A sweet time for Rowland (From Redditch Advertiser)

A sweet time for Rowland

7:00am Saturday 3rd July 2010

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Kelly Rowland releases her new single Commander on Monday June 28. The former Destiny's Child lady tells us about the collaboration with super-DJ David Guetta, her forthcoming album, and why she feels more confident than ever.

By Andy Welch.

Singer Kelly Rowland, 29, gives weight to the theory that people's personalities become frozen at the age they become famous.

Despite having travelled around the world many times, both as part of Destiny's Child and for her solo career, and having shifted more than 60 million records, there's a certain naivety about her which reflects the fact she first shot to fame aged 16.

Certainly rumours about her weight loss, and a controversial relationship to food, seem unfounded, as she sits happily in her hotel room, surrounded by bowls of jelly beans and empty Celebrations wrappers.

"Oh my," she says. "I love these things. The Snickers are incredible. And the little Bounty bars. I have a terrible sweet tooth. I have to stop myself!"

From the way she talks about the last two years and the next steps of her career, it seem like the Atlanta-born star is very positive about the future.

"In Destiny's Child we were a team; we thought as a team, sang as a team, and that's what made it so great," she explains.

"Now that I'm by myself I feel empowered, sure of myself and happy with the space I'm in.

"I remember around two years ago, realising I was closer to 30 than I was to 25, and I began asking myself where I wanted to go, what I wanted to do, what I saw myself doing, trying, and where I wanted to be in 10 years time.

"I put myself under a lot of pressure, and for a while I was just in panic mode, feeling like I wasn't in control of anything - which I hated, because I learned that I'm a control freak.

"I finally realised I wanted more for me. There's nothing wrong with that. I had been thinking as a team for so long that I carried it over to my solo career, but with all due respect, as much as I love my sisters, I should have been thinking about me more, rather than the, 'We, we we we'."

Kelly says this epiphany changed the way she thought about everything, and enabled her to "banish fear" which sounds mightily impressive.

"I was scared of certain decisions," she says. "I'm still dismissing fear now in different guises, but I filled the space with faith.

"I have faith in myself, my family, my friends, God, my fans - all the ones who have believed in me so long."

Kelly's says he newly found confidence has allowed her to make some big decisions in her personal life - although she doesn't go into details. Professionally, it saw her leave a record label and change musical direction.

She was in the south of France two summers ago for a music festival where she met French DJ and producer David Guetta.

They hit upon something pretty quickly, and in 2009 won a Grammy award for their first collaboration, the global hit When Love Takes Over.

Having won three Grammys as part of Destiny's Child, one of the most successful groups of all time, and another for her duet with Nelly, Dilemma, Kelly knows a thing or two about awards, but her solo gong holds a special place.

"I think it was God telling me that there are rewards for taking risks, and that this is just the start," she begins.

"It was a reward for my change in mindset, and a sign to say I was on the right track. I didn't appreciate it before, or take it in that I'd won, and it still hasn't really sunk in so when someone mentions it, it surprises me all over again!"

Eager to repeat the formula that earned them the prestigious award, Kelly and David have teamed up again for another single, Commander.

Again, like Love Takes Over, it's in the Europop vein rather than the RnB-based sound Kelly made her name with.

"I didn't know anything about Europop and trance before David, he had to introduce me to the whole culture," she says.

"Club music in America is a lot more RnB-led, but we're getting there with this proper dance culture. There are pockets in Miami, parts of LA, New Jersey and places where it's really big.

"It only took about two hours to get the vocal on the track, I just wanted to sing it," she says excitedly, before leaning forward conspiratorially. "I love to sing," she whispers, like she's delivering a trade secret.

It all bodes well for her forthcoming album, due out later this year. This time she's pulled in a whole host of guest-writers and producers to help her, although Guetta will oversee the entire album as co-producer.

"It's going to be amazing," she beams, before reeling off a veritable Who's Who of the talent enlisted.

There's Salaam Remi, who produced Amy Winehouse's debut album Frank, uber-cool Norwegian duo Stargate, Grammy award-winner and Diddy-Dirty Money co-writer Rico Love, and Dr Luke, who has written for Miley Cyrus, Pink and Kelly Clarkson.

"I thought it would be hard working with so many people, and that all the songs wouldn't line up, sonically, but it's going to sound just perfect," she says, unwrapping a miniature Snickers and grinning.

"Just you wait."

Kelly Rowland - Extra time :: Kelendria Trene Rowland was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on February 11, 1981.

:: She left Georgia when she was eight after her mother left her father. It was then Kelly met the Knowles family.

:: With her friends Beyonce Knowles and LaTavia Robertson, Destiny's Child was formed. Originally called Girls' Tyme, and featuring another member, the group eventually became Destiny's Child, and with the release of their second album, The Writing's On The Wall, because a global success.

:: The group split in 2006, with each member going on to solo success.

:: Kelly also has an acting career, which began in 2002 when she guest-starred in series The Hughleys. Since then, she has appeared in films Freddie Vs Jason and The Seat Filler. She has also presented several US TV shows.

:: Please note: Commander by Kelly Rowland feat. David Guetta is released on Monday June 28.

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