“Pretty Girl Rock’ starlet Keri Hilson may be rocking stages in a town near you, but that didn’t stop the singer from taking time to chat with AOL’s ‘The Boombox’ recently. The Decatur darling dished on everything from her current tour with Lil’ Wayne (‘I Am Music Tour’) and prepping the follow-up to her acclaimed sophomore project ‘No Boys Allowed‘ to fighting through vocal damage in promotion of that record.
Aside from taking to the stage to perform her latest ‘Lose Control’, Hilson also hinted at hopes for silver screen appearances. More on Miss Keri Baby after the jump:
Via Boombox:
The title of your first album, ‘In a Perfect World…’ dealt with the idea that no one is perfect. ‘No Boys Allowed’ went a step further into female self-empowerment. Where is your head now, going into this third album?
‘No Boys Allowed,’ for me, was a lot more aggressive. This next record, I have no idea. A little more emotional, maybe a little more vulnerable, judging from my life, without saying any more I think that’s the tone.
How far are you into that process?
I’m not far at all [laughs]. I haven’t started the third album. I haven’t started recording it, I haven’t even really started thinking about it. I’m still promoting here in the US. I’m also promoting overseas because ‘Pretty Girl Rock’ is a brand new record over there. So I’m really excited about that.
Do you have other interests besides music?
Besides music, I have a real passion for interior design. I’m thinking about having an agency for interior designers, because I could live vicariously through them. I don’t have time to do it myself.
Do you feel like other artists are paying attention to what you’re doing, or biting you at all?
No, I’m not concerned with that.
What about television and film? Are those mediums you’re interested in branching into?
I was a theater major in college, and I grew up doing musical theater, so acting is another love of mine. I’ve been reading scripts. I’m just waiting for the perfect introduction into the big screen. We’ll see, but definitely something outside of myself. I don’t want to play a musician. I mean if the dollar’s right, then maybe.
A lot of people know you from your work with Timbaland. Are you recording together in the future?
I miss working with Timbaland. It’s been a minute, to be honest. He’s working on another ‘Shock Value’ album, I think I might have let the cat out the bag, but that’s what he’s doing. I will get back with him very, very, very soon. I just don’t know when.
What’s been the hardest thing you’ve had to overcome in your career?
I had vocal issues and I performed right through them. The world saw this happening, but didn’t know what was happening. Certain situations you’re put in are to the detriment of your instrument, and a lot of damage was done. Promo days are 12 to 14 hours of talking. That is very damaging. I have no complaints, I’m over it, but it did affect me. I had to take care of it mostly while I was recording ‘No Boys Allowed.’ It’s been the hardest thing, just to fight for my health, fight for my instrument, my gift.
How do you balance that now?
You have to fight. If the word “diva” comes up around my name, it’s because I’m fighting for my voice. It’s because I’m fighting being abused — abuse is such a strong word — but it kind of is what you’re doing to your vocal chords when you’re living the schedule that I live. I’ve had to fight and if I’m called a diva for fighting for myself like no one else will, then I’ll be a diva.
Fans can read the entire interview and see behind the scenes action here.