, including The Yolanda Adams Morning Show, and performances, including the One Love Gospel Cruise (sponsored by Radio One). You can check out the video for “Search My Heart” on this link: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=i6qXN55CZEE


Let’s check out how “iNDIGO Inspires” others lately, and learn a little more about this gifted artist:

Q: What part of the DMV are you reppin’?
A: Although I was born in Charlottesville, VA, I’m reppin’ the “M” in DMV. I currently reside in Capitol Heights, Maryland but have lived in Bowie, Lanham, & Upper Marlboro.

Q: What influenced you to engage in your talents/gifts?
A: I’ve always has an artistic spirit, even before I was actively engaged in music as a profession. I believe in some way, shape, or form, engaging my gift(s) was simply my path and was going to happen whether I wanted it to or not. God’s plan is unavoidable.

Q: How has your community influenced you, and vice versa?
A: I hate to say this, but I don’t feel my community has influenced me much on the music side. The DMV is saturated in Go-Go music, which I’ve always hated {don’t judge me}. Sure, I would beg to attend go-go’s as a teenager, but it’s only b/c it’s what everyone was doing. lol. I never connected to the music of my community. In general…outside of music, my community influenced me to look upon Black culture in adoration; the strength of my people amazes me. There was a lot of crime in my neighborhood growing up, but most of us were not in that statistic. Although there was crime and poverty, the majority of people were kind, family-oriented, hard-working folks who were proactive about a better life for themselves and their children, despite the odds. There was a sense of community in that neighborhood…of people who looked out for one another and cared about their neighbor. Out of all the upgraded areas I’ve lived in since I left that community, I’ve never felt that level of camaraderie anywhere else. So much so, that just last year, my husband and I moved less than 5-mins from that community. We purchased our new home, in the old hood. Sure, it has changed a lot since I was young, but I wanted to invest in the area that helped to make me into the person I am today.

Q: If there’s anything that you would want your peers & supporters to know about you (assuming that they don’t already), what would it be?
A: I’d want my supporters and peers to know that I blog with ‘The Bold & The Fabulous’ on Wednesdays. The link to that is www.boldandfab.wordpress.com. I also offer vocal coaching services. They can check out my website for more info www.indigoinspires.com or email me at indigoinspires@gmail.com.

Q: What’s next?!
A: I am working on my sophomore album, which I am planning to release independently before the end of this year.


There are no limits to where iNDIGO’s gifts will take her. So far, they’ve taken her international, not only via her Bold and Fab blog, but also through song, which landed her in places such as Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. As this renaissance woman is not one to boxed in, or categorized, look out for projects and performances that explore other genres outside of gospel also. After all, it’s not about witnessing to those that are already “Saved & Fly”, but more so about meeting and inspiring others where they are!

– EMW