Ashanti’s fifth studio album, Braveheart, was released last week, and debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200 chart with 28,000 units sold in its first week. Released independently via her Written Entertainment imprint, the project was a labor of love for Ashanti. Braveheart had been brewing for over two years before fans were able to hear the full body of work. For Ashanti, she says the project’s delays were due to several reasons including making great songs, and being strategy with its release. Singersroom chopped it up with the former Murder Inc songstress about the new project.
Some excerpts from the interview:
Biggest Hurdle Faced With Braveheart: The biggest hurdle, as far as putting the project out, would be me deciding on records. Just understanding the pressure and having to live up to expectations, you wanna deliver something amazing, but I don't have the same tools as I did before. So, it's about making great records, making great decisions, and being CEO and handling business behind the scenes. Taking up all that responsibility has absolutely been a hurdle.
Dealing With Pressure: This whole Braveheart era and movement that I'm about now, it's teaching me how to deal with pressure; it's forcing me. There were times where I put it on someone else…I think it has a lot to do with growing and being a businesswoman. But if I do get frustrated or mad, I may kick a wall in [laughs].
The Creative Process Behind Braveheart: Once I came up with the title Braveheart, it was very simple to put it together, because at that moment, I was going through so much in my life, so I was just writing; I was writing real experiences, I was writing stuff from my heart, so I was able to tell a complete story.
Inspiration Behind Braveheart: I think I'm inspired by music as a whole; I think I'm inspired by artists that are continuously putting out music and working hard, and trying to bring something different.
What Fans Should Take Away: I gave so much of me and not just on the creative, but funding the project, strategically putting the project out on my record label and doing it alone, and still giving a thousand percent. Just take it into consideration and listen to it.
Founder and Creator of Singersroom.com and IncredibleWork.com. Follow me on Instagram at @gary.gentles.
