Received by Newsfinder from APMar 31, 2005 19:38 Eastern Time * Photo Advisory NYET331 By NEKESA MUMBI MOODYAP Music WriterNEW YORK (AP) _ Having a hit single right out the gate can sometimes be more of a curse than a blessing. Just ask Tweet. Three years ago, Tweet (nee Charlene Keys) made her debut with the huge smash “Ooops! (Oh My)!,” a naughty ode to self-pleasure, which had an intoxicating club beat and hip-hop flavor (plus an appearance by mentor Missy Elliott). But she found it hard to showcase herself as a serious artist tackling adult topics after that, and her album, “Southern Hummingbird,” suffered accordingly. The 34-year-old is hoping her new album, “It’s Me Again,” will help her solve that dilemma. Much like her first album, it’s filled with soulful songs about relationships, heartbreak, and self-love _ except this time, the self-love refers to finding happiness within. AP: Do you think “Ooops!” gave people the wrong impression of you? Tweet: Definitely. “Ooops!,” it happened so quickly. That wasn’t even supposed to be the first single. I think we should have dived into the other songs on the album that made sense, and I think that’s what messed up the whole thing on the last album. But this time, with this album, we’re not going to do that. … “Turn Da Lights Off” (her new song with Missy Elliott) is a great intro to what the album is about. It’s a great album about soul music, and I don’t want to steer anybody wrong with what kind of artist I am. I think the world really thought I was a hip-hop artist from the first single. We’re not going to make that mistake the second time. AP: You’ve talked openly in the past about battling depression and feelings of suicide. Do you feel you’ve inspired other women to talk about it? Tweet: My main purpose was just to let the world know that you can go through things and you can come out of it. And if I have to be an open book, then that’s what it is. But I’m just being me. I’m not being honest for it to be a publicity stunt or any other reason but just being honest with myself, and with that, if I can help somebody through that. … AP: What kind of vibe were you going for this album? Tweet: The first one was kind of dark and talking about the life and being in love and how people have hurt me through love, but this album I’ve grown and matured as an artist, and this album is talking more about me being comfortable in my skin and in my place. Love don’t live here no more. I’m focusing on just me and my daughter, and it’s a happier part of my life. AP: Your daughter is 15 _ would you want to have any more children? Tweet: Yes I do. But I don’t want to have another baby daddy. I’ll wait until God sends me that person, and we’ll have a family. But I don’t want another baby daddy. AP: What’s the happiest part of your life? Tweet: I think me becoming an older woman. I’m comfortable and fine with where I am. Happier is knowing that I can be alone and knowing that I can still be happy. I think we find ourselves falling in love just to be in love and just to have a companion, not knowing who that person is. AP: Do you feel like the right man is out there for you? Tweet: That man would have to be the one that God sent in my lap, because when I say happier times, I don’t feel like I have to go look. I feel like God would bless me with the person I’m supposed to be with. As long as he’s God-fearing, can stay committed and believes in monogamy, I’m pretty cool. I’m really not picky, but as long as I can trust him and everything that goes along with that. AP: Have you grown more spiritual? Tweet: I think my relationship with God has gotten stronger. I was in a relationship again, and I found myself being really depressed about a relationship and God was the only one I had to talk to, and in that he made me stronger with believing in him and not to trust in man but to trust in him. I think that last relationship is what really got me to become stronger and believe in him more, and trust in him and only him. AP: Is it hard to keep that spirituality in the entertainment world? Tweet: I think anybody in the industry should have Christ more around them, because the industry is so crazy, he should be more present. That’s why I try not to be what the industry would want me to be, half-naked. You can be tasteful. AP: But you have a sexy image in your new video … Tweet: But it’s not raunchy. There’s a difference. We kind of have defined sexy differently in the world. People think sexy has to be raunchy, but you don’t have to be half-naked. Even in my video, I have my back painted, but that’s sexy, not raunchy. I think there’s a difference, and I’m trying to show the difference. AP: What are your hopes for this album? Tweet: Well, I guess just like the last album, to touch somebody’s life with my music. That’s my Grammy, that’s my Soul Train award … whatever kind of award people gain in the industry. When people come up to me and say I’ve touched them, I think I’ve done my job.
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