… I was a little hesitant with putting out music in this time because, of course, you want to speak to the times. This is the year where we all need to feel like we have something to get us through. It is what we all need, and I feel like we need it more now than we ever have. Why do you think Black female R&B artists like yourself, Jhené Aiko, Chloe x Halle, Kehlani and Teyana Taylor have been showing up in such a major way over the past few months? We’re going to remember 2020 for a lot of things, but it’s become the year that women led the R&B pack. I want her to follow her creative gut, her creative flow, and just try everything that she possibly can with her voice. Just beautiful to see her grow into this beautiful musician, this young artist that’s coming into her own. First of all, I’m just so proud to be her mom.
Your daughter, Sy’rai, is featured on the ladies anthem “High Heels.” What does that mean to you? And then he just always wanted me to just be confident in my gift, in what I’m here to do, which is to touch, heal and bless people with my music. My way of expressing myself is unique, and to embrace that and be honest in that and just take that on. He wanted me to understand that the way I get a song across is my way, my tone, my inflections. He just wanted me to embrace the parts of me that I doubt. What was the best piece of advice he left you with? LaShawn Daniels sadly passed last September. It felt different than anything that I had ever done, and it’s something that I felt like I needed to do. I was working with some amazing people like DJ Camper and LaShawn Daniels, who helped guide me, and it was a way for me to really use music to heal and be therapeutic. It was really important for me to just discover that part of myself.
You co-wrote and co-produced B7, which was a first for you. Brandy Celebrates Being a 'Baby Mama' in New Video Featuring Chance the RapperĪs a whole, B7 looks to Brandy’s past - and pays homage to Houston - while also ushering in her future, seeing her pass down the torch to her daughter (who features on a track) as well as rising R&B artists such as 20-year-old Halle Bailey from the R&B duo Chloe x Halle, who was cast as Ariel in Disney’s live-action remake of The Little Mermaid last summer.īillboard spoke with Brandy about the new album, the Disney princess advice she has for Bailey, and how she’s been taking care of herself during the ongoing pandemic.