It’s not just “1 Thing” anymore. In fact, on Thursday (May 19), Ameriie stopped by Power 105’s “The Breakfast Club” to talk about a slew of things, including her hiatus from the music industry.
The R&B songstress, who released her last album In Love & War in 2009, also opened up about new projects. For instance, she’s got a five-track EP titled Drive dropping this Friday (May 20), and another project slated for July.
During the interview, the singer also opened up about her rumored Beyoncé rivalry, her love for Kanye West, and why Drake, The Weeknd, and Rihanna are keeping the sci-fi author inspired these days.
Watch the interview and check out highlights from the conversation below.
On upcoming work: “I have an EP [Drive] coming Friday, actually. I’m working on another one that I want to put out in July. I have an anthology coming out, a villain-themed anthology [Because You Love to Hate Me] with a lot of best-selling authors. I’ve been doing a lot of writing too. I love writing. That’s what I did when I was really, really young. I’m working on a sci-fi fantasy trilogy.”
On her hiatus: “I know I disappeared and people are like, ‘What happened?’ It’s because, I don’t really chase after fame. I don’t really love red carpets. Maybe it’s because of the OCD thing. They just give me a lot of anxiety…People ask me to do reality shows, but that’s not me.”
On her background: “I’m black and Korean…My dad’s from Philadelphia. My mom is from South Korea. One side of my family has been here forever, built this country. The other part of me, my mom is from Korea, so I did deal with the immigrant experience.”
On changing her name to Ameriie: “I added that in. Some people were like, ‘Is it because of a legal thing?’ No, because that’s my name anyway. They couldn’t do that.”
On whether Beyoncé imitated her: “I wouldn’t say that. A lot of people are gonna say different things, but artists, we’re all in dialogue with each other. No artist is an island. You can’t say, ‘I have no influences.’ Sometimes, people try to say ‘I have an influence, the 50-year-old ones from back in the day.’ But we’re all influenced by old and current music. We can’t get around it.”
On rumors of a Jay Z relationship: “Really? I have never heard that. Really? I’ve never, ever heard that.”
On Kanye West: “I always have such big ideas. That’s why I love Kanye because I feel like I understand him as an artist, as far as one could when they’re not that person. I feel like I have such big ideas.”
On her current favorites: “Really inspired these days. I’ve been really feeling Drake’s album [Views], The Weeknd, Rihanna’s, LEMONADE is good.”