By Claudine Housen, Staff Reporter
American artiste Brandy.
WESTERN BUREAU:
AFTER A two-year hiatus from the music industry, pop singer Brandy is gearing up to launch her new CD.
Well, guess where she choose to do this launch? Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Brandy and an entourage of about eight arrived at about 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Sangster International Airport, on an Air Jamaica flight from Los Angeles.
The Gleaner caught up with Brandy, who is staying at the Half Moon Village, a few hours after her arrival
Question: How are you enjoying Jamaica so far?
Answer: I work everyday, all day, so I want to stay an extra day to spend more time with the baby and my man.
What is the name of your 'new man'?
His name is Q. He is a really good guy and he came out; my cousin came out and my daughter is here. We just want to stay an extra day on Saturday to see the island and maybe jet ski or see the dolphins. I am working every single day all day so I am not going to be able really enjoy it (Jamaica) like I want to.
Is this your first time to Jamaica?
It is my second time. I came when I was a lot younger but I wasn't able to really appreciate everything that I saw.
What is your reason for coming to Jamaica, you could have chosen anywhere in the world?
I think Jamaica is really relaxed and you get to a chance to see the balance of life. I remember seeing a movie, I think it is called Belly, there was a scene where all the little kids were running out to the car and I thought it was such a touching moment. This place really feels like home.
Your new CD is produced by Timbaland. What is that like?
Timbaland and I are like Mercedes Benz, we go together. He has always been one of my favourite producers. When he first came on the scene I was like, oh my God, I wish I could get a chance to work with him and I guess the tables turned why I got a chance to really work with him. He has this edge, but with this melodic feel that we both created together. It is almost like when I heard the music, I knew that that was where I wanted to go. I knew that was my next move that it was my next step in my music creativity to go in that direction, and it wasn't planned, it just happened.
What is the direction that you speak of?
With me, I just feel like I have explored different aspects of who I am and I wanted my music to reflect that. I feel like a more passionate woman. I am exploring my sensuality, how I feel about love and just being able to be raw and to be open about how I feel without any sugar coating and that was an important thing for me because everything has been so set up for me. I wanted something that was not planned to happen. I think magic happened because nothing was planned nothing was expected everything was unimagined.
Is being a mother a part of your musical exploration? Do you think being a mother has limited your listenership?
Not at all, I don't think that me having a daughter will keep people from listening to my music. I think ultimately if you have great music and people can feel your passion, people can feel your pain and relate everything you are going through. I don't understand why they wouldn't want to listen a record that could possibly help them through an experience or cause them to relate to whatever you are saying or whatever you are feeling. Also, just being a mom, I have experienced unconditional love. I love her (daughter Sy'rai Iman Smith) because she is my daughter and because of what she has brought into my life. She loves me because I am her mom, not because I have hit records or because I have fans or I have been on television. I am just mommy and that love cannot be questioned or doubted or denied.
What do you know about reggae, do you listen to reggae?
I do listen to reggae. I like Sean Paul a whole lot. I used to listen to Shabba Ranks and Wayne Wonder. I love that song No Letting Go. Also, there was this really beautiful black sister with long braids, Patra, I used to like her a lot, too. I have a choreographer that I work with that has a Jamaican vibe. A lot of people get their dance experience from Jamaican people because you guys really know how to move, like there is something you are saying, really sensual.
Do you see yourself
coming back to Jamaica to
perform?
Oh definitely. I see Jamaica as definitely one of the places I am going to come back to do a big concert because this is where I started. This is my album launch, this is where I would have first talked about one of the most special records of my career. So I definitely want to come back and show love.
What's on the record and why is it not yet named?
It is difficult for me to choose a name because I can't find a song that best describes the feeling and the movement of the album so I think I am going to call it untitled, so people can up with their own title for the album, come up with their own vibe and have their own feel for it.
What types of songs are on the CD?
The songs are relationship-driven, everything about the album is about being in a relationship either being in love on the highest level or being in love and not knowing what to do about it because you are just kind of stuck, you don't know what to do. I have a song out there that talks about the industry, how the industry has changed and how its so much different from when I was 15 when I first entered into the business. The hook is 'should I go, should I stay?' I am in control either way, because everything is so different. I don't know if this the avenue I want to take to express my music, but at the end of the song I say, 'well I made up my mind. I am going to stay and do my thing I am back on the grind.' So that is a special song."
Also, a song called Cold Play is a very special song produced by Timbaland. It is about a relationship where the individual is not being faithful and so I am noticing different aspects of the relationship and how things are changing and I bring that to the forefront. Also, Talk About Our Love, which is produced by Kanye West, it is about being in a relationship being so deeply in love that everybody wants to be in your business. Everybody wants to be opinionated about what you do and why you do it and I think everybody in a relationship experiences that kind of stuff, people talking about your business so that is what that song is about.
Outside of your album, do you have a favourite song or group of songs you listen to for inspiration?
I am really fond of an artiste called Enya. Whenever I feel down or I feel like I just want to relax, I take out Enya and her music takes me to an entirely different world. Also Sade, I love Sade. I should have brought a Sade CD here (Jamaica) this is the perfect place to listen to Sade."
Would you say your new CD is different from your others, are you charting a new path?
I have changed, I have evolved. Every relationship that you're in is not the same. You are going to go through different things, you are going to experience different with this album. The difference is that you hear it in my voice, you hear the struggle, you hear the pain, you hear the frustration, you hear the happiness, you hear the joy. I am coming from the most honest place within my being and that's the difference.
