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Melissa Williams is about halfway through the recording process of her fourth album. She has been working on the not-yet-titled album in between the 2nd Leg of her "All I Am" tourdates. The 19-year-old singer tells EMMY that this time around, the album will be even more R&B and much more edgier.
"When I did my first album, it was mostly the producers input, and on this album, I'm producing ALL the tracks, and writing mostly all the tracks as well, so it's more of my input, my creativity .I mean, when I look at my first album cover, I'm like, 'Oh, my God,'" she says. "This next album's going to be totally different--especially the material. I have about 6 songs completed for the album, and the material is so much more R&B and light on the Pop. And, of course, it's more even more mature because I've grown so much more since 'All I Am'." The new album reportedly contains contributions from Dallas Austin, The Neptunes, Jermaine Dupri, and Rockwilder, among others.
Williams's debut album, 'Melissa Williams' has spent over 30 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart. The album was the ninth-best selling album of 2000 (which was a very competitive year as far as teen pop acts are concerned), earning a certification for 8 million copies sold. Williams tells EMMY that 2000 was quite a year, but she's already looking forward to her next effort. "I look back, and I'm like, wow! The album went to No. 2, and it sold, I think, 7 or 8 million albums, and then I came out with 'All I Am' and it went to No. 1 earlier this year and it sold 4 million albums. So far 2001 has been an amazing year for me, and now my main focus is focusing on the next album and trying to make it as successful as 'Melissa Williams' and 'All I Am'."
The singer says her biggest achievement so far in 2001 was her Grammy Award nominations for best pop album and best female pop vocal performance. Williams tells EMMY even though she didn't win any awards, to be nominated is the greatest feeling. "Just to be nominated is amazing, you know," she says. "Because I remember a year ago, I was watching the Grammys, and I was just like, 'What would I wear if I went to the Grammys? I mean, damn, to be nominated for a Grammy, that's just amazing."
Williams kicked off the second leg of her headlining 'All I Am' U.S. tour in early May in Pheonix, AZ, with openers Blaque & Dream.
Article by: Marty Richardson 5-14-01
Melissa Williams Readies A Funky New Album