R&B songstress Lolah Brown will release her debut EP, “Black Lily,” on June 29. Rated RnB had the opportunity to chat with Brown to gain more insight about her new release. During the interview, Brown defines “Black Lily,” names her favorite track, and talks about balancing being a back up singer and solo artist.
Why did you choose to title the album “Black Lily?” What’s the meaning behind the title?
I was actually in the study with my A&R putting things together for my album when we began to look into album names. I don’t know where the title came from; I guess it came from the feel that I got from the album. The album is not really a club album it’s more real and intimate. Lily is a flower that has a connection to happiness, it’s also a connection with women not sure if it’s because of our shape but yeah. And black is dark, intimate, and real. The album has a mix of both. The album has a very emotional feel that represents me. I really took the time to let my fans know my thoughts and how I feel.
What can your fans expect to hear on this album?
The fans can expect to hear real R&B music in a real modern way. I say modern way because I took the time to write my music. I really took time to listen to the track and feel a vibe from each one. Music is something that comes from the soul and that’s what I wanted my album to represent. Vocally I feel that I may have played it safe but I wanted to let the fans have a connection with the lyrics and who I am as an artist.
Brown names her favorite track…
I can’t choose a favorite; I honestly can listen to the album from top to bottom without skipping because it all means something to me. But if I had to choose it would be the last track “My Everything” because of my son. I wrote it for him, I chose words that both a mother and a young boy would use and express. He means the world to me that is why I call him my everything. He even has his own debut on this album. My son has played a major part in the reason for me making Black Lily and the start of my solo career.
Your new single “Movin’ On” is a really nice song. What inspired you to do this record?
This was actually one of the first records I wrote in Aug 2011, I was in Phoenix, AZ. The producer sent me this track which was really dope to me; it has an aggressive beat with heavy drums. Men and women can relate to the song because you may feel or have felt unappreciated, your spouse is not keeping it real, or the initial pissed off feeling when you first find out about him or her cheating. I drew the vibe from this record from those feelings. No one specific situation inspired the track; I thought about numerous past situations and drew my lyrics from there.
Some people may not know this but you sang back up for artists like John Legend, Keri Hilson and Nicki Minaj. Talk about your transition from a backup singer to a solo artist.
I have not fully transitioned out of being a back ground vocalist. Currently, I am still working with John Legend as one of his back ground vocalist, along with my solo career. The situation works for me because you are not always working with the artist. When an artist is not on tour, you aren’t on tour but it all depends on their schedule. It’s a cool position to be in because it helps allow me to build a fan base. I’m not sure when I will make that transition but it is something that I think about daily.
What’s next for Lolah Brown?
Black Lily drops on [June 29, 2012] at Lolahbrown.com, livemixtapes.com, and prayerfully other sources and blogs soon. It will be a free download so it won’t cost you anything but a quick click and your time. There will definitely be more videos from songs from the album and covers of songs up on youtube.com/lolahbrown coming very soon. I have a couple shows coming up soon also, some in New Orleans a show case at the Essence Music Festival and more dates with John Legend before the fall. Hopefully, I can put a small show together where I can open for John Legend when he begins touring in the fall.
Peep Brown’s promo video for “Black Lily.”
