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Angie Stone Interview

Angie Stone By Porschia Baker Angie Stone, newly signed as Stax Records’ bellwether artist, is confident with her latest album The Art of Love & War. Although this is her fourth album as a solo artist, The Art of Love & War is not just another album. It’s an album displaying who the South Carolina native is. Proof is in the fact that she wrote nearly all the songs. So every word is personally ripe: coming straight from her inner metronome. From hip hop trio to soloist, Angie has constantly brought goodness, but with her shine and reigning poise, The Art of Love & War seems to be her greatest record yet. As she says there is no stopping her! Only thing you can do now is listen. Nu Soul: You started your career at the inception of Hip Hop, how did you get involved with Hip Hop Trio sequence? Angie Stone: I formed that group, when I was in high school. Me and a couple of high school friends got together and started doing songs. We were cheerleaders. So it was easy to write and create stuff. Nu Soul: Were you singing or spitting lyrics? Angie Stone: I was singing. Nu Soul: Did you know then that singing would be your career? Angie Stone: Singing was more important to me than rapping at the time. Actually when we got discovered, we got discovered singing and rap was added to our song. That’s how we became rappers. We didn’t start out being rappers. We started out being singers. Nu Soul: As your solo career developed, did you get support from your family? Angie Stone: Yeah. I’m an only child and my mom and dad were very supportive. Nu Soul: What was the response to your music? Angie Stone: They always believed in me. They never tripped over that. Nu Soul: Were you pressured to build your career in gospel instead? Angie Stone: Not pressure. Not everyone wants to see you do a gospel album, but they don’t pressure me because I’ve been one way all my life. I’m very spiritual. So when it happens, it will be well received. Nu Soul: So you do plan on doing a gospel album? Angie Stone: Yes. Nu Soul: I read you recently considered going back to gospel music. What kept you grounded in soul music instead of going back and having a gospel career? Angie Stone: When I made the switch, from the label, I was thinking about going strictly gospel. Once I got the deal with Stax, a soul label, I obviously couldn’t do a gospel album on that label. So I’m still contemplating doing a gospel record. I’m the first artist on the label to do what is indicative of the label, which is soul music. I’m the first flagship artist to relaunch Staxx. They’re resurrecting the label and I’m the first artist they chose. Nu Soul: How did you get hooked up with Staxx Records? Angie Stone: They searched me out. Nu Soul: I listened to another interview you did and you said you used the 1974 movie ‘Claudine,’ for inspiration. Is that a film from your teen years? Angie Stone: Yes, it was. Nu Soul: What kind of impact has it had on your The Art of Love and War? Angie Stone: I used Marvin’s studio [to record the album] and I just related to the real down to earthness in that movie. Nu Soul: How was it working in Marvin Gaye’s studio? Angie Stone: Amazing! I can’t even explain it. It was special. Nu Soul: What is the significance of the title? Angie Stone: It means I love this music industry or else I wouldn’t stay in this battlefield of the industry. Nu Soul: How long have you been in the industry? Angie Stone: Thirty years. Nu Soul: Can you describe your album, for someone who hasn’t heard it? Angie Stone: It’s not just one style of music. I was doing a collage of music that reflects who I am. Nu Soul: Do you feel your album is complete? Angie Stone: Absolutely completely complete. We have a five and a half star rating on this album. All of these reviews have been very superb. So I am very happy. Nu Soul: How did you feel about your album before you read the reviews? Angie Stone: I love my album. I think it’s some of my best work. Every album I do is special to me. Everything I do comes from the heart. Whether it works for everybody else or not, it works for me. Nu Soul: Do you have a favorite track? Angie Stone: “Happy Being Me.” It took me a while to get there. Once I got there, there’s no stopping me now. Nu Soul: I read that you writing poetry, when you were younger, was an omen to you eventually doing song writing. Are you planning on putting together a book of poetry? Angie Stone: Yeah, it’s in the works now. [The plan] is to put out a coffee table book before next summer. myspace.com/angiestonemusic Angie Stone page on Stax website Purchase The Art of Love & War at Itunes Purchase The Art of Love & War at Amazon

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