Interview Time : Angie Stone

From actress to singer to songwriter, producer and a mother, there are no mountains high enough that this woman is afraid to climb. In the comfortable surroundings of her West End hotel suite, UK Flava got up close and personal with Angie Stone.

Who is Angie Stone?

(Pauses to think for a moment) Who is Angie Stone (thinks aloud)…Angie Stone is one grounded sister. Who knows who she is and whose she is

Your very musically inclined, not only do you sing you write and produce what made you venture into other areas of music.

Well I was an actress before I was a singer, not a lot of people know that, I just think my thirst to be creative and to challenge myself is what drives me. I love a challenge and I love the feeling like I’m doing something that I know that I can conquer. Once I conquer, I’m bored with it.

A lot of people feel that you install love into their hearts with your music. Would you agree?

Yea, I do because, that’s what music is, its love. Music is meant to be felt and not heard and a lot of people don’t understand that, but if you can feel music then what your doing is working, if you just hear music its not touching your heart its not gonna last long, music touches your soul and your heart stays with you forever.

You had huge success with the track ‘Brotha’ you collaborated on with Alicia Keys, why did you feel it was important to sing about the ‘Black Brother?’

Well I thought it was important because with Hip Hop emerging as big as it has, it was us pointing the finger. Especially because it is a black dominated art form with us beating up on each other, it was a disgrace to our own race and I just thought someone had to stand up and say enough is enough.

‘I wasn’t kidding’ is one of the tracks on the Greatest Hits Album, tell us about the track.

It’s about a failed relationship, again on the upbeat it’s about a relationship falling apart and your saying that your not gonna take it anymore. But go ahead and go,(gestures to the door) your gonna miss me, your walking out the door and leaving me and I’m cool with it because the time will come around when you’ll miss me.

Are you currently involved with anyone?

Yes I am, I’ve been engaged for two and a half years, I’ve been with my fiancée for nearly four years and I’ve managed to keep it out of the press (grins cheekily) so yea I’ve been involved for a minute now,

Is he also involved in the music scene?

(Angie nods and keeps it short) Yes, he’s a rapper.

Having a son, coming from two huge successful artists, do you think he will follow in the same footsteps?

It’s hard to say but my son is so attached to both parents and he realizes it takes him away from his mother and father so he might not really want to become involved in it. His comments are basically ‘Dad, why do both my parents have to be celebrities? I don’t get to spend enough time with you’. So it might turn him away from it.

I don’t know if that’ll last long because he’s only eight but he lives in front of the TV and knows every rap song, every dance move, you know, he’s a kid so time will tell.

‘Come together’ is your new song in aid of Hurricane Katrina, how did you become involved in that?

They actually called me you know, to do the song and it was something that I really wanted to do because I never really get involved in a lot of stuff but it was good it was really worth it (she pours a glass of water that was brought to her).

Were you affected in any way?

I’m sure I know some of the victims because I’ve done so much work in New Orleans but, I just went strictly into prayer for those people because its too heart breaking to watch that and to know that it could have been you.

Do you think the American Government did much to accommodate the victims of the disaster?

(She whispers) No. I don’t! I think a whole lot more could have been done. It’s a pity that we have that kind of power in control and not enough control or power to make a difference in situations like that.

Is it true that you announced on the Steve Harvey Morning Show that you are not going to make any more albums?

(A pause as she turns to look at her colleague who is sat across the room) Boy, they coming at me today. (laughs) just in the wake up having the marketing and the complete support of breaking an album and watching the industry flip flop back and forth has really put a bad taste in my mouth to do records.

In your singing career is there, anyone dead or alive that you would of liked or like to have worked with.

Lauryn Hill. Everybody’s asking me that I really wanna work with her.

What is it about Lauryn Hill that draws you to work with her?

Spirit to spirit, I kinda know her and I know that she knows me, its kinda weird in a weird way but I’m at a place in my life where I need that realism and has that thing there you know, where its just about the music. Its not about the record sales its not about the hype its not about the bling and that’s so much what she’s making it about and I think in doing that some of the real people are getting lost in the shuffle.

I just wanna do good music, if I can just sit in a room and not do a record and just vibe, I’d have my dream crew together, I’d have myself, Raphael Saadiq, D’angelo, Lauryn Hill, Musiq Soulchild, Anthony Hamilton you know, The Roots, I would have all of us in a room for two or three days and just say ‘lets see what we can mess with next’. Just having some fun you know, because I know all those great minds in one room we’re gonna come up with some crazy music.

How do you feel about the UK R&B scene?

UK has always been one that dealt with traditional R&B and music of yesterday very well, so much better than the States even, because they appreciate the music of yesterday and today that’s what I love about UK. I got signed to the UK because they are about the realism of it.

Have you worked alongside any UK artists?

I worked over here with Shola Ama a while back; I worked with Carl Thomas and did a cover of Omar’s song, some of my favorite stuff.

You have also worked with Floetry, how did you find that

Absolutely, very well, they are so talented it’s ridiculous. (When asked any plans to work with them again Angie seems to be well on the ball) Ahhh! (Pauses) I don’t know (she replies playfully)

Finally, many others and I would agree that you are about real soul music therefore; you have not conformed to the mainstream. Would you agree?

I just think because my music is real they have not conformed to me, maybe it’s a little too much for ‘em you know, and they like to take the easy way out. But I mean they didn’t conform to Marvin Gaye and look how great his music is.

I don’t know, you have this thing and some people don’t, and I just feel like my music is therapeutic and it is what it is and if they can’t deal with it, they can’t deal with it. I just feel like more than anything now, its so much of a political game with artists and you know, its numbers its money its dollars its cents and that’s all it boils down to for the powers at be and for me, its all about the music.