Jordin Sparks (pictured) is one of the success stories to come out of American Idol. But it didn’t always seem to be shaping up that way. She went awol for six years (her relationship with Jason Derulo notwithstanding) but has since reappeared from the musical wilderness with a new album, Right Here, Right Now.
Tonight caught up with the songbird and found her feeling a little under the weather, but ready to get her show on the road.
“I feel good, but my voice just decided to leave a few days ago,” she said, huskily.
Musicians are human and are likely to fall sick and lose their voices in some cases. Sparks explained how times like these affect her career.
“There have been a few times that that has happened to me and I try not to stress out because that just worsens things. You kind of have to power through it and for me prayer gets me through a lot of the times. Yesterday I had to do two songs and had no idea how I was going to do them and didn’t want to cancel so I went through with it. I am my biggest critic and didn’t think I did well at all, but the lady I was working with thought otherwise.”
Moving to the upcoming album, the Tattoo singer hinted that the wait was worth it because she had put her all into the offering.
“I am really excited because it will be six years in July since my last record so it has been a while. I am excited to be coming out with new music and have grown up a lot and am just excited to see my fans finally hear things that I want to say. It was amazing to be able to go into the studio with the freedom to say what I want to say and sound how I want to sound. I was not looking for a particular genre, but just went with what I felt like. So there are some turn-up hits, some power ballads and some really vibey music. I just hope that people like it,” she said.
But what’s there to say after six years, you may wonder? A lot has happened between then and now, and music has changed its face while Sparks was taking a break.
“I have been away for too long so I have a lot to say. I was 17 when I won American Idol so I’d never been in love and never felt some of the uncertainties that come with age. I hadn’t felt the butterflies you feel when you are with somebody and I also felt my world shatter when my heart was broken. So I was able write about all those things because I went through them. Whenever an artist writes and performs a personal song, it makes the listener step into that musician’s life for a second so I love that I am able to do that on this record. Most of my fans are around my age and have grown up with me and I want them to know that I am there with them figuring out this thing called life,” she explained.
“I am just happy that people still want to hear me sing. It’s uncommon for someone to go away for six years and come back to find out that people still care. I feel blessed that people want to hear my music and my being away wasn’t for lack of trying. I am compelled to make music so not being able to have an album all this while was hard. Now you have all these social networks which give the fan access to the artist instantly. Most of them were not even there when I last released an album. I really feel like I had to go through the quiet period.”
One of her career milestones was starring in the movie Sparkle with Whitney Houston. For Sparks, this opportunity allowed her to get to know Houston in a way few managed to do.
“The world lost an incredible soul, an artist and a voice. I think about her all the time. Whenever I start to doubt myself I hear her voice encouraging me. I was honoured and blessed to be working with her,” she said.
• Right Here, Right Now will be released next month.