In the first segment of our two part intimate sit down with Grammy nominated songstress Keyshia Cole, she opens up about writing her new album Woman to Woman for her fans, not receiving advice from Mary J. Blige, the current state of R&B and more. As previously reported by Singersroom, Cole is working on her fifth studio album, which is led by the first single “Enough Of No Love” featuring rapper Lil Wayne.
Watch our exclusive video interview above and/or read some excerpts below:
On Writing Woman to Woman … Writing this new album, I brought a couple of songwriters on and I decided to collaborate with a few because the girls wanted to hear some more, not angry, but I’m done with the foolishness types of songs. I figured if I bring somebody on that are experienced in some of those things, I can always go back to a place where I’ve been hurt before; bring my ideas to the table…
On Catering to Fans … I feel like the songs are for the fans anyway, If what makes them happy is to have music that helps them get over relationships of people that are doing no good, then I’m totally for it.
On Remaining Positive … When I write from a standpoint of being hurt, I think in my everyday life…I would say to never do anybody the way you’ve been done. I never wish hurt and pain on anybody that has caused hurt and pain on myself…Of course sometimes I’m human and I’m emotional and I may be upset at something someone has done to me and I might not speak to them…but I’ve never done anybody the way that they have done me.
On Changing The Past … If I look back, I would change the last album because I would want my fans to be happy and the last album didn’t make them happy. I would totally wanna go back and re-record that album and do something that helps them in their everyday lives.
On Writing From a Different Place … For one, I was pregnant when I wrote some of that album. It was more about myself and how I felt about my husband…I wrote some songs about my family on that album; it was more personal.
On The Current State of R&B … I think that we’re doing a good job. Brandy, I love her new song, I love Melanie Fiona’s voice, Miguel is doing a great job, Trey Songz is doing great, Chris Brown is more Pop than R&B, but he’s doing equally as great.
On Being Compared to Mary J Blige and others compared to her … I’m very happy to have been compared to such a wonderful woman, a strong woman. The only thing that I would’ve changed, that I am now here to do for those that come after me, is to lend a helping hand. I feel that even if it’s not me saying I’m gonna record with you, I’m gonna work with you or let’s go hang out or anything like that; we don’t have to be friends, but at the end of the day, being able to give advice or help somebody that is coming under you is an amazing gift to be able to have. I wish I would have had that from Mary, but I’m not Mary, I’m a different person and if K. Michelle ever call me or anybody for that matter, for advice, I would absolutely give it to them.
Stay tuned for part two where Keyshia will touch on family.
Watch this Interview on Youtube HERE.
Founder and Creator of Singersroom.com and IncredibleWork.com. Follow me on Instagram at @gary.gentles.
