Save a fantastic contribution to the Great Gatsby
soundtrack with 'A Little Party Never Killed Nobody', it has been six
years since we had a new single release from Fergie.
However, that wait ended last September with the premiere of the Black
Eyed Peas star's new single 'LA Love (La La)', which will finally be
available in the UK this weekend (January 25).
Digital Spy caught up with The Dutchess of pop to talk about her new
single, its accompanying album and why she may not reunite with Black
Eyed Peas later this year.
It's been six years since your last solo
material, so what was it about 'LA Love' that made you decide it was
the perfect track to return with?
"Well I did it and I just didn't want to sit on it and hold it. I felt
like I was ready to call out to the world and say, 'What's up?'
basically. I'm finishing this album and I'm coming with everything. I
just didn't want to wait any longer."
Did you know as soon as it was finished that it was going to be the first single?
"It just felt good and the right time to spread some positivity. It felt
right to me because there's all this craziness going on in the world
right now. That's basically why. There's just so much going on with all
the terrorism and ISIS and all of that, I just felt like I wanted to
spread some chill Cali vibes."
There is such a love for The Dutchess
and the singles that came from that album, so were you nervous about
launching your second solo project?
"No, I'm deep in it right now as we speak. I'm going to the studio after
I get off the phone. I'm completely involved in finishing the album and
I'm razor-sharp focussed. I am engulfed in it. Every song is different,
so for me, I'm really enjoying going into each song's vortex - from the
lyrics to the sound of it, to what it looks like visually, not only in
the video, but the performance - and sharing things that I've been
writing for the last few years. I've been recording myself every time I
get inspiration. I always write it down - it's my rule. Taking those
ideas and evolving them into finished songs is such a great process that
I remember how fulfilling it is to me."
How long have you been accumulating ideas? Has it been since the release of The Dutchess?
"Absolutely, because with a Black Eyed Peas album, there's not enough
room for me to go into my personal feelings about everything. That's
what you have a solo album for. So they're each their own animals. I'm
very proud of it and I'm very excited to play it for everyone. It's
definitely a lot of different styles all in one album, because I want it
to represent me truthfully. It wouldn't be me if it just leant to one
certain thing."
Is there a particular emotion or idea that it gravitates towards more, though?
"Each song is different. I mean, every one. That's all I can say. They're all just different facets."
You've worked with DJ Mustard on 'LA Love', but can you tell us who else you've been in the studio with?
"I'm going in with Doctor Luke today. Words can't express what I feel
about the song we're doing today. I was in with will.i.am last week.
I've been in with Mike WiLL, Polow da Don, and the list keeps growing
because I keep forgetting there are people where I'm like, 'Oh my gosh -
I want to get in with them'. The process right now for me is just so
fulfilling and reminds me of when I was recording The Dutchess."
We love your R&B material, but we
know you're a big fan of old-school rock, so can we expect some of that
influence in there?
"Absolutely - it's going to be all over the map."
Just how rock can a Fergie album go?
"We'll just see! [laughs] I mean I could do an entire album that's all
rock. I'm not doing that, but there has to be a little bit of that in
there because it's a part of me."
When are you hoping to get the album out?
"It's definitely this year. I'm working as fast as I possibly can making quality songs."
will.i.am has become somewhat of a national treasure in the UK because of The Voice.
"I know - I love it! I don't follow it, but I have switched it on before
just to check in and see how he was doing. It's the perfect job for
him. This is what he is meant to do."
Your name has been rumored a few times for these kind of shows, but is it something you'd consider doing?
"Oh I'm definitely open, there just hasn't been the time."
will.i.am also let slip recently that
the Black Eyed Peas are going to be doing something special for their
20th anniversary this year, so have you guys met up to discuss that yet?
"Not really. I was just in the studio last week and I saw Taboo there,
and I heard something will was doing and it was great. But maybe the
guys are doing something? I haven't been in the group for 20 years, so
it's more their anniversary of being together for 20 years. So maybe
they're putting out an album themselves."
(Note: Fergie officially joined the
band in 2003 so it is actually her 12th anniversary as an honorary Black
Eyed Pea. That said, new BEP music without Fergie is a bit concerning.)
But when you guys get together I imagine the chemistry clicks back. You must be in contact all the time, right?
"Well I just saw Taboo at the studio for a few minutes, but I'm working
on my stuff and I only have a certain amount of hours I can be in the
studio because I have Axl. So I'm just very focussed on finishing my
album right now."
How are you finding the balance between being a mother and being a recording artist?
"Oh I am on a regimen! I'm like queen of the iCal. I have everything
scheduled in, marked in colors, all of that. I have to be at the studio a
certain time and then I'm like Cinderella - I turn into a pumpkin! I
gotta go! I used to hang out in the studio day in day out, but I don't
have time to do that anymore. I've got to balance my life."
Not many people in the UK realize that
you've been in the entertainment business for 30 years now as we didn't
really get Kids Inc here in the 1980s. If you could go back to 1989 and
give Fergie, the girl who was just about to leave the show a piece of
advice, what would it be?
"It would be to trust your gut because when I've done that, it's worked
for me. If you can see the pathway clearly, you can take the steps to
make it happen. It doesn't matter what anyone else says or what their
thoughts are, of what they think you should be doing. They just don't
see your vision yet."
The album will definitely be out this year, so are you hoping to tour it?
"Hoping? I'm going to! There's no hoping - I'm doing it! I'm coming for you."
Are we going to be getting some dates in the UK?
"Absolutely, 100 per cent. I am coming for you - remember I said that! I will be bringing the LA Lovebus over there."
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