A Conversation with Angie Stone: ‘Real Music,’ Twitter Hiatus & Reality TV

A few hours before she was set to hit the stage at DC’s The Park at Fourteenth, I caught up with the soulful songstress, Angie Stone. We sat in the lobby of a cozy, DC hotel and discussed as much as I could squeeze into 10 minutes. I wanted to know where exactly she had been (I lost track of her, but apparently she had been here all along), what inspired her style to evolve (from mother earth to mainstream) and if she was the same beautiful spirit that sang “Black Brotha.” No, I didn’t ask her about her relationship with D’Angelo or delve into how she was perceived on reality TV years ago (well, I sorta did), but we talked about what we all love about Stone, her gift of song. Peep our conversation.

For folks that have never experienced Angie Stone live, what can they expect? “Just Angie. I try to stay true to my music and have a good time and deliver a great performance.”

What’s the biggest difference between your latest album, and your other past albums? “All of them are expression of me….the things that I go through. I think the one thing I am is consistent in my message. I might have taken different approaches just for some element changes but overall, I like to deliver messages in my music….and that’s always been consistent.”

What’s your musical preference–writing, recording or performing? “When something moves me, it moves me. When I’m feeling good about something, I write about it. When I feel bad about something, I write about it. So, it’s just catching me in the mood.”

Do you ever have instances when you feel like you’re not connecting with the audience? “There are times when I have an audience and they’ll just look at me. They’ve never seen me, have only heard about me. Those people are just absorbing. When I don’t connect with them, I connect with my inner spirit–with my music and I allow that to drive me.”

We miss you on Twitter! You haven’t tweeted since last year. Where have you been?! “I don’t even know how to work it. The thing about it is, I know that I need to become more Internet savvy….” (I interject and ask if she doesn’t have time for Twitter). “I have plenty of time for it; I’m just not a computer girl. I love YouTube and things that are easy, but as far as Twitter….everybody’s telling me ‘Angie, you need to get up on your Twitter page.’ I watch Nick Cannon tweet on his Twitter page every other second. I realize that’s important, but I haven’t gotten there yet.”

Can your fans expect you to come back to Twitter anytime soon? “Oh yeah, y’all wanna see me on Twitter?” (I nod, yes.) “Okay, I’ll be back.”

Are you going to be on any upcoming films? “I’m in a film right now, with a leading role, for a movie called The Prodigal. I’ve also been working with Tommy Ford on television pilot. I did a movie with Marvin Winans Jr. I’m looking forward to doing more TV, aside from reality.”

Are you opposed to doing another reality show? (Stone was on season 4 of Celebrity Fit Club, back in 2006). “I want to do the right show. I’d rather it be a reality show that has substance.”

How was your experience on Celebrity Fit Club? “It was almost 8 years ago and it was horrible. Reality is not the reality that you think it is. It’s not true to the name of it.”

How did you land the hook on Girlfriends? (Stone sang the theme song for the UPN/CW’s sitcom, Girlfriends) “I had to change my flight, because they had a tight deadline and it needed to be done right then. I stayed in the studio with Kip and we did the song.”

Tell me about your daughter’s musical experience. “She’s sang lead vocals and background. She’s an incredible artist and writer herself.” (I tried to get her daughters Twitter name, but of course momma Stone didn’t know what it was ;-)).

What other artists, if any, are you listening to right now? “When I’m in the process of doing an album, I really don’t try to listen to a lot of artists. What I’ve been doing most is trying to reconnect with my old stuff. Like Mahogany Soul, Black Diamond, because real music is missing in the industry. I’m trying to go back to the natural Angie Stone. I think I ventured out a little bit to try to conform to what’s happening now, but what made me special was what I was doing aside from what everybody else was doing. I had my fun with that, so now it’s trying to get back to do me.”

What do you mean by real music? “Not working so hard and not trying to make something sound like what you think it should sound like..but just going with your true gut instinct and delivering….from a spiritual space, I think I kinda toned down and now work only with core people that do what I do and that work from a spiritual place.”

In addition to music and movies, I managed to find out what else Stone had on her plate. And to my surprise, she’s created the
First Class Glam Squad, the Angie Stone Agency. The agency consists of make-up artists, stylists, beauticians, barbers, and is now the first black owned glam squad in Atlanta. It’s described as a “one of a kind glam squad with some of the industries best artist and image branders into one package.” Her next business move is to open a 24-hour daycare and eventually develop a boot line for plus sized women. As she explained, “Some plus sized women have a hard time finding nice boots. We have issues with the boot going over our calf muscle or leg. I want to design something fly for the big girls.”

Fast forward two hours later and Angie Stone, along with three singers and a killer band, had transformed from a soft spoken, southern South Carolina woman, to this woman on stage who I barely recognized. In only a way that Stone could perform, she brought the house down (even performed EU’s 1988 hit, ‘Da Butt’). Peep some of the footage that blogger, I Am Super Gorge captured:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C30oyFsjgoU[/youtube]

Special thanks to Beny Blaq Entertainment, the DC based promotion company, who are the master mind’s behind the Park Unplugged series. Up next, they have Jaguar Wright performing.