Grammy Award-winning R&B singer Kelly Rowland (born Kelendria Trene Rowland) rose to fame as one of the founding members of the successful R&B girl group Destiny's Child, the world's best-selling female group of all time, selling over 50 million records worldwide.
After a series of commercially successful releases with the group and a worldwide number-one success with rapper Nelly and their Grammy-winning single "Dilemma," Rowland released her debut solo album Simply Deep in 2002. The album became a commercial success, eventually selling more than 2.5 million copies worldwide.
Now Kelly Rowland is back with ‘Ms. Kelly,’ originally entitled My Story, which was actually scheduled for a release on June 2006, this album, is Kelly’s personal testimony about the things that has been going on in her life. The disc features production from Sean Garret, Scott Storch, Rich Harrison, and Atlanta-based Polow Da Don, who contributed the single "Like This."
Singersroom: With your first album "Simply Deep" you went with an Alternative R&B sound, which was pretty signature to you; I was wondering if that was the route you took for Ms. Kelly?
Kelly Rowland: This record is a Pop/R&B record. I remember approaching this record with the mindset of making sure I made a feel good record where every song felt good. I remember listening to songs like old early 90s Brandy records, Whitney Houston records and how good they made you feel. I wanted my album to feel like that. I wanted a feel good record.
Singersroom: It's good that you mentioned that because a lot of R&B that's coming out right now they are trying to bring back that old school feel. It's pretty cool that you are going with that. You have a lot of different producers on 'Ms. Kelly;' Scott Storch, Tank, Sean Garrett, Is that also going to help out with the old school sound?
Kelly Rowland: Definitely! I told them what I wanted and some of them wanted to try out different things because I never want to limit a producer because I like for them to have their freedom. We basically just went into the studio and we had a party. It felt good.
Singersroom: What's weird is that you had a lot of producers but few collaborations; you only have songs with Eve, Tank, and Snoop.
Kelly Rowland: I wanted to keep the collaborations to a minimum.
Singersroom: You've said that this album was very personal. When you first recorded it was it too personal that you had to revamp most of it?
Kelly Rowland: You know what! The album is still personal but more so it was a lot of mid tempo's and ballads on the record and that's what really lead me to go back into the studio. I had to look at myself and say "You know what? Kelly you're young. You need to make sure that comes across in this record." Especially because I was saying "I want this album to reflect me!" (Laughs). I want it to reflect me and I have to make sure that it does in every way.
Singersroom: So you also wanted something your fans could dance to in the club?
Kelly Rowland: Definitely! I had to bring that element in on there, too.
Singersroom: I was feeling the song "Like This." That was an awesome track. What's interesting about that one is that you and Eve basically coming back in the game together. Was this collaboration planned for that very reason or was it by chance?
Kelly Rowland: No! It just happened! "The stars were aligned and everything came together beautifully." Everything happened for a reason and I'm happy that it did because Eve is one of my favorite female MCs so doing that together was really hot.
Singersroom: Yeah and that song was produced by Polow Da Don. He's getting huge right now and some say he is the next Timbaland.
Kelly Rowland: Polow is great and he's very creative. I remember when Sean Garrett played me the track and it had the cowbell in it. I was like "What kind of sound is this?" He was like "No Kells. You gotta listen! You gotta listen, Ma!" So I said "fine." I listened some more and then he started singing "I told y'all I was gonna bump like this." And I thought he was crazy but I tried it out and it worked.
Singersroom: It was shocking almost because no one really expected that sound out of you, especially because you already had your own sound going on. Alternative R&B and slow ballads. I wanted to ask about the King Magazine shoot. It was a very sophisticated shoot for the magazine. Was that you saying "hey. I don't want to be up there just wearing anything?"
Kelly Rowland: That was just me saying that I want a cover that reflects me. You can't get on a magazine and be somebody else. They asked me to be on the cover and I couldn't be on the cover and not bring them my element.
Singersroom: That's good that you had your say so and they didn't force you to do something you didn't want to do.
Kelly Rowland: I don't do anything that I'm uncomfortable with. I always have boundaries and I always set limits so that I'm comfortable.
Singersroom: You've been seen in the front row of tons of fashion shows lately. Will you be pursuing a career in fashion design in the future?
Kelly Rowland: I don't know. I think anything is possible. I am very grateful to God that he's given me in the opportunity where the sky is the limit and I can do whatever I set my mind to. But I'm going to leave the fashion to Beyonce and Mama T. (Laughs)
Singersroom: Are you going to start acting in films again?
Kelly Rowland: I would definitely like to do more acting because I did have a lot of fun on the set of The Seat Filler and Freddy Vs. Jason. All of those were great opportunities for me and things that I would definitely want to explore again.
Singersroom: You have recently been added to the line up for The Essence Music Festival and that's pretty huge especially because this is the first festival they are doing in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina. How does it feel to be apart of that?
Kelly Rowland: I'm so excited about that. What I'm really excited about is that now they call it "The party with a purpose." We get to build the city of New Orleans back up again and I'm just happy that I could be apart of that.
Girl you are all that and some you have cambell soup all over you you are um..um..um..good!
hey girl,do ya thang i always loved you and you made beyonce look good long enough,now its your time to shine,so let it shine,let it shine,you can act too,so girl you on your way,you always were people couldnt see it for beyounce,but now they can see you,and only you,keep it moving toward good..
Matthew Knowles is Kelly's father. That's why we never hear anything of her "biological" father. They look just alike. She looks more like Matthew than Beyonce does.
I loved the album. I was so glad to get it as soon as it had hit the stores i was on it. Keep up the good work. May god continue to bless u on everything u do.
Gurl, I love the album it is poppin. I see you as Kelly now. Keep doing your thang and I will support you from this day on out.
Gurl, I love the album it is poppin. I see you as Kelly now. Keep doing your thang and I will support you from this day on out.
F the haters Kelly. You will come back STRONGER
YOU ARE MY FAVOURITE SINGER AN DI DEEPLY ENJOY YOUR MUSIC DVD'S.IF POSIBLE YOU CONTACT ME AT 0026771369826 OR WRITE TO ME AT "P O BOX 254,FRANCISTOWN,BOTSWANA,AFRICA
i love kelly so much she is soo cute and this album is incredible i love it sooooooo much
especially flash back, better without you the whole album is beautiful keep them coming she difinately has that come back
I want to know about kelly parents andwhat happen to them
Kelly, keep doing what you are doing. I got to meet you in person at your signing at the Essence Music Festival. Congratulations on the new album, it will be successful.
Kelly, I really adore your album...you can really tell it's personal, and I want to say congratulations on being able to share so much of yourself in this album.... #9 "Still In Love With My Ex", speaks volumes and there are a lot of females/males that can truly relate. So if it was your goal to reach some of your fans, you have accomplished that. I'm looking forward to hearing and seeing more of your talents in the months and years to come. Keep it up....
It's about time you came from out of Beyonce shadow. You are a much better singer than her and by far the prettiest!!!
Kelly, im so in love with u u all i think about when the talk about good music. I hope u come to Philly Soon, If So i'll be in the Front Row Seat Keep Doing To No One Cand Do it Better!!!!!!!! :-)))
IWANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPEN TO KELLY ROWLAND PARENT.BECAUSE SHE NEVER TALK ABOUT HER FOLKS.SHE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT BEYONCE PARENT.
Good Evening:
Your album was very good. I hope that it does very good because you deserve it. the whole cd is excellent. when every I buy a cd the whole cd doesn't sound good. but I can give it too you your cd was excellent. all you have to do is just be yourself. right now I believe all you would have to do is bring your voice all the way out there. because you have that voice.
Congrats on your success! I 've seen all of the movies you've been in and I can't wait to see you in more movies.I'm so happy for you Kelly. I love your new CD! When you tour Please don't forget AL. Love ya. Peace!
Kelly. Congratulations on your success! You are a class act. I love your mellow meaninful songs.