'Side Effects Of You' is not just another album for Fantasia, it's a record that sees her coming full circle with all her trials and tribulations, all while cleansing her soul of the "drama." With creative support from musician Harmony Samuels, singer-songwriter Emeli Sande, and more, the American Idol winner was able to contrive a personal narration of her life, but in a way that uplifts and enlightens her "fam." Check out the video; below are some excerpts from the clip.
Completing Her New album: It means a lot…It means I don't have to sit and tell anybody what I need them to know, they can get it in 'Side Effects Of You.' I'm talking about everybody…Ever since I won Idol it began to be rough. It just started getting really public [in] 2010. Whether it was true or false, there was stuff everywhere. 'Side Effects Of You' is a relationship, side effects of the family, the industry, all the things that I've dealt with I was able to put it in this album.
Approaching Side Effects Of You Creatively: I kept saying I didn't want to go back in the studio until I was able to do what I wanted to do. I stood strong on that because, being in the game for so long…It just got to a point where I didn't wanna do what everybody else are doing…I knew that I wanted to stand strong on what I loved and believed in musically. I'm a music baby, I was born into music, my mother, my father, the whole family, first cousins K-Ci and JoJo; everybody sings…I want to show my people who've been following and supporting me for this long what music is to me…I always wanted an album like Michael did with Quincy Jones…Justin Timberlake when he gets with Tim[baland], you could just tell that they're on one accord…It was a struggle, a fight; finally they were like ok, 'let her loose and let's see what she comes up with.' I got with Harmony Samuels, he's another young man that's amazing musically, he plays every instrument, he is my baby Quincy Jones. I was able to get the album I always wanted, and that is "Rock, Soul."
Her strength: I used to say fans, but they've been with me so long now, so I say fam. On the days that I just feel like I'm over it, I always end up meeting somebody…and they literally just pour it all out…It's just different situations that they use that let me know, ok, this is why I do what I do, to inspire people through my music, through my story, so that keeps me going because there's a lot of times when I'm like, 'I'm over it, deuces'.
Toni Braxton Quitting Music: I watched the Braxton show and I was listening to Toni Braxton…she was talking about how she lost the passion and the love for music, and I almost broke down and cried. You look back at all the things she's done, and her talent is amazing, and for somebody that was born into music, literally is music, to say that they don't have that passion anymore, it broke my heart, and I think that comes from all the other drama and all the other dumb stuff that comes with the industry now…For me, I don't ever want to get to that point, and I was almost at that point! I'm here to bless the people that listen to me.
Fantasia Barrino has been making waves in the music industry for over a decade, and now she’s opening up about her latest album. In an exclusive interview with us, Fantasia dives deep into her personal life – talking about almost quitting music altogether, why Toni Braxton isn’t doing any new material, and more. It’s a must-read for anyone who loves R&B.
The American Idol winner is no stranger to success – selling millions of albums since 2004 when she won America’s hearts with her powerhouse vocals on the show. But Fantasia hasn’t had it easy; between health scares, financial issues, and heartache – she’s been through it all. Now she’s back stronger than ever with a brand new album that reveals some of the struggles she faced while creating it.
In this revealing conversation, Fantasia speaks candidly about what inspired the project, how close she came to walking away from music forever and why we shouldn’t expect anything new from Toni Braxton anytime soon. So settle in as we go behind-the-scenes with Fantasia Barrino to get the real scoop!
Fantasia’s Journey In Music
Fantasia Barrino has been a fixture in the music industry for over fifteen years. From her 2004 breakthrough album, Free Yourself, to her 2016 release The Definition of…FANTASIA, she has consistently released chart-topping singles and albums that have resonated with fans all around the world. Now, Fantasia is gearing up to release her eighth studio album Sketchbook – an incredibly personal project that captures some of the most intimate moments of her life.
In a recent exclusive interview, Fantasia opened up about what this new album means to her and how it almost caused her to quit music altogether. “When I started recording my last two albums I was in such a negative space mentally,” She said. “I was so down and out…it got really bad.” Despite being at a low point during this period, Fantasia found solace in creating music and turned to songwriting as an outlet for expression. This creative process ultimately gave birth to Sketchbook – an album full of raw emotion and vulnerability.
This latest effort from Fantasia is sure to be one of her most acclaimed projects yet; however, not everyone will get the chance to experience its magic firsthand. In response to Toni Braxton announcing that she would no longer be making music anymore due to health issues earlier this year, Fantasia revealed that although she still respects Toni’s decision, it came as quite a shock hearing the news: “Toni inspired me personally when I first heard Love Shoulda Brought You Home” She sadly reminisced. Even though they won’t be collaborating on any more records together anytime soon, Fantasia made sure it was known that Toni will always remain close to heart – both professionally and personally.
Conversation With Toni Braxton
The conversation with Toni Braxton was a special one for Fantasia. She talked about the impact that Toni’s music has had on her own career, and how it felt to be told by someone like Toni that she inspired them too. “It was such an amazing moment” said Fantasia, “to hear from someone I admired so much over the years tell me that my music made an impression on them as well. It really meant a lot.”
Fantasia also discussed what it was like working with Toni in the studio – something she hopes to do again someday soon. “Toni is just so passionate about her craft,” Fantasia stated. “Being able to witness that firsthand was inspiring beyond words…I learned so much from her just being around her and watching how she worked.”
Despite not having any current plans of collaborating together again anytime soon, Fantasia says she will never forget the moments they shared in the studio or their conversations outside of it: “We connected on a deeper level than just music, which made our time together even more special.” “It was an unforgettable experience that I will cherish forever.”
Conclusion
I think Fantasia’s journey in music has been inspiring. Despite all the hardships she faced, she kept going and eventually achieved her dream of making an album that was true to herself. Her conversation with Toni Braxton also showed how much both singers care about their craft and are trying to make sure they stay true to themselves as artists. By talking openly about what it takes to be successful in the industry, they have created a platform for others who may be struggling or facing similar obstacles. It’s clear that Fantasia is passionate about her music and wants to continue creating art for many years to come. I’m excited to see what other projects she’ll work on in the future!
Founder and Creator of Singersroom.com and IncredibleWork.com. Follow me on Instagram at @gary.gentles.
