Faith Evans Interview
Hey Faith, it’s Oshi from the Guestlist Network – How are you?
I’m good.
Cool. Whereabouts are you at the moment?
I’m in Los Angeles.
Nice. Is that home?
Yes, it is. I’m home one minute but then I gotta go out of town again tomorrow!
I bet you don’t spend that much time at home?
Lately I haven’t been, but I enjoy it when I do.
I’m sure you do! So is the sun shining there?
Actually it is, thankfully. Things have been pretty weird with the weather lately but thankfully it’s actually pretty warm – a lot warmer than I thought.
Wicked, California’s got its sunshine back on. So you were the first female artist to be signed to Diddy’s label of course, but since then you’ve gone on to win Grammies and make movies – does anything really compare to that first moment signing with Diddy?
Oh boy. Absolutely not! Haha. I mean it’s different of course as over time I’ve grown quite a bit – but nothing could ever compare because that was just such a random act of God, because I mean I didn’t audition, I wasn’t trying to be a recording artist, and the way I met him, he asked me to sign, like, immediately after he heard me only doing a background part – and that was just like wow, I mean I didn’t even come there to do that, but I’ll take it.
So that was a crazy moment, but since then, you know, you’ve had a very turbulent, eventful life – is it still like that now, is it still going a hundred miles an hour?
Well life itself is certainly always full of ups and downs, but I think the more that you deal with or go through, for me anyway, it all just makes me able to deal with the next issue, whenever that may come, and to deal with it in the right frame of mind, and to think about things, and to deal with them, you know? I mean, you know, what doesn’t kill you can only make you stronger.
That’s right, and you seem to always take on board big projects, putting those obstacles in front of you that you overcome. And you recently won the African American literary award for the best biography memoir, is that right?
Yeah. I mean I didn’t heavily promote my memoir so it was a pleasant surprise, I didn’t even know about it! Then I got word that I won, and I would’ve liked to have been there, but I was glad and very thankful for the people that did support it, considering I didn’t really do a lot of heavy promotion for it. So yeah that was a great thing. I mean I got pursued for a few years before I did it – people were like, “We wanna hear your story!”
And was that kind of part of the motivation for you to pursue this reality show you’ve currently working on?
To be honest I wrote a sitcom a couple years back and I received some offers for development deals for that, but you know, a couple years ago when I finally finished the sitcom, people were kind of going away from sitcoms on TV for a minute, so I decided to wait on it, because it was a great show, but in that time I met someone who’d actually read my memoir and wanted to do a reality show with me, and I was like, well that’s cool, you know. I wanted to be in control of and able to control the content of it. So I decided to do a show with my good friend Misa Hylton the mother of puffy´s child. It’s sort of a guideline, not only about time in this industry but also our relationship that we’ve maintained over the years-since back in the Bad Boy days. Both being parents and having kids who are about to go to college, and still being relevant in the music business. We’ve both branched out into our own entrepreneurial ventures. She has an online boutique and a line of boots she’s launching, and I’m launching a line of haircare products with a good friend of mine called Glass Hair Products. So we’re maintaining our relevance in music but also being smart businesswomen.
Cool, so this is a reality show – you going to have your kids up in there too?
A little bit, not so much like following around, just to the extent that they maybe pop in, because they do sometimes pop in, like on the video shoot yesterday, to say hi, because they haven’t seen me all day. I mean, when I’m not out and about or working on a project, it’s pretty much about work and school. So when I am working they get to be a part of it, but it’s nothing that will tamper with the normalcy! (Laughs)
There’s going to be no normalcy in your household,because they’re all musicians right?
Well they’re all very musically talented but there’s always going to be normalcy in my house,trust me! (Laughs). That’s the thing people are normally surprised about. I don’t take myself too seriously just because I make records people like.
You’ve done this reality show-is there anything big on the horizon in terms of movies? Are you gonna be working on an Oscar?
Actually I was chosen to star in the biopic on Florence Ballard’s life-she was the founder of The Supremes.
Are you gonna be playing the lead?
Yes!
So you’re going all Ice Cube on us, all Hollywood?
(Laughs)It’s funny I wasn’t expecting that call. And when I got the call that I was chosen by Florence’s daughter, they felt that I would represent that market well. In the script I do see a lot of similarities in our characters, in terms of her sense of humour, and her being no-nonsense and telling it like it is.Probably different from me-I try not to offend people but sometimes you have to throw that out of the window! (Laughs) I’m really excited!
When did you get the call?
About a month ago.
That must be a testament to your voice. Are you going to be singing in that movie?
Definitely! I’m actually going to be producing a soundtrack as well, so a lot of work going on. Can’t complain.
How old is your youngest now?
My youngest is three and a half.
Wow! So you must have some help around there then?
Oh yeah! Between me, my husband, and my oldest, who is seventeen, we tag team and we make it happen!
Nice...Are you touring much with the album?
I did a two-week promo tour,but I’m taking advantage of other opportunities. I did a record with El DeBarge, we just shot the video for that,and I’m also featured in one of Keri Hilson’s new videos. So like I said, I just have to take the blessings that come in the situation beyond making a record. You know,I don’t measure my success like that, you know what I’m saying? Like I said, I’m just trying to be active as I can on my own, just in case there’s something missing on the other side. Because I do feel like I should be going to all my major cities that I know I have fan bases in. Some of them I haven’t covered yet promotionally and until the promoter will have me, it’s not like I can take it upon myself and just go to all these places!!
There’s only so much you can do yourself.
Right! But it’s cool. I know that it’ll work out and that God has my back;that’s kind of how I look at everything. You know,like you say, you can only do so much yourself and at the same time, if you’re in the right place, you can go on. So I can’t imagine that if my record doesn’t sell this amount of units then it’s not a success. I feel like I’ve made a great album, and my fans seem to be satisfied. Now whether they all know about it, I’m sure most of them do, but some of them don’t. But I’m not one to point the finger; just pick it up and figure out what you can do to fix the situation.
I think you should be measuring your success by how busy you’re keeping yourself! What do you reckon?
Yeah,exactly! Or how busy I’m able to be! Some of these things have come as a surprise,and I just look at it as ‘thank you God’ and let me try and do my best at carrying them out.
Cool. Now it does sound like you get just about everything you want and I heard that you were interested in getting a breast job done...
No,I never said that. (Laughs). I don’t purposely want to go under the knife!
You can just say that you’re perfect then, right?
I’m not perfect by any means. But I’m gonna deal with what I’ve got and try and shape it and form it! Without anaesthesia! (Laughs)
You just keep yourself busy-I’m sure you’ll be alright!
I could definitely stand to lose a few pounds after my last baby, because I had gotten in shape a couple of years back, but every time I have a baby, I put on a lot of weight, so I’m still definitely still trying to lose a few pounds, but it’s not that drastic! I’m not going to take that risk.
You’ve had four children now-any plans for any more?
No,no,no! (Laughs) My three year old constantly reminds me that “OK you’re having another one? Here you go!”
That’s enough now,yeah?
My daughter’s on her way to college next year and my youngest hasn’t even started elementary yet, so I’m cool.(Laughs)
You’ve definitely got your hands full! Have you been over to London Faith?
I have, several times before. I’m actually coming there in December. I have a couple of shows in Europe in December. I don’t know which dates exactly are in London,I think it’s two dates,but it’s definitely the first week in December.
So that will be a big moment for London to come out and catch up with you.
Yeah, I always have a great time and great shows. That’s the greatest thing. The first time I came to London I accepted a MOBO Award, back when I was still in Bad Boy. Also because I was a new artist just to see that they knew me,first of all, they knew the music and enjoyed it; it was refreshing to see that somewhere (a) I’m not from and (b) I’ve never been to; realise that I have a fan base. Every time I go back, it gets better and better. Oh and I love the shopping! (Laughs) I can’t wait!
You have to bring your reality show over here and we have to film you shopping in Bond Street.
I’m so glad you mentioned that. Maybe I can get them to put in some extra production dollars and bring the show out there with me. That’s a great idea!
I’m going to bring my crew along too, because I’ve decided that I need to get into Faith Evans’ reality right now!
(Laughs) You’re there already believe it or not! It is what it is, what you see is what you get. It definitely has its crazy moments but my goal is to keep things as even-keeled as I can, despite whatever craziness might be going on. I’m usually the centre of calm, when everybody else is panicking, I’m like “OK, relax!”
It seems like you’re quite balanced.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have it all together by any means, but I think that the first step is to think from that perspective and pray to God to help figure out the best way to approach and attack whatever it is that comes throughout my day. There’s never a dull moment that’s for sure!
Apart from this movie, which is a massive thing that could be mean your Oscar, what else are you looking forward to?
You know, just taking advantage of all these wonderful opportunities that I have before me. Aside from that I definitely want to get on recording this new album soon to surprise my fans who think it’s going to take another two years! Also I’m working on my next book,which is kind of like an informational campaign,from an artist/writer/producer perspective.
You do all your own music too, right?
I do and the knowledge I’ve acquired whether it’s through trial and error or just the time that I’ve been in the business and being a songwriter and producing, sometimes you don’t know every aspect. You may not have the people around you who are well-versed in those areas, but I like to help people I know by allowing them to write on my project and getting their names out there, when they may not otherwise been able to write on a project for artists like myself. Just so they know where all these different revenue streams are, because sometimes they don’t know the difference between a mechanical royalty and a performance rights royalty. And a lot of times, people think “OK, well we agree on this ten percent split and I turned in my BMI papers”, that doesn’t mean that’s what the record company is turning in. If you just assume it and then years later you say, “Oh I never got any cheques for this song that I wrote on this album that sold so many copies!” I just like to try and share the knowledge that I’ve acquired when I can.
I feel that. So you take all those opportunities that show themselves to you and then help others take their opportunities and make the most of them?
Absolutely. And that’s what it’s all about. That’s what we’re here for, we’re supposed to help each other.
You sound like a well-rounded artist. Now I have a really funny question for you. If you were to have a super-group, and you could choose anyone to be in it with you, who would would it be?
Anyone?
Yeah,anyone. And they can be alive or not!
You know what? It’s funny- I was going to say someone else because I had an idea to do an album with me revisiting some of Biggie’s stuff, whether it would just be me doing the hook; I had an idea to do a record like that, so I would say either Biggie or Mary J Blige.
Those are two albums I can hear already. You’re giving us something massive to look forward to there!
Why thank you! That would be great if that could happen. I’m still working on that, I’m not going to rule it out. I’m working on the ideas.
That’s an idea you need to keep bubbling. Now I just want to find out a bit more about you. If you could be in a pool with anything, what would it be?
Kindness!
What an answer!
I’m saying that with regards to a pool filled with sentiments from others, and not so much that I
need it, I mean of course everyone needs it but I mean, everyone doesn’t have it and I try to always think from that perspective.
So you’d invite everyone in and give it all out?
Yes!
Nice! Well Faith, it’s been lovely catching up with you.
Yeah, hopefully when you find out about the show, then I can meet you when I’m in London in December.
I’d love to catch up and do something on film.
OK! I look forward to it.
Wicked! I’ll make sure we save a copy of The Guestlist Network for you as well!
OK. Thank you so much.
No, thank you! You enjoy your time at home and we’ll catch up in December.
OK, we will! Bye,bye.
Take care Faith. Bye!
I’m in Los Angeles.
Nice. Is that home?
Yes, it is. I’m home one minute but then I gotta go out of town again tomorrow!
I bet you don’t spend that much time at home?
Lately I haven’t been, but I enjoy it when I do.
I’m sure you do! So is the sun shining there?
Actually it is, thankfully. Things have been pretty weird with the weather lately but thankfully it’s actually pretty warm – a lot warmer than I thought.
Wicked, California’s got its sunshine back on. So you were the first female artist to be signed to Diddy’s label of course, but since then you’ve gone on to win Grammies and make movies – does anything really compare to that first moment signing with Diddy?
Oh boy. Absolutely not! Haha. I mean it’s different of course as over time I’ve grown quite a bit – but nothing could ever compare because that was just such a random act of God, because I mean I didn’t audition, I wasn’t trying to be a recording artist, and the way I met him, he asked me to sign, like, immediately after he heard me only doing a background part – and that was just like wow, I mean I didn’t even come there to do that, but I’ll take it.
So that was a crazy moment, but since then, you know, you’ve had a very turbulent, eventful life – is it still like that now, is it still going a hundred miles an hour?
Well life itself is certainly always full of ups and downs, but I think the more that you deal with or go through, for me anyway, it all just makes me able to deal with the next issue, whenever that may come, and to deal with it in the right frame of mind, and to think about things, and to deal with them, you know? I mean, you know, what doesn’t kill you can only make you stronger.
That’s right, and you seem to always take on board big projects, putting those obstacles in front of you that you overcome. And you recently won the African American literary award for the best biography memoir, is that right?
Yeah. I mean I didn’t heavily promote my memoir so it was a pleasant surprise, I didn’t even know about it! Then I got word that I won, and I would’ve liked to have been there, but I was glad and very thankful for the people that did support it, considering I didn’t really do a lot of heavy promotion for it. So yeah that was a great thing. I mean I got pursued for a few years before I did it – people were like, “We wanna hear your story!”
And was that kind of part of the motivation for you to pursue this reality show you’ve currently working on?
To be honest I wrote a sitcom a couple years back and I received some offers for development deals for that, but you know, a couple years ago when I finally finished the sitcom, people were kind of going away from sitcoms on TV for a minute, so I decided to wait on it, because it was a great show, but in that time I met someone who’d actually read my memoir and wanted to do a reality show with me, and I was like, well that’s cool, you know. I wanted to be in control of and able to control the content of it. So I decided to do a show with my good friend Misa Hylton the mother of puffy´s child. It’s sort of a guideline, not only about time in this industry but also our relationship that we’ve maintained over the years-since back in the Bad Boy days. Both being parents and having kids who are about to go to college, and still being relevant in the music business. We’ve both branched out into our own entrepreneurial ventures. She has an online boutique and a line of boots she’s launching, and I’m launching a line of haircare products with a good friend of mine called Glass Hair Products. So we’re maintaining our relevance in music but also being smart businesswomen.
Cool, so this is a reality show – you going to have your kids up in there too?
A little bit, not so much like following around, just to the extent that they maybe pop in, because they do sometimes pop in, like on the video shoot yesterday, to say hi, because they haven’t seen me all day. I mean, when I’m not out and about or working on a project, it’s pretty much about work and school. So when I am working they get to be a part of it, but it’s nothing that will tamper with the normalcy! (Laughs)
There’s going to be no normalcy in your household,because they’re all musicians right?
Well they’re all very musically talented but there’s always going to be normalcy in my house,trust me! (Laughs). That’s the thing people are normally surprised about. I don’t take myself too seriously just because I make records people like.
You’ve done this reality show-is there anything big on the horizon in terms of movies? Are you gonna be working on an Oscar?
Actually I was chosen to star in the biopic on Florence Ballard’s life-she was the founder of The Supremes.
Are you gonna be playing the lead?
Yes!
So you’re going all Ice Cube on us, all Hollywood?
(Laughs)It’s funny I wasn’t expecting that call. And when I got the call that I was chosen by Florence’s daughter, they felt that I would represent that market well. In the script I do see a lot of similarities in our characters, in terms of her sense of humour, and her being no-nonsense and telling it like it is.Probably different from me-I try not to offend people but sometimes you have to throw that out of the window! (Laughs) I’m really excited!
When did you get the call?
About a month ago.
That must be a testament to your voice. Are you going to be singing in that movie?
Definitely! I’m actually going to be producing a soundtrack as well, so a lot of work going on. Can’t complain.
How old is your youngest now?
My youngest is three and a half.
Wow! So you must have some help around there then?
Oh yeah! Between me, my husband, and my oldest, who is seventeen, we tag team and we make it happen!
Nice...Are you touring much with the album?
I did a two-week promo tour,but I’m taking advantage of other opportunities. I did a record with El DeBarge, we just shot the video for that,and I’m also featured in one of Keri Hilson’s new videos. So like I said, I just have to take the blessings that come in the situation beyond making a record. You know,I don’t measure my success like that, you know what I’m saying? Like I said, I’m just trying to be active as I can on my own, just in case there’s something missing on the other side. Because I do feel like I should be going to all my major cities that I know I have fan bases in. Some of them I haven’t covered yet promotionally and until the promoter will have me, it’s not like I can take it upon myself and just go to all these places!!
There’s only so much you can do yourself.
Right! But it’s cool. I know that it’ll work out and that God has my back;that’s kind of how I look at everything. You know,like you say, you can only do so much yourself and at the same time, if you’re in the right place, you can go on. So I can’t imagine that if my record doesn’t sell this amount of units then it’s not a success. I feel like I’ve made a great album, and my fans seem to be satisfied. Now whether they all know about it, I’m sure most of them do, but some of them don’t. But I’m not one to point the finger; just pick it up and figure out what you can do to fix the situation.
I think you should be measuring your success by how busy you’re keeping yourself! What do you reckon?
Yeah,exactly! Or how busy I’m able to be! Some of these things have come as a surprise,and I just look at it as ‘thank you God’ and let me try and do my best at carrying them out.
Cool. Now it does sound like you get just about everything you want and I heard that you were interested in getting a breast job done...
No,I never said that. (Laughs). I don’t purposely want to go under the knife!
You can just say that you’re perfect then, right?
I’m not perfect by any means. But I’m gonna deal with what I’ve got and try and shape it and form it! Without anaesthesia! (Laughs)
You just keep yourself busy-I’m sure you’ll be alright!
I could definitely stand to lose a few pounds after my last baby, because I had gotten in shape a couple of years back, but every time I have a baby, I put on a lot of weight, so I’m still definitely still trying to lose a few pounds, but it’s not that drastic! I’m not going to take that risk.
You’ve had four children now-any plans for any more?
No,no,no! (Laughs) My three year old constantly reminds me that “OK you’re having another one? Here you go!”
That’s enough now,yeah?
My daughter’s on her way to college next year and my youngest hasn’t even started elementary yet, so I’m cool.(Laughs)
You’ve definitely got your hands full! Have you been over to London Faith?
I have, several times before. I’m actually coming there in December. I have a couple of shows in Europe in December. I don’t know which dates exactly are in London,I think it’s two dates,but it’s definitely the first week in December.
So that will be a big moment for London to come out and catch up with you.
Yeah, I always have a great time and great shows. That’s the greatest thing. The first time I came to London I accepted a MOBO Award, back when I was still in Bad Boy. Also because I was a new artist just to see that they knew me,first of all, they knew the music and enjoyed it; it was refreshing to see that somewhere (a) I’m not from and (b) I’ve never been to; realise that I have a fan base. Every time I go back, it gets better and better. Oh and I love the shopping! (Laughs) I can’t wait!
You have to bring your reality show over here and we have to film you shopping in Bond Street.
I’m so glad you mentioned that. Maybe I can get them to put in some extra production dollars and bring the show out there with me. That’s a great idea!
I’m going to bring my crew along too, because I’ve decided that I need to get into Faith Evans’ reality right now!
(Laughs) You’re there already believe it or not! It is what it is, what you see is what you get. It definitely has its crazy moments but my goal is to keep things as even-keeled as I can, despite whatever craziness might be going on. I’m usually the centre of calm, when everybody else is panicking, I’m like “OK, relax!”
It seems like you’re quite balanced.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have it all together by any means, but I think that the first step is to think from that perspective and pray to God to help figure out the best way to approach and attack whatever it is that comes throughout my day. There’s never a dull moment that’s for sure!
Apart from this movie, which is a massive thing that could be mean your Oscar, what else are you looking forward to?
You know, just taking advantage of all these wonderful opportunities that I have before me. Aside from that I definitely want to get on recording this new album soon to surprise my fans who think it’s going to take another two years! Also I’m working on my next book,which is kind of like an informational campaign,from an artist/writer/producer perspective.
You do all your own music too, right?
I do and the knowledge I’ve acquired whether it’s through trial and error or just the time that I’ve been in the business and being a songwriter and producing, sometimes you don’t know every aspect. You may not have the people around you who are well-versed in those areas, but I like to help people I know by allowing them to write on my project and getting their names out there, when they may not otherwise been able to write on a project for artists like myself. Just so they know where all these different revenue streams are, because sometimes they don’t know the difference between a mechanical royalty and a performance rights royalty. And a lot of times, people think “OK, well we agree on this ten percent split and I turned in my BMI papers”, that doesn’t mean that’s what the record company is turning in. If you just assume it and then years later you say, “Oh I never got any cheques for this song that I wrote on this album that sold so many copies!” I just like to try and share the knowledge that I’ve acquired when I can.
I feel that. So you take all those opportunities that show themselves to you and then help others take their opportunities and make the most of them?
Absolutely. And that’s what it’s all about. That’s what we’re here for, we’re supposed to help each other.
You sound like a well-rounded artist. Now I have a really funny question for you. If you were to have a super-group, and you could choose anyone to be in it with you, who would would it be?
Anyone?
Yeah,anyone. And they can be alive or not!
You know what? It’s funny- I was going to say someone else because I had an idea to do an album with me revisiting some of Biggie’s stuff, whether it would just be me doing the hook; I had an idea to do a record like that, so I would say either Biggie or Mary J Blige.
Those are two albums I can hear already. You’re giving us something massive to look forward to there!
Why thank you! That would be great if that could happen. I’m still working on that, I’m not going to rule it out. I’m working on the ideas.
That’s an idea you need to keep bubbling. Now I just want to find out a bit more about you. If you could be in a pool with anything, what would it be?
Kindness!
What an answer!
I’m saying that with regards to a pool filled with sentiments from others, and not so much that I
need it, I mean of course everyone needs it but I mean, everyone doesn’t have it and I try to always think from that perspective.
So you’d invite everyone in and give it all out?
Yes!
Nice! Well Faith, it’s been lovely catching up with you.
Yeah, hopefully when you find out about the show, then I can meet you when I’m in London in December.
I’d love to catch up and do something on film.
OK! I look forward to it.
Wicked! I’ll make sure we save a copy of The Guestlist Network for you as well!
OK. Thank you so much.
No, thank you! You enjoy your time at home and we’ll catch up in December.
OK, we will! Bye,bye.
Take care Faith. Bye!
