2010.08.04. 17:27, CeeCee
Tight security surrounds the yellow bubble that is the Optus Love Lounge at Customs House forecourt. One of the world’s biggest R&B superstars is inside. As the NINETOFIVE crew pass the guards at the entrance, we’re enveloped in yellow light emanating from the bubble. Camera crews dot the area, along with bean bags and bustling PR people.
Kelly Rowland is perched on a lounge, looking relaxed. She mentions she hasn’t eaten and could do with some food. No surprise. She’s been up since 4am doing back-to-back promos for Optus, who have flown her here to promote the iPhone 4, released last Friday. But you wouldn’t know she’s been up for so long. Her hair is immaculate, her skin flawless, her outfit fierce.
As we sidle up for our interview, she beams those pearly whites and grins.
“Oh my god, you are so stunning!”
Pursing her voluptuous lips together and rolling her neck she states in the nicest of ghetto tones, “I saw you sashaying up here and I was like biiitch!”
Rowland is a delight to interview. Friendly and personable, she lives up to her reputation as one of the easiest stars to deal with. If she needs something, she asks politely. If someone needs something from her, she does it with a grin. Surprising, considering she was one third of one of the world’s best selling bands, Destiny’s Child. Together with Beyonce Knowles and Michelle Williams, the trio sold over 50 million records and scored four US number-one singles. She could have anything.
Since the group’s disbandment in 2005, Rowland’s star has continued to rise, thanks to the success of her solo career. She’s had a worldwide number one hit with rapper Nelly with Dilemma, her solo debut Simply Deep hit number one in the UK, and her collaboration with French DJ David Guetta spawned her most commercially successful single When Love Takes Over, which hit number one in 11 countries. Her record sales, combined with those of Destiny’s Child surpass 60 million.
Her Australian promo – the third this year – has seen a few firsts for the songstress, including a Sydney winter.
“This is cold for Sydney, but I just came from 30 to 40 degrees in Miami. [Normally when I’ve visited] it’s been the same, so this is a shocker for me.”
She has jumped onto the iPhone boat, confessing she was waiting to get to Australia until she got one.
“I have one now. I love it. My favourite thing is my Yoga Stretching app and the Gym Buddy, because as much as I hate the gym I know it’s good for me.”
Whether Optus like it or not, Rowland’s been vocal on many a political matter. She’s backed Julia Gillard as prime minister, telling the Daily Telegraph: “Anything to do with women being leaders, I am all for.”
She’s also spoken out about legalising gay marriage, telling NINETOFIVE: “If you want get married, get married! Just make sure you’re making the right step. That’s all it is.
Marriage is a commitment between two people. It has nothing to do with the rest of the world.”
When asked if she would consider a career in politics, she simply laughed. “I haven’t, I just know the way I feel.”
Last week was a big one for Sydney. Along with Rowland, the city was abuzz with musicians, here for either R&B festival Winterbeatz, or the more commercial Splendour in the Grass.
“Ne-Yo’s here! And the Scissor Sisters are here too!” Rowland screamed with delight. “I was supposed to go hang with Ne-Yo last night, I couldn’t, but I really wanted to hang out. We’re buddies.
“I’d like to talk to him more, and I should,” she blushes. “When it comes to my peers, I’m always very shy. I don’t know why!”
It may come as a surprise, but the person Rowland feels she would die to meet is English R&B band Sade’s lead singer Sade Adu.
“I haven’t met her yet, but I’m sure if I met Sade I would probably bug out. I would bug out, oh my gosh.
“Beyonce told me that when Sade went to her concert, she was like ‘she was just so cool!’.
“I said ‘was she?!’... like I’m hangin’ onto every word,” she giggles. “And she was like ‘I shouldn’t be telling you stuff like this’ and I was like ‘no! you shouldn’t! You should’ve called me and told me she’d be there!’.
“But Beyonce didn’t even know she was going to be there.”
She also bumped into Richard Branson on the flight here., in town to promote the launch of Virgin Money.
“He’s so nice, so incredibly nice. And not just that, he spoke to everybody on the plane, and got on the intercom at the end and made sure everybody did a round of applause to the crew. Just nice stuff.”
“It was like ‘dude, I’m completely wrapped around your finger. You’ve got me at hello right now.’.”
On the music front, the lead up to Rowland’s third solo record has been somewhat controversial. Dropped from Columbia Records last year, she was signed to Universal Music shortly after. She also ended her relationship with manager Matthew Knowles, the man responsible for making Destiny’s Child and Beyonce household names. But she says her career is just where she wants it to be, and the only way to go is up.
“The most effective change is that it’s team Kelly, and that’s what I want. And I got that and everybody’s very supportive.”
AJÁNLOM AZ OLDALT
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