Ashanti is still on her New York City grind as she promotes her new role on the 7th season of Army Wives. Yesterday, she sat down with Marc Lamont Hill of Huff Post Live. During the interview, she dished on how she is able to balance music and acting, her debut album making the Guinness Book of World Records and whether she sees marriage and kids in the near future.
Catch the highlights:
On if she strayed away from music for acting
I never strayed too far. After I wrapped on set, I’d go to the studio at night. In Charleston, I found a studio out there to record. When [my character] Latasha peels off her clothes and Ashanti puts her sweats on, she’s in the studio.
On reality shows getting acting roles
It’s like they have a catalyst. What I had to do, I went through three different record deals, I went to I don’t know how many labels to audition, make a demo and things like that. It’s bitter sweet…I wouldn’t put the pain and struggle of what I had to do on anyone else but I look at it like, you didn’t have to do what I had to do.
On how music has changed since she last released an album
I haven’t had an album out since 2008 and so much has changed. I have my own record label, Written Entertainment, so the album is going to be released off of my record label. It’s about putting your heart and soul into your work and craft. Music has changed so much since I last put out an album. You have a lot of stuff out there that’s hot and catchy, but not as deep. It’s very surface to me so you have to experience, reinvent and do a bit of everything. Give variety.
On making the Guinness Book of World Records and if she feels underrated
It’s something that I am really proud of. They say you never really are content, but I am content in a lot of ways. I’m not saying that I’m going to stop and get lazy but I am really satisfied with what I accomplished in music. The awards are amazing, and all of that is great, and the ‘Guinness Book of World Records’ is great, but for me to touch another person that I don’t even know, through music, is something far and beyond.
On if she plans to have some babies or get married in the near future
I have a couple more things that I want to do and accomplish. When I settle down and get married and have a baby, it’s going to be all about the baby. I want to just have that time where I don’t have to worry about this that and the other. I wouldn’t say [marriage] isn’t happening any time soon. I don’t want to be 40. But not tomorrow.
[ sidenote: In 2005, Ashanti made the Guinness Book of World Records for her album, “Foolish” which was the highest selling debut for a female artist in history, selling 503,000 copies in it’s first week. The same week, she became the first female to simultaneously hold the top two places on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart with “Foolish”, and “What’s Luv” and broke records again by having three Top Ten songs (Foolish, What’s Luv, and Always on Time (with Ja Rule) on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in the same week.]
