Little has been heard from Jamelia since winning a Mobo and having a top 5 hit with Money which featured Beenie Man.

After having some time off, raising her daughter, Jamelia is back with a new album. Here she fills us in about what it was like touring with some of RnB biggest stars, as well as telling us about some of her musical favourites.

Your new album is out on September 29th. What’s it called and what can we expect from it?

The title of the album is Thank you. It’s more RnB/Hip Hop than the single Superstar. People shouldn’t have preconceptions about the album from the singles that have been released; the albums a mixture and is much harder. Followers of RnB already know who Jamelia is, so Superstar was released for those people who don’t really know that much about me.

How does Thank you compare to your debut album Drama?

They can’t be compared! Thank you is going to be a surprise to people. I was only 17 when I wrote Drama, and even though I wrote the songs, I didn’t know what I was talking about. But now I’ve grown up and I’m a strong women!

I saw you perform at the Usher concert in 2002 and you sang Usher’s Can you get with it, what other songs would you like to cover?

Something by Mary J Blige, but I’m not brave enough. She’s my idol! I saw her the other day at CD: UK and I burst into tears. A bit silly I know; I’ve met so many famous people, but that was Mary J Blige!

There’s a song on the album that deals with physical abuse, why this issue?

It’s an issue that is close to my heart. It is also something that happens to lots of people but isn’t out in the open.

If you could have written any song, what would it be and why?

A Rose is Still a Rose, by Aretha Franklin but it was written by Lauryn Hill. It’s a very inspirational song. I think it is the best song ever written. It just touches me and it’s a dope song!

Even though you haven’t been around for a while and there are new RnB female solo artists in the UK such as Terri Walker, you are still one of the most recognised. Why do you think that is?

I’m more in the mainstream than artists such as Terri Walker. I have comprised whereas Terri hasn’t. I think in England if you want to be successful you have to compromise. I was speaking to Harvey (So Solid Crew) about this issue the other day, and we were talking about how you get dissed for being “poppy”. But I want to have my own label, and put myself in a position that I can change the music industry.

The other day I was being interviewed and they asked me who I wanted to win the MOBO’s and I said Terri Walker, and they were like can you say someone more mainstream and I was like what do you mean more mainstream!

What was it like touring with Justin Timberlake and Usher?

It was amazing! Artists from the US are different; and you learn a lot from them. They are very dedicated! It’s their life, but for me there are more important things. They spend like two hours in the gym, and the most exercise I do is walking up and down Oxford Street.

Well for someone who’s got a young child you look really good?

My exercise is running around with my daughter, I like to make sure we go out and do stuff, like going to the park.

What can we expect from the up coming tour with Misteeq?

There won’t be any dancers this time, just me and a band. Everyone has seen that I can do that type of performance, so now its time to try something different. I’m a bit nervous as I’m showing a different side of me.

Nadine Leighton

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