Post by Paula on Feb 15, 2005 9:49:02 GMT -5
Urbanlicious
By 18, Londoner Keisha White has notched up a part in a Hollywood movie and toured with Black Eyed Peas and Jamelia. Ready to launch her music career, she tells uk-fusion why she is going to make the British urban scene fresher than ever
When was your first big break?
I was overwhelmed and privileged when I was asked to do Catwoman in LA with Halle Berry. I was like “me?!” Why me? Originally Alicia Keys was going to play the role but because of touring she couldn’t. They thought that my voice was similar so when they called me out to do the film, I was just like, wow! So for me that was a reality check that I could be heading towards big things.
Do you want to do acting as well?
I definitely have to focus on it; I wouldn’t want to do singing and acting at the same time. If I’m gonna sing, I’m gonna sing and if I’m gonna act, I’m gonna act. I wouldn’t want to do a role where people’s reactions would be “Yeah, it’s alright.” I would want to do it properly.
Do you feel being young makes it harder to understand the music industry?
To tell you the truth, since I left school at 15/16 I went straight into it. I think it was good that way but at the same time because of my age I was a bit oblivious to what was going on around me. There is a lot of negativity in the industry, so in a way being naïve was good because I didn’t have to see the bad side of it. Now that I’m 18 and I have a bit more experience, I feel that I know what I want and that I’m more focused.
How do your friends feel about your fame?
Ah my friends! They’re cool. When I go back to my school , they’re all really supportive. Alhough I’m busy I like to go back and talk to them a lot. I just want to keep it as normal as possible, because in this industry people always say, “Oh you’re a singer, you’re a star” but I am still a normal person.
What was it like working with Cassidy on your latest single ‘Don’t Care Who Knows’?
You know what? You guys are the first to hear this. It was originally just meant to be me because it’s a real ladies track, representing for the girls, but he had seen me perform it at a Choice FM gig. He came up to me and was like “Tell me more about that track, what you doing with it?” and I just didn’t know. He got in contact with my management and was really persistent but I still felt it wasn’t meant to have a rap, it’s a girl’s song! So I looked at it and thought, he’s pretty big in America so this could potentially cross me over, which it has because they’re aware of my name.
You’ve toured with a lot of artists, Mis-Teeq and Black Eyed Peas being two of them, what was that like?
The Mis-Teeq tour was really cool because I was only 16/17 and it was all new for me. Being the first support act is so scary because it’s your job to go out there and hype the crowd up but they [Mis-Teeq] were really nice and it was kind of a girl’s thing too.
Did you do some work with the American producer Scott Storch? (Responsible for Terror Squad’s 'Lean Back')
Yeah I went over to America and I did a couple recordings out there, but his stuff is not on the album. He was great and we really enjoyed working together but I just felt, I’m a UK artist and my album is good, I’m not just bigging it up but there are loads of good UK producers out there and I think it’s time that the British stopped going to America and getting the producers from there. We’re just as good. Cassidy wanted to be on my record and it’s very rare that you find an American artist wanting to be on a record with an unknown UK artist. It proves if you’re talented then you’ve got a chance.
Do you think the future of British urban music is looking up?
Yeah definitely, people are really coming through. People are always saying to me, “Who do you think of as your competition?”. I believe everyone has their own style and individual flavour that they bring. I don’t see myself as an R&B artist, I see myself as a songwriter and a singer, more like Alicia Keys and things like the big ballads from a young Whitney. I want people to respect me for my vocals.
Who do you listen to in your spare time?
Because my mum was a soul singer, I grew up listening to the real great singers: Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin, but I also listened to TLC, even Spice girls, believe it or not! I’ll listen to all types. I love Maroon 5 and I love The Darkness. I don’t see why it has to be just hip-hop or just rock, what happened to just making music?
What have you got coming up in the next six months?
We’ve got all the singles set out so we know what’s going to be released and when. The second single is called ‘Don’t Fool A Woman In Love’ and the third one is ‘The Weakness In Me’. We’ll just have to see how this single does but people in the underground scene are really liking it. Hopefully the support on tours I’ve gained has got me a fan base, and that’s what it’s about, having true fans who love the music.
By 18, Londoner Keisha White has notched up a part in a Hollywood movie and toured with Black Eyed Peas and Jamelia. Ready to launch her music career, she tells uk-fusion why she is going to make the British urban scene fresher than ever
When was your first big break?
I was overwhelmed and privileged when I was asked to do Catwoman in LA with Halle Berry. I was like “me?!” Why me? Originally Alicia Keys was going to play the role but because of touring she couldn’t. They thought that my voice was similar so when they called me out to do the film, I was just like, wow! So for me that was a reality check that I could be heading towards big things.
Do you want to do acting as well?
I definitely have to focus on it; I wouldn’t want to do singing and acting at the same time. If I’m gonna sing, I’m gonna sing and if I’m gonna act, I’m gonna act. I wouldn’t want to do a role where people’s reactions would be “Yeah, it’s alright.” I would want to do it properly.
Do you feel being young makes it harder to understand the music industry?
To tell you the truth, since I left school at 15/16 I went straight into it. I think it was good that way but at the same time because of my age I was a bit oblivious to what was going on around me. There is a lot of negativity in the industry, so in a way being naïve was good because I didn’t have to see the bad side of it. Now that I’m 18 and I have a bit more experience, I feel that I know what I want and that I’m more focused.
How do your friends feel about your fame?
Ah my friends! They’re cool. When I go back to my school , they’re all really supportive. Alhough I’m busy I like to go back and talk to them a lot. I just want to keep it as normal as possible, because in this industry people always say, “Oh you’re a singer, you’re a star” but I am still a normal person.
What was it like working with Cassidy on your latest single ‘Don’t Care Who Knows’?
You know what? You guys are the first to hear this. It was originally just meant to be me because it’s a real ladies track, representing for the girls, but he had seen me perform it at a Choice FM gig. He came up to me and was like “Tell me more about that track, what you doing with it?” and I just didn’t know. He got in contact with my management and was really persistent but I still felt it wasn’t meant to have a rap, it’s a girl’s song! So I looked at it and thought, he’s pretty big in America so this could potentially cross me over, which it has because they’re aware of my name.
You’ve toured with a lot of artists, Mis-Teeq and Black Eyed Peas being two of them, what was that like?
The Mis-Teeq tour was really cool because I was only 16/17 and it was all new for me. Being the first support act is so scary because it’s your job to go out there and hype the crowd up but they [Mis-Teeq] were really nice and it was kind of a girl’s thing too.
Did you do some work with the American producer Scott Storch? (Responsible for Terror Squad’s 'Lean Back')
Yeah I went over to America and I did a couple recordings out there, but his stuff is not on the album. He was great and we really enjoyed working together but I just felt, I’m a UK artist and my album is good, I’m not just bigging it up but there are loads of good UK producers out there and I think it’s time that the British stopped going to America and getting the producers from there. We’re just as good. Cassidy wanted to be on my record and it’s very rare that you find an American artist wanting to be on a record with an unknown UK artist. It proves if you’re talented then you’ve got a chance.
Do you think the future of British urban music is looking up?
Yeah definitely, people are really coming through. People are always saying to me, “Who do you think of as your competition?”. I believe everyone has their own style and individual flavour that they bring. I don’t see myself as an R&B artist, I see myself as a songwriter and a singer, more like Alicia Keys and things like the big ballads from a young Whitney. I want people to respect me for my vocals.
Who do you listen to in your spare time?
Because my mum was a soul singer, I grew up listening to the real great singers: Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin, but I also listened to TLC, even Spice girls, believe it or not! I’ll listen to all types. I love Maroon 5 and I love The Darkness. I don’t see why it has to be just hip-hop or just rock, what happened to just making music?
What have you got coming up in the next six months?
We’ve got all the singles set out so we know what’s going to be released and when. The second single is called ‘Don’t Fool A Woman In Love’ and the third one is ‘The Weakness In Me’. We’ll just have to see how this single does but people in the underground scene are really liking it. Hopefully the support on tours I’ve gained has got me a fan base, and that’s what it’s about, having true fans who love the music.
