![[EXCLUSIVE] Vivian Green Talks New Album, Long-Standing Career, Motherhood & Adversity, The Neo- Soul Label, More](https://singersroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/viviangreeninterviewsingersroom.jpg)
Vivian Green is back, and she is hotter than ever! The R&B veteran is releasing her fifth studio album, Vivid, on August 7th, 2015, and she is ready to share her new sound and flavor with the world. On Green's new album, fans will be dancing and singing with her up-tempo records. Green's lead single, "Get Right Back to My Baby," is already in the Top 20 on Mediabase's Urban Adult Contemporary chart and BDS' Urban Adult Contemporary chart. It was also Urban AC Radio's most added record. Produced by hit-maker Kwame (LL Cool J, Mary J. Blige, Keyshia Cole, Christina Aguilera, and more), the record samples Frankie Beverly's classic hit, "Before I Let Go."
For the past 13 years, Green's wholesome voice helped changed the face of R&B and soul music. She introduced her voice to the world when she released the Billboard Top 20 hit, "Emotional Rollercoaster," and fans fell in love with her. Along with establishing a music career, Green is a devoted mother to her son, Jordan and says "being Jordan's mother is my life, and I wouldn't have it any other way."
Vivian Green took time out of her busy schedule to speak with Singersroom about her new album, "Get Right Back to My Baby" single, producer Kwame, her son, and more.
Check out our exclusive interview!
New Album, Vivid: Well, the title aligns with my name because it has the same roots of my name, Vivian. Vivid already means full of life, full of energy, real, and it's just appropriate for the music on this album. The single on the album, "Get Right Back to my Baby," has an upbeat energy. There are some ballads on there of course, but, this album is more up-tempo. It's more than what I did in the past, but it's soulful and R&B. Vivid is very fitting for the album, and it's just a whole new sound. Artists say this album is so different, but this is really different from the other four albums.
Keeping the Short Haircut: I had my haircut after my first album, but I cut it together because I think my fans like it this way. When I've done it other ways, it didn't receive the same as if it was super duper short.
Favorite Songs on the New Album: A song called "I'm Blessed," "All I Want is You," a funny song called, "1,2,3" and "Broken." "Broken" has an empowering theme for getting through situations that didn't work out. We have been getting great responses for "Broken," and it was actually the single contender for "Get Right Back to My Baby," but we'll see if it ends up being the second single.
"Get Right Back to My Baby" single and Sampling Maze ft Frankie Beverly's song, "Before I Let Go,": Well, Kwame produced the track so I can't talk about it as if I made it, but I can tell you what I do know about the record. Kwame produced my whole album, and he wanted the breakout single to be something that was familiar. Even if the person is not familiar with me, Vivian Green, they will be familiar with the song. It's a classic song that people love, and we were supported by Frankie Beverly, which was great because we went through the proper channels for sampling. Frankie Beverly really loved the song so once we got his approval, it was okay to release the song. But, Kwame wanted to work on a song that people would recognize even if they knew me or not. Either way, when they hear the song, they will say, "Ooh, I remember her, I love Vivian Green or who is this girl." Or they will say, "I will go buy her music because I didn't do it before. "
Working with Producer Kwame: We have a mutual friend, and our friend thought we should work together and thought it would be cool. I forget who reached out first but through our mutual friend, that's how it happened. He sent me some music, and we started working, but it's funny. It wasn't a great beginning; it was like, this is different for me, and I don't know. I was telling him this is what my fans want to hear, and Kwame was like, "you need some new energy, and you need something that is going to wake your fans [up]. A lot of people know about your records, but you need something strong and different." We finally got into a smooth mood, but originally we started out fussing and fighting. But, before we knew it, the album was done, and I love it. Kwame challenged me as a songwriter on this album as well.
Growth as an Artist & Woman Thirteen Years Later: I have grown as a singer because I am a better singer. The older you get, your voice gets better. Sometimes, we get older, and our voice starts to decline but hopefully, my voice doesn't do that. My first record album, A Love Story, I recorded it when I was 21-years-old, and my voice wasn't at its full capacity. I am a more confident singer than when I first started. I am also a better woman; I wasn't even a woman when I got my first record deal. I thought I was a woman; I thought I was grown, but I really wasn't. I was just getting into my adulthood, and I think a lot of people didn't really know because of the subject matter on the first album. People thought it was coming from an older perspective, but it wasn't at all. It was about a young lady overcoming her first heartbreak from her first love, so that was the idea behind my first album. But, I am nowhere the same person; it's a struggle for me because I know that the label I was on really pushed it, and it received a lot of attention. But, sometimes I feel like people don't allow you to grow from that or move past my first single, "Emotional Roller-coaster." There is no way I can be 21 or 22 years old again for my life, but those are the ages where I made the first album. I am going to keep pushing and being myself as a woman. I am not the sad girl that can only write sad songs every day of her life; I don't want that to be me at all. So, hopefully this album will do it.
Labeled as a "Neo-Soul Artist": I think it always bothered me because I never thought I was neo-soul. I felt like I was put into a box that I never thought I was. When you listen to my album, there's a more soul/pop sound to it. There are other artists who have done similar things, like Melanie Fiona. It's not quite neo-soul, but it's still soulful. I think it's a struggle that I've had my whole career. I don't necessarily like it and I don't think any artist does; we're creative. My first album was published in 2002, but I've been writing songs in the studio since I was 15 years old. It's hard to live up to the expectations that people only know you by from your first album or single. The music business can be difficult, and sometimes it has nothing to do with music, but somehow you have to put it together to make money.
Signed to an Independent Label: I really came from a big machine at Sony and my first two albums both did well. But, I wanted a different environment, and I wanted something that was more boutique because that machine system caused a lot of pressure. You were pressured to please people that were in charge or in power. I didn't want to feel pressured to do certain things because the person was putting up money to complete the project. I didn't want to feel that way anymore, so initially in 2010, when I was signed to E1, I was introduced to a different environment. I am now signed with Kwame's label, Make Noise Recordings. Oh yeah, the business is crazy but I am happy that I am able to put out music all of this time even though some people didn't know about my last two records. I am still making music and here is my fifth album; I'm still going, and I never had to do anything else. I can still perform on the road and write most of my songs. I am grateful that I am still singing, and I am not complaining. I am grateful for my walk and journey, which is my own. I try not to be competitive because I am not a competitive person. I do what I do and try not to compare myself to other people. In this business, when you do that, you drive yourself crazy. I am just happy that I've been making music for almost 13 years, and it's just a blessing.
Work & Motherhood: My mom [helps], and she is really just a mom and a grandmother who's like, "whatever you need, I'm there. If you need to drop Jordan (my son), just drop him off." She's like, "just give me my baby." She has been everything for the past 11 years, and she has been amazing. I don't know if I could've done all of this without her. I thank God I have her, and she has been my co-parent all of this time.
The five-year hiatus from the 'Vivian' and 'Beautiful' album; it was all for my son. He was born with an undiagnosed syndrome. It was a lot going on at that time; multiple surgeries and other issues with his health. But, he is stable; he is fine now. We don't go to the hospital hardly as much as we used to now. In those days, we would be at the hospital seven days a week and see seven different specialists. There were surgeries that doctors wanted to do that I was against. I am so happy because it's all behind us now. He is a highly functional child, and he takes his time. He is really strong, smart and has a vibrant personality. Jordan is funny, and I just love him; he's the best thing ever.
Staying Grounded: Jordan has made me a better person; he taught me to have more patience. I have more patience now than I had him in my life. I am more trusting because of him. My faith, spirituality, and my morals that I believe in has given me so much strength, and I can run through a brick wall (lol). I feel like I am a super strong person because of the things that have happened in my life. I think my life is meant to be this way, and I just want to continue to grow and be a better person every day. I am grateful for my experiences and where they brought me with my son and my music.
Follow the countdown to "Vivid" at www.VivianGreen.com. Keep up with Vivian Green on Twitter and Instagram by following @iamviviangreen.
