Q&A: India.Arie defies labels on "Testimony"

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - India.Arie did not set out to be one of the original poster children for neo-soul. But the seven Grammy Award nominations earned by her 2001 platinum debut, "Acoustic Soul," plus her 2002 Grammy-winning platinum follow-up, "Voyage to India," deemed otherwise.

The singer/songwriter, who is now also a U.S. ambassador for

UNICEF, has taken a more ambitious approach on her third Universal Motown album, "Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship." The June 27 release finds India.Arie covering

Don Henley's "The Heart of the Matter," trading licks with

Bonnie Raitt and even playing trumpet as she explores the aftermath of a painful breakup.

Q: Are you nervous about returning after almost four years?

A: This album shows a more vulnerable side of me, so it does make me a little nervous. But not afraid. Part of what I wanted to do this time was speak my truth about my quest in life. My music has always been very personal. That's what I do.

Not giving people what they expect from me might turn them off. In the music industry you have to be conscious of that. But that takes a back seat to doing what's honest for me. I place this in faith, not fear, that it will work.

Q: In addition to Bonnie Raitt, you collaborated with Rascal Flatts' Gary LeVox. What spurred these intriguing pairings?

A: I just did what I intuitively felt. For some people, these pairings seem unexpected. However, for the people who know me, it all makes perfect sense. It's about all the musicians I love and the stuff I love to do.

This album is closer to who I am musically. It shows a wider range of my tastes and ability, which includes country music. My family is from Memphis; country is in my blood.

Q: Do you consider this album's first single, "I'm Not My Hair," a sequel to your first hit, "Video?"

A: No. People and God took "Video," and it spoke to a lot of women. That song was also about introducing me as an artist: as someone you're not used to hearing.

I know why people hear those songs the same way, but I'm not in that place anymore. "Hair" came as a concept when I cut my locks. The song talks about defining you for you, but it also has a lot of metaphorical messages. That's one reason why I used (R&B singer) Akon on the remix. I had many male friends in the early '90s who couldn't get jobs because they had dreadlocks.

Q: Some people still define you as "neo-soul." What do you think of the term?

A: It was coined to make money. You know, "This is a special kind of water in a special glass that costs $15 instead of $9." That's what the music industry is about.

But that's not what I'm about. I never called myself or my music that. That's what bothered me: They were seeking to define a bunch of artists defying definition. So we were put in this box. How dare you tag someone to make people feel comfortable.

In the beginning I was

Erykah Badu. Before that when I was only writing songs, I was Arrested Development. But time will continue to define me. It's doing that with this album.

Q: You did a clever song in a Los Angeles concert called "Vagina's Monologues." Will that appear on a subsequent album?

A: "Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics" is written and partially recorded. I've reserved that song for that album, but I don't know if it will be on there.

People will assume "Vol. 2" is about the war and American politics. A little of that is in there. But as in "Vagina's," I'm also talking about the way women view their bodies and how that affects our health. I talk about

AIDS in Africa; the hip-hop generation that doesn't prioritize its money. It's about the politics of human nature and humanity.

It's not about me being preachy but doing music that touches and speaks to people.

Q: Is there a country album in your future?

A: Music is what I love to do. And now that I have better producer chops, a country album is something I want to do one day. I don't know who's going to put it out. But when I do, I don't think people will call it "country music." They'll probably call it "neo-soul."

Reuters/Billboard