Keri Hilson: Not your average girl next door…

Driving into the Central Business District of New Orleans on a cloudy Sunday afternoon, the streets are unusually calm and you wouldn’t think that in just a few hours one of the city’s beloved sons would be returning with the I Am Music Tour. Lil’ Wayne is home and he’s brought along one of the year’s most watched it girls, singer/songwriter Keri Hilson. As we meet for our interview I’m greeted with a warm hello and smile, her personality really shines as a genuinely sweet person. We sit in the radio station lounge and I’m ready to get the scoop on her highly anticipated debut album In a Perfect World…

After penning hits for many of the industry’s biggest artists like Britney Spears, Usher, and Ciara, she made a splash on to the scene appearing on Timbaland’s album Shock Value with hits like “The Way I Are.” She remains one of the most watched artists, making a big impact with her debut single “Energy” and her current single “Turning Me On” featuring tour mate Lil’ Wayne. Despite her album being pushed back to early 2009, many are still looking to see what Keri has to offer?

Continue reading to listen to my exclusive interview with Keri…

PART I

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Melody: Why don’t you tell me just a little bit about coming from songwriter to artist.

Keri Hilson: Well for me easy because I actually was an artist first. I grew up performing, as early as first grade and kindergarten. So as long as I can remember I was on the stage. So that was my first love. Songwriting for me was my plan B. And I would have never guessed that it would have brought me back to my plan A, but I’m grateful that it did. You just can’t plan certain things so I’m glad that that artist thing fell back into my lap.

So, yeah, not a hard transition at all.

Melody: Being a writer and being an artist, is it easier to write for yourself as opposed to other people?

Keri: Well you know it’s about the same. It’s about the same. I put my all into whoever I’m writing for, even myself. So I can’t say that it’s easier for me. It’s probably more challenging because I really want my project to be the best that it could be.

Melody: Has there ever been a song that you’ve written maybe for yourself, or said ‘oh, I want that for myself’?

Keri: Oh that’s happened more than I an would give away one of my own! Yeah, I remember specifically, a song that I wrote for Danity Kane called “Right Now.” Absolutely, it’s a safe sex song, I would have loved to have that on my album.

Melody: So do we have a release date yet?

Keri: No specific date, but were looking at March. We’re trying to see which Tuesday in March.

Melody: So tell me what people can expect from In a Perfect World…?

Keri: Well it’s songs about how women really think and really feel. I call it “In a Perfect World” because I didn’t want to do songs that painted me perfect. I wanted to really depict how we really think and how we really feel. The things we would say, the things we talk about over a bottle of wine and dinner. So that’s pretty much the basis of it. I say that I left it, the ellipsis, on the end, an incomplete sentence because no one is exempt from hardship and heartbreak and all the realities of life.

Melody: So who did you work with on the album?

Keri: My situation is a joint venture between Polow Da Don and Timbaland at Interscope records. So Timabaland and Polow did the majority of the album. The third producer is Danja, DanjaHandz, who is Timbaland protégé. He worked on so many things, like “My Love” to “We Takin’ Over,” he’s incredible. He actually holds some of my favorite songs on the album. I co-wrote with Justin Timberlake on a couple joints, one for sure will make it. We’re still going through the final track listing. And of course [Lil’] Wayne, I’m like a huge fan of his. So feature wise, that’s my favorite feature right there.

Keri Hilson: Turning Me On ft. Lil Wayne

Melody: Any other features as far as artists?

Keri: None that I want to say. I remember being like a consumer and that’s why I leave it to the imagination. Because I remember just picking up an album like, ‘Oh they got so-and-so on it! Man I can wait.’ So I don’t want to give it away. I feel like fans sometimes know too much.

Melody: Well, in this day and age, they hear too much, they get everything. So, not much hidden. Speaking of that, being in the industry, is there any part of yourself that you feel you may lose in the industry? Or a part of yourself that you are very protective of?

Keri: Yeah, I am a pretty private person. I think that’s all that I will lose, is my privacy. Fame is something that is probably my least favorite part of doing what I do. I mean, obviously, if you’re competitive, you want to do something at the highest level, and that’s what it is for me. It’s doing music and allowing people to hear something that I’ve been working on for so many years. And of course you want as many people to hear it as possible, but the fame part, it has a lot of downfalls.

But I don’t plan on losing any part of me, I’m a praying woman. I love my family, I stick around them as much as I possibly can. I’ve been myself so far, so I’m good.

Melody: We saw such a great moment, with your family, when you went to vote. You put that on YouTube with you, your mom, and your sister.

Keri: Someone did yes.

Melody: Oh, I didn’t know that.

Keri: Unedited.

Melody: It was just great to see so many people so excited about it..

Keri: Yes!

PART II

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Melody: Also you have pretty much a great reputation for being quite stylish. You definitely have a great style, so where does it come from?

Keri: Thank you.

Melody: Is it just you or do you have a team? A glam squad?

Keri: Yeah, of course I have a glam squad they’re not always around, but I think mine is always, it always comes from me. Because even when they are around, they know that they can’t just throw anything on me. They know that I always have to have my input. I grew up an athlete so, even though I might look like a girly girl to the world, there is always some sort of masculine edge to what ever it is that I put on. So I think my style is indicative of who I am.

Melody: You’re on the tour with Lil’ Wayne, the tour still going on, so what can people expect from Keri Hilson on stage.

Keri: Well, it gets a little sexy at times, and it gets fun at times, like I’ve heard people explain my show as the sexy homegirl. Like the approachable, sexy…

Melody: Girl next door

Keri: Yeah… girl next door. Exactly, so I do have a lot of fun. I have a lot of fun on stage. The reception has been very well, very good.

Melody: Do you prefer the big stage, because I saw you in Baton Rouge on a smaller stage but now you on this big arena tour where you have more space.

Keri: I do what ever I came to do, wherever I’m at. We can do it right here and we are gonna get it crackin’ at 100%.

Melody: Well that’s what a good artist is! Other than music, do you have any other aspirations?

Keri: You know I was a theater major in college, so I would love to do the acting thing when it’s time. I don’t want to just get the throwing roles. The ones they just throw at you, come and appear as your self. I don’t want it to look like promo. I want people to understand that I can act. It’s something that I grew up with.

Melody: One last question that I love ask artists, and talking about your current album, but in the future, if there was any ultimate duet or some that you are dying to work with…

Keri: Lauryn Hill! You don’t even have to finish the question.

Melody: Nope! Lauryn Hill.

Keri: Love her. She inspires me so much. She’s a big, big part of why my music sounds the way it does. I say that on the inspirations side. Not that she influences my sound but she inspires me to be different.

Melody: Everybody is waiting for Lauryn Hill’s come back.

Keri: I don’t know if we are going to get it though. Everybody that I’ve encountered that know her and have worked with her say it’s not happening. I’m so upset, but I’m still holding on.

Melody: You never know, we still have some years…Just hold on!

Make sure to catch Keri Hilson on the I Am Music Tour with Lil’ Wayne, T-Pain, and Keyshia Cole. You can keep up with Keri Hilson on her Official Website and on MySpace.

Special thanks to Garrett and Redwine for making this happen!