Appearing on the third season of the hit TV show American Idol, Fantasia Barrino (known these days simply as Fantasia) won America's heart - and the competition - with her soulful singing and deeply affecting performances. Since being crowned an American Idol, the young singer with the captivating, old school-flavored voice has gone on to become a true R&B/pop diva with a string of chart-topping hits to her name - "I Believe," "Truth Is," "Free Yourself" and "Hood Boy," among others. On top of her success in the music world, Fantasia's penned a best-selling autobiography and starred in an original Lifetime movie based on the book. Fantasia recently took time out of her busy schedule to speak with Ticketmaster about her latest self-titled album, her music idols, and the joys of performing live.
Ticketmaster: How do you think your latest album, Fantasia, compares with your first album, Free Yourself? It's been described as having a more consistent R&B sound.
Fantasia Barrino: On my first album, Free Yourself, I had a lot of ballads on there, and I was talking about a lot of different situations that I was going through. With this new album, after doing the book and doing the movie, it's like I let a lot of that stuff go. We self-titled the album Fantasia because I just feel like a brand new person. I feel like a brand new Fantasia. So with this album, I wanted it to be more up-tempo, have more songs for the DJs, wanted to show my young side, ‘cause I'm only 22. When I would say that, a lot of people would say, "Get out of here! You're just 22 years old?" So I guess that's from just dealing with so much at such a young age and sharing that with the people. A lot of people just say, "Wow, you've been through so much. You seem so much older." So I just wanted to show my young side and take it back to good, good music. We have a lot of live instruments being played on the album. To me, it's a lot different from the previous album.
TM: Tell me about some of the people you collaborated with on the album. I know you worked with a lot of great people, including Missy Elliot.null
FB: Yeah, it's Miss. She's my girl. She's a good friend of mine. She gets me and that's one of the reasons I like working with her. You know, I'm a soul singer coming out of the church and you don't really hear a lot of soul singing anymore. You know, a lot of singing singing going on. So you really have to work with the right producers who can give you the right songs, give you the stuff that fits you, and Missy gives me that. Who else? Harold Lilly. Another one that gets me. Worked with him on the last album. Did the song "Baby Mama" with him. And he's another church boy so he gets it. He knows what I need. Worked with Midi Mafia. Did a song with Swizz Beatz. He's amazing. Candice and Bulewa. Dre and Vidal. Gosh, I don't want to foget anybody (laughs). Sean Garrett. Also collaborated with Big Boi on a single, which was an honor to work with him. I'm a big, big fan. Much respect to him. And who else? Diane Warren. I can't forget Diane. I went looking for her. I was like, "I have to do a song with her." There was a reason I was looking for her. She had the song "I Feel Beautiful" for me. And like I said, in the place that I am right now, I feel really beautiful. I feel like a brand new person. All of the producers I worked with were amazing. They all got me and they were asking, "What do you want? What are you looking for?" And that was a blessing. So I enjoyed myself on this album, working with everybody.
TM: The song "Hood Boy" has been doing really well. Do you have a favorite track from the album or do you like them all equally?
FB: Let's see. It changes every day. So today, I'll have to say "Bore Me," which is a song that I did with my brother. That's my older brother on there with me. And when we do it live, it's just a very good song, everyone enjoys it, so I'll have to say "Bore Me."
TM: You started out performing live to millions of people on American Idol. Since then you've spent a lot of time writing and recording new songs. So, at this point, which do you prefer: performing live on stage or recording in the studio?
FB: On stage. I love performing live. I love performing for people. That's my peaceful place, being on stage. If I could go on stage right now, I would go (laughs). As an artist, we go through things every day and every day is a challenge, so when I get on stage I just let it all out. So I would have to say that performing live is my favorite.
TM: Do you have a favorite venue where you like to perform?
FB: No, I would perform out on the street in the cold (laughs). On the corner. All I need is a band and a mic and I'm good to go.
TM: You worked with Aretha Franklin on a song ("Let Me Put You Up On Game") for her new album A Woman Falling Out Of Love. What was that experience like?
FB: She's my idol. I grew up studying Aretha Franklin. I knew everything about her. She's my favorite. So working with her was an honor. She's an amazing woman, when she sings, when she speaks, everything about her is amazing. So it was an honor working with her. The first time I met her was when they did the celebration for her (the 28th annual An Evening of Stars®Tribute to Aretha Franklin). I had so much to say and I didn't say any of it (laughs). I didn't say anything. Believe it or not, the whole time I just sat there and cried. And she was like, "What are you crying for?" She is such an inspiration to me and she is such an amazing woman. For me to be able to be on her album is an honor.
TM: Who would you like to collaborate with in the future? Any other dream collaborations?
FB: Too many people. I'm serious. I could tell you names for days. But I'm on this rock star thing right now. I've been saying it and hopefully she'll hear it and we'll be able to get together, but I would love to get together and do a song with Avril Lavigne.
TM: Who else are you listening to these days?
FB: Listening to a lot of different types of music right now. I'm really feeling Panic! At the Disco. My Chemical Romance. John Legend of course. Nelly Furtado. My ears now are just looking for something different. And these rock stars, these boys, are really giving me different, and that's what I'm on right now...Oh, I have to give a shout out to Timbaland, because he's really doing his thing this year. He gave Nelly Furtado her album. It's amazing. Justin Timberlake's album. It's amazing. And it's just different, a breath of fresh air. So I'm really feeling those albums and these rock stars right now.
TM: You're a multi-talented artist. You've acted in a movie and in television shows. You've written an autobiography. Is this something you'd like to do more of? Do you consider yourself first and foremost a music artist?
FB: Music, of course, will always be my first love. But after doing my movie, I think I want to do some more acting. I want to do something very challenging. A role that's very, very challenging. You know, whatever door opens, that's a blessed door. I always say I'm going to ride the train until the wheels fall off. So I'd love to do some more acting and maybe even some Broadway. I don't know. That would be a challenge. We could get into some Broadway stuff. So I could sing, which is my first love, and I could do some acting.
