Kelly Rowland

When Kelly Rowland takes over for Dinah Shore weekend then you better get ready to dance. This Grammy-winning singer took a moment from her busy studio work to chat with Windy City Times.

WCG: (Windy City Times) Hello, Kelly. Happy late birthday!

KR: (Kelly Rowland) That is so nice of you! I had a fantastic birthday.

WCT: What age did you start in the music biz?

KR: I was about 12. Beyonce was 11 and I was 12. We have been in the business a long time. We are 28 and 29 years old now. You do the math. It is insane, isn’t it?

WCT: Did you ever think it would lead to all of this?

KR: You hope and you pray. We were some odd kids. All we wanted to do was rehearse and put out a record. We wanted to be like TLC and En Vogue. It is amazing that we met them, and they have both been so supportive. It is crazy what can come about. This has really been a blessing.

WCT: Last time we talked it was when you were on the Bravo show called the Fashion Show. How was it working with Isaac Mizrahi and the gang?

KR: I love Isaac. I could eat Isaac for breakfast, lunch and dinner. He is absolutely yummy. We had such a great time together—he, Fern Mallis and myself. We are still friends to this day even though the show is over and everything. We had a ball. I still keep in contact with some of the designers.

WCT: I liked that you had a strong opinion on it. I heard you might be a judge on X Factor.

KR: I heard about that, too. It is so funny how people will tell you what you are going to do. [Both laugh.] I like X Factor and would be a great judge except I am not doing the show. I am putting together a record right now with David Guetta.

WCT: Your song with David Guetta, “When Love Takes Over,” has been a big gay hit!

KR: Thank you. I can’t wait for you to hear the rest of the record. I am loving it so much right now. I listen to it every day when I am driving back and forth to the studio. It has been fantastic.

WCT: Is it finished?

KR: Nooo, not finished. I am very picky. I probably recorded around 35 songs. I only love six.

WCT: Are there special guest stars like Nelly on it?

KR: Nelly and I went in the studio to go try out a record that he had an idea for. It will probably be on his record, not mine. I love Nelly.

WCT: You have tons of incredible producers on this album.

KR: I do. I have great talent to help me. You know what? People are excited about the change in music—how it is moving into an electronic dance world and fusing those two together.

WCT: That’s exciting.

KR: You have no idea how exciting it is. I remember when I first took meetings with different producers and I played them “Love Takes Over,” especially coming over here to the States, people were like, “What are you doing?” “This is so far away from who you are and what you have done.” I said, “I know, but this is what I am feeling.” I felt like I had finally found my niche. Not only that but David introduced me to the culture of dance music.

WCT: I just heard his new single with Estelle called “Freak,” and it is good.

KR: It is. It is very good.

WCT: Well, you won a Grammy for “Love Takes Over” so you must be doing something right.

KR: I would say so. I feel like after I did that song and toured with David, that I have been so influenced and inspired by him. I became very excited about going back in the studio immediately. Everything just kind of birthed itself from there. It is continuing to grow with different producers. I love it and can’t complain.

WCT: You get to headline for the Dinah Shore Weekend.

KR: I know! I am very excited. I have heard nothing but good things. Everyone that goes said that I will have a ball and it is the best crowd. I am just waiting for that.

WCT: Are you singing at the Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras show in Sydney, Australia?

KR: I am not sure yet. I am going with David. If I don’t perform there then I will be performing at different places around there. I would love to perform at the actual event if I get the opportunity.

WCT: That would be a blast. Do you have more acting roles coming up?

KR: As of now there is nothing in stone because I have been in the studio like crazy. My friends are ready to disown me. They say, “ I think you found a new boyfriend and it’s the studio!” It is not that but this record to me is the most important record. I just want every little minute detail to be amazing.

WCT: You always keep busy with lots of AIDS charity work and now you have I Heart My Girlfriends to raise money for teenage girls. We appreciate all the outside work that you do.

KR: Aww, thank you.

WCT: We want you to have a bigger tour to support the new album and come to Chicago.

KR: Trust me, I am working on that. You have no idea.

In the meantime, Kelly Rowland will headline the Circus A Go-Go event Saturday, April 3, at 8 p.m. at the Renaissance Palm Springs, 888 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, Calif. Tickets and information can be found at www.dinahshoreweekend.com.

Interview by: Jerry Nunn for the Windy City Times