Kelly Rowland Takes Control
The former Destiny's Child member on her upcoming album, nude beaches and being a nerd.
By Alex Catarinella
If anyone is allowed to be a diva it's Kelly Rowland, one third of what many consider the most successful all-female groups of all time, Destiny's Child. But Rowland, now a solo artist with an eponymous, dance-heavy forthcoming album
boasting production by David Guetta and Dr. Luke, is an unassuming,
poised woman who isn't fazed by the "bullshit that comes with the
territory." The video for first single "Commander," which features Rowland rocking superhero-esque looks as she belts out soaring vocals, is further proof that she's no
longer the cute teenage girl sharing a chorus. But this isn't the new-and-improved Kelly Rowland. Over the phone in Paris, the 29-year-old told PAPERMAG that this is simply Kelly Rowland being Kelly Rowland
-- a self-professed Intervention-watching nerd with dreams of frolicking on the beach naked, and who considers moments
on the tour bus with "the girls" to be more special than winning a
Grammy. Now that's our kind of superstar.
A
lot of artists are moving toward a futuristic, dance-heavy sound. Why
were you influenced to go this direction?
I spent about a year of my life in Europe really listening to a whole bunch of Europeans DJs
and hearing dance music a lot on the radio and really loving
it. But I didn't really think that I would do a dance record until l
went out in the South of France and David Guetta was spinning at a club. Listening to him was just
crazy. I heard the track "When Love Takes Over" and I asked if I could take it to London to
write lyrics to it. And so we wrote "When Love Takes Over" and it was my first
introduction to dance music. Then I went to Europe to promote the
record with David and it was a whole other monster. It's really a
culture and I love it.
You also worked with hit-making-machine Dr. Luke.
I love him. He's such a scientist.
Tell
me about "Commander," your first single. The video is very superhero. You seem like you're free and taking control. Is this true?
That's
exactly what I'm doing -- that's the space that I am in. I feel like
I'm the commander! (laughs) I really wanted to try something new as an artist. "When
Love Takes Over" worked and I loved the way I felt, I loved the way my voice sounded. In this
generation and this day and time, no one is putting soul in dance
music... no pop artist. I thought maybe that was something I could try.
And then it works? What are the chances to that?
The album is self-titled. Are you introducing Kelly Rowland the real solo artist and person to the world?
The album is self-titled. Are you introducing Kelly Rowland the real solo artist and person to the world?
It's more so introducing myself as Kelly Rowland being Kelly Rowland and just being myself. I'm the most confident I've been on a record ever. And it's by myself. I love it.
What inspired your look for this album?
It's
different being over here in Europe and just being able to look at
different magazines and fashion shows and things like that. And just
thinking about the look and working with different stylists as well. I
wanted to make sure it was a look that was all me, you know?
Are you checking out any shows while in Paris?
I
went to Jean Paul Gaultier. It was so fly. He had fabric that was in 3D
that was amazing. He completely blows your mind every time.
You're
really hitting notes on this one. Was it a vocal challenge for you to
sing dance music versus working with a more r&b sound? Are we not going to hear
any soulful runs anymore?
You
will hear some R&B-ish music that is inspired by dance. But more so
than anything, hitting the notes wasn't hard. It
was always there, but I never used it. Why not? I guess I
just didn't feel confident enough to use it. And when I did "When Love
Takes Over" and "Commander" I was like, "Oh, this does work!"
Who are you listening to right now? Who's really killing it for you?
You know what I absolutely love right now? Old disco music. (laughs) I'm so
serious! From like Diana Ross to Deniece Williams, Donna Summers,
Dionne Warwick. Then I went to a club in Germany the other day and they
played the freshest music. Like early '90s. It was so cool.
You've been famous for the majority of your life. What's the best and worst part of fame for you?
The
best part is the creative part -- being able to make the music. The
worst part? Probably the bullshit that comes with the territory.
There are some fake people. What else? I'd say people wanting to know all
of your business. But you understand it -- that's like the interesting
part of it. I remember wanting to know every specific of Whitney and
Mariah's life. I wanted to be there when they woke up in the morning.
When the first time someone asked for my autograph I was like, "What? I
have crazy-looking hair right now. You really want my autograph?"
You
can't get caught up in fame. Fame comes and fame goes. People change.
They change and you know, you can be up one day and down the next. I
think about fame as just being a part of it. I think about my home as
where I can just be me, my family as where I can just be me, my friends are where I can just be me.
Destiny's Child were such a phenomenon. What do you consider the most memorable and meaningful moments with Destiny's Child?
The
most memorable moment with the girls... Those are always moments that
no one can see. Where we're talking on the bus, pouring out our souls
as friends do -- moments like that. Those were always great moments,
little moments that no one ever saw. Where we'd be in the elevator
where one of us will just start singing "Lets go out to the movies!" (Kelly proceeds to sing to me in three parts!). Like things like that. I love that. That's always fun.
What's your all-time favorite Destiny's Child song and why? It doesn't have to be a hit single either...
Ok
good! It's this song that we did called "Love" from Destiny Fulfilled.
I love that song because the harmonies were really pretty. I remember
that was the first time I vocally sang a chorus and I was like, "Do you
guys like it?" to the girls. We were all in there writing the song
together. It was so beautiful.
Now for some fun questions... Do you have a favorite reality show?
Right
now my favorite reality show is Intervention. I mean, I swear I just
wanna slit my wrists by the time I'm done watching it, but I find it so
intriguing how these people go on the road to recovery. I also wanted
to be a therapist, so I find behaviors and relationships with
family very interesting. (Laughs) I'm such a nerd!
What about the Nicki Minaj and Lil' Kim so-called beef over Minaj copying Lil' Kim's style and not giving her credit? Any thoughts?
Oh
my God, you know what... to
be completely honest with you, I think there's just a space for everybody. I've seen Nicki say in many interviews
how Kim has paved the way. But I know when Nicki raps, it's all about
Nicki. And I can't be mad at her about that. And same with Lil' Kim.
And is Christina Aguilera copying Lady Gaga?
I
haven't really seen Christina. The only thing that I've seen so far is
the Bionic album cover to be honest. She looks really pretty. It doesn't look like Gaga to me. But I do love Christina's song
"Woohoo" with Nicki.
What's one thing about you that would surprise people?
My biggest dream
that I haven't built up the courage to do, is to go to the beach
naked. But when there's no people. I wanna go diving late, late, late
at night totally naked! I'm a bit of a nudist. (laughs) I like to
walk around the house nude, chilling. That's the time where you can
just be you.
And it seems like you're just being you on this record!
I'm just being me on the record. Me and all my nudity.
So why aren't you nude on the album cover?
Honey! No, no, no, no, no, no, no! Although I do have a picture of myself in the house like that. (laughs)
Kelly Rowland comes out September 14th.
Kelly Rowland comes out September 14th.
Your Comment
Posted at 4:46 on Jul 07, 2010
Welcome Back KR. I've been rooting for you since day one of your solo career. I am so glad you found a new path!! Cant wait for the album!
Posted at 4:59 on Jul 07, 2010
Kelly's body is so in Shape, I wonder why nobody has picked her up too model there swim suits!
Kelly is sounding more free I Love It!
Posted at 1:33 on Jul 08, 2010
I love Kelly's interviews, even when she was with Destiny Child; I always knew she was the articulate one of the bunch. I'm not trying to put the other two girls down, but even some of my men friends said the same thing...it is what it is...Congrats to Kelly. I always said she should play Diana Ross in a movie,or Donna Summers because she looks a lot like them both.
Posted at 12:37 on Jul 09, 2010
Oh man, I love her so much, can't wait for the album
Posted at 1:37 on Jul 09, 2010
"so why aren't you nude on the album cover?" haha haha Love the qusetion and the response! Classic.
Posted at 1:34 on Jul 10, 2010
Wouldn't you die if Kelly did an album cover similar to the JANET album?! HOT
Posted at 9:52 on Oct 24, 2010
I simply love Kelly. She's the new donna summer. Such an amazing singer and her body is one ofthe best of the music industry. Check out her latest videos. Her abs, thighs and arms are so toned. Wonder why she isn't in the cover of health magazine. Maxim people must be blind to not have noticed.