[Exclusive Interview] KeKe Wyatt, The Misunderstood Diva

The very beautiful R&B diva KeKe Wyatt was in town this week at the The Sound Check Series hosted by Gypsy Soul at Clutch Lounge (900 S. Kenwood). Wyatt sat down to chat with BmoreFab! on the release of her new album entitled Who Knew? The singer is best known for her collaboration with fellow r&b artist Avant on their remake of the popular ballad “My First Love” released ten years ago. Wyatt has since been signed to four different record labels, had 3 children and been involved in a much publicized domestic violence dispute. An entire decade later and she is ready to put all the negativity behind her and move forward with her life and rising career.

It’s been nine years since the release of your first album, how have you evolved as an artist?

Wyatt: Well, I have lived and I have learned to write all my feelings down and sing about them. I literally sing my diary…literally. If you listen to this album, it’s my life…seriously. So within those years, I’ve grown as a woman, as a mother, as a career woman, just you know my music…I’ve grown a lot.

After your first album Soul Sister, you were signed to three different labels and recorded two other albums before finally releasing your new album Who Knew? What happened with the other labels and why did your records get shelved?

Wyatt: No there is a correction they did not get shelved. When I was with Cash Money Records everything got washed away in Hurricane Katrina, so all my masters and everything were just washed away, and I was so just hurt and disappointed, that was with the Emotional Rollercoaster album. My Ghetto Rose album was with TVT Records and they went under financially.

Since the 2001 stabbing of your husband, when people hear your name that one incident overshadows your music, how do you feel about that?

Wyatt: It pisses me off because people don’t understand unless they’re in the situation. When your only means of communication which is your phone and getting out of the house is taken away, it’s like you are locked in a box… you are gonna come out swinging. Everybody keeps saying I had a steak knife, no it was a little-bitty paring knife and it was thin. So it’s just so funny how people are so critical, I stayed in that marriage for 10 years and …I had to get out.

You have confirmed that you are doing a collaboration album with Avant to be released later this year…How did that come about?

Wyatt: I mean everybody was like, “We want something…We want something,” [referring to another KeKe and Avant collaboration] so we were like “O.K.” We’ve been wanting to do it for a while anyway, but we were trying to wait until after my project was finished.

You’ve also dabbled in acting recently as a cast member in the traveling stage play “Love Overboard”. Did you always want to act?

Wyatt: Yeah! Oh My God girl, I’m trying to do movies, I’m trying to do everything…matter of fact, I’m recording my own reality show now…look for that, it’s coming out soon. “Love Overboard” it just kind of came from me singing and people wanting me to try new things, so I tried it and I liked it.

How do you balance family life between your kids and your career?

Wyatt: It’s just when I’m home I’m Mommy and when I got to go to work they’re with Nana…It’s easy, it’s very easy because they understand, I’ve been literally doing it since they were born, so they already know the drill. Now my little girl, she’s one [years old] and she’s still trying to get used to the idea, she’s a spoiled brat, she’s a Mommy’s girl.

How many songs did you have to cut from the album?

65 and I kept 10, but those 65 songs are still on ice…they are chilling

What can we expect from KeKe Wyatt in this album that we haven’t heard in the previous album?

Wyatt: “Weakness” is a sexy song and I don’t usually do sexy songs, I usually do the ballads. And another song “Daydreaming” is my favorite it’s a more sexy song… something different.

For more information on tour dates and appearances visit KeKe Wyatt at: www.myspace.com/kekewyatt

BmoreFab! correspondent Arli contributed to this interview