That Grape Juice Interviews Michelle Williams (Part 2)

Michelle: It’s so good to see you!!!…

Sam: It’s great to see you too…

Michelle: I am on That Grape Juice everyday, keeping up with everything. I’m trying to figure out…did you have the story up there about my engagement the other day?

Sam: I did…

Michelle: Did you add you add some of your own little….

Sam: No (laughs)…I just added my own comments on…

Michelle: I was gonna say (laughs!!!)…Ok, Ok (laughs).

Sam: How are you today, Michelle?

Michelle: I’m doing good now that I see you. My publicist from the United States flew in and surprised me too. I’m so happy, happy, happy, happy.

Sam: How are you enjoying the UK so far?

Michelle: You know I love it! I just could not wait to get here. I’ve been telling everyone that I was coming, but the trip kept getting pushed back. The fans were cussing me out, saying “hurry up and get your butt over here”. So I’m like ‘Ok, I’m finally here’ (laughs).

Sam: You’re finally here…. That’s fantastic. This will kind of serve as a Part 2 to the interview you did with us back in May…

Michelle: Ok, sounds good…I knew you’d have more questions…

Sam: Yeah, definitely. What have you been up to since you spoke with That Grape Juice last?

Michelle: Wow. More promotion, rehearsals, doing shows. Had I done my video (for ‘We Break The Dawn’) at that time?…

Sam: I think it’d been filmed, but it hadn’t premiered yet…

Michelle: Oh yeah, it hadn’t premiered. So the video is out. I’m working on the next one, now that the next single is coming out. Trying to get this album out; as you know it’s been pushed back, which I’m pissed about. Sony say they need more time, so I’m going to hold them to that and we’ll get it cracking.

Sam: Cracking indeed. That was actually part of my next question

It was recently announced that the album had been pushed back till October time, why exactly was this?

Michelle: They (Sony) said they needed more time. I was like “I wish you guys would have told me that three months ago”, you know what I’m saying?

Sam: Uh huh…as you highlighted in your MySpace blog…

Michelle: Yeah…I mean what I say, I don’t hold my tongue. August was such a good time. October is like…it’s not an October album. I mean half the damn songs are on the internet. It’s very disappointing. Like I said, I’m not discouraged; this is definitely a blessing in disguise. I did not record the album for my health…

Sam: (laughs!)

Michelle: I know God has my back and I will not be embarrassed. Na-Uh…

Sam: Amen!

Do you feel any added pressure with the album having been pushed back?

Michelle: Well, at this point, not anymore. Everybody knows what the songs are about…

I want it (the album) to sell and I want it to do well. I just hope the pushback doesn’t affect that.

Sam: The majority aren’t always in loop about what goes on behind the scenes, the ‘oh she needs to change her label and management’ is something that is thrown about quite a bit, with both yourself and Kelly, you know what I mean?

Michelle: Uhmmm

Sam: What’s your response to such comments?

Michelle: You know what? I am a grown woman and there are decisions that will have to be made. I do know that for my career to progress, I just have to be in constant communication with my management and label and if we don’t see eye-to-eye, then…(long pause)…

Sam: dot dot dot?

Sam & Michelle: (laughs)

Sam: Ok, so we’ve seen the video for your awesome single ‘We Break The Dawn’, which if I’m correct was directed by a British director?…

Michelle: Yes! Phil Griffin. I got to call him too and let him know I’m here…

Sam…power ballad ‘The Greatest’, which I must say I like most (out of the material heard thus far) is the next single, along with ‘Hello Heartbreak’. Can we expect a video for either of the two anytime soon?

Michelle: (Tells Sam, however wishes it remains a surprise for the fans). Sam knows the surprise.

Sam: (laughs) You’ve been in the industry for so long and achieved so much with Destiny’s Child, as well as on a solo tip too; does it frustrate you when people, sometimes, underestimate you?

Michelle: It does, but it just makes me work harder. Like Lil’ Wayne says, ‘don’t get too comfortable’. Of course, I’m tired of having to prove myself, but it’s to be expected. It’s ok that a lot of people don’t know what I can do; that’s when I’m able to shock them and floor them, doing my best.

Sam: As I think I detailed in the last interview, a lot of people, from an objective perspective, really loved the ‘Do You Know’ performance from the Destiny Fulfilled & Lovin’ It concert…

Michelle: Yeah (laughs)

Sam: I remember everyone just going crazy. With it being a ballad people , expectedly, weren’t going to stand up. However by the end – that long note – everyone was up, just in awe. Great performance.

Michelle: Awww. Thank you. Thank you.

Sam: No worries. Ok, the UK music scene is thriving now, more so than ever; If you could collaborate with any UK artist or producer, who would it be?

Michelle: UK artist? There’d be a couple. Amy Winehouse. I love Estelle. Who else do you think?

Sam: Taio Cruz?

Michelle: I’ve yet to hear of him, I’ll have to check him out.

Sam: Yup, there’s a first time for everything. He’s real good.

Though you’ve probably been asked this question time and time again, scratch that, I know, you’ve been asked this question over and over (laughs):

Will there be a Destiny’s Child reunion anytime soon? I ask as there has been mounting murmurings about a 2009 comeback…

Michelle: I…I wouldn’t say 2009, I wouldn’t even say 2010. I’m just being honest, unless there has been some kind of conversation I haven’t been involved in. I mean, we haven’t talked ‘business’ in a couple of years, so I really don’t know…I have no idea.

Sam: Never say never?

Michelle: Never say never. I’ve learned that. It hasn’t been ruled in, but it hasn’t necessarily been ruled out.

Sam: Just to clarify, when the group parted ways, was it more of a hiatus or was it a split?

Michelle: It was a split, it was a ‘we’re done’. Even our publicist was like ‘when are we going to have this conversation, ladies?’ We were kinda hesitant to have ‘the’ conversation. That’s why she (our publicist) flew to Barcelona (where the announcement was made). She was like ‘y’all got to make this decision… this announcement’. We kinda knew recording the Destiny’s Fulfilled album, but we were all still in denial, still touring like everything was cool…and it was. We were like ‘we seriously have to announce this?’ She was like ‘who is going to make this announcement?’ Me and Bey(once) both looked at Kelly like ‘I guess you’re going to have to say it as I’m not saying nothing’ (laughs).

Sam: Interesting. I ask, because a lot of people seemed to think that, as with the ‘Survivor’ album, you all were breaking away to do your own thing again (with the intent of getting back together), just that, this time, you guys didn’t want to keep being asked individually, like with Beyonce ‘are you going to get back with Destiny’s Child’, same with Kelly and yourself. That’s why there was confusion as to what the real situation was. I’m glad you cleared that up, though.

Michelle: No worries.

Sam: Have you met up with any of the ladies recently?

Michelle: Yes! Me and Kelly were out in Miami this past weekend for my birthday…

Sam: Happy Belated Birthday

Michelle: Aww…thank you. We hung out, we were on the beach, we ate good food. We had such a good time; I think I’m going to see her again this weekend.

Sam: That’s awesome. So, ‘Unexpected’; describe the album with one word other than ‘unexpected’?

Michelle: Dope. Unexpected dope. You know what? I’m proud to say that I have one of the hottest album’s coming out this year, (an album) that can stand alongside the other great music coming out this year. I’m glad that Michelle could come out with all the other great material coming out this year. This year really is a great year for music. Whitney, John Legend…everybody’s coming out!

Sam: Rounding up, album release date?

Michelle: September 29th in the UK…

Sam: We’re getting it first here in the UK?

Michelle: Yes! It will be released October 7th back home in the States.

Sam: Will you be doing any shows over here?

Michelle: I will be! My publicist is here, as is my project manager. Everyone is working on my schedule. We’re just trying to get it popping. Sony say they want more performances, so here we are!

Sam: Will you be back anytime soon?

Michelle: Probably within the next few weeks

Sam: Lastly, the MOBO Awards (Music of Black Origin Awards) are coming up soon here in the UK. Are you familiar with the show?

Michelle: Yes. Most definitely.

Sam: What does “MOBO Music” mean to you?

Michelle: It means everything. It is life. I think black music has shaped this world.

Sam: Michelle Williams, thank you very much for your time…

Michelle: Thank you, sweetie.