Keri Hilson "Energy" Video, Plus Interview With NewNowNext!

 

Keri Hilson may be a name known more in the music industry than in the world at large (for now), but pop and hip-hop lovers - and definitely us gays - should be sending fruit baskets to the 25-year-old Georgia-native: Keri - a member of the in-demand songwriting team, The Clutch - is behind Timbaland's "The Way I Are" track and also wrote gay favorites such as Britney's "Gimme More," Mary J.'s "Take Me As I Am" and The Pussycat Dolls' "Wait a Minute."

And even though Keri's solo debut, In a Perfect World..., a first-ever joint production between Timbaland and Polow Da Don, took two years and over 200 songs before it got a September release date, it looks like it'll be worth the wait. This "Energy" song is already on a loop on my iPod ...

 

... And after the jump, Keri and I talk about loving her gay fan base, writing as a woman in a man's world and meeting Timbaland for the first time...

 

 

I know you've been in many music videos, but did filming this one - your video - feel differently?

Yes! I couldn’t believe everyone was moving lights, setting up food, all the people behind the cameras - they were there for Keri this time. It felt weird, but it felt great. I’ve been on so many sets, and now everybody wants to know how I feel ... and my dressing room is huge ... This is great!

But it also put me in focus mode. I had more creative license, I had a lot more control.

And you just premiered the "Energy" video on TRL, but I've only seen pictures. You play a boxer, right?

Yeah, it was [director] Melina: the whole boxing thing was her idea. I loved it. She wanted to show the athletic side of me. A lot of people don’t know that I swam for 11 years, competed in the Junior Nationals at 14 and played basketball - so I come from that athletic background. And she said, We need to show the world that’s what makes you different. A lot of females would not do a video with boxing and really be ... doing it.

 

"The Way I Are" Video

 

Now when it comes to music, you know how to write songs gay guys love...

[laughs] I got some!

Any track on your album we're going to really be in to?

We have a few: "Return the Favor" with Timbaland, we think, will be the biggest in the lesbian and gay community. That’s the formula for the gay clubs, huh? Timbaland and some chick - and Keri has to write it. [laughs] We’ve got some like that, definitely ... couldn’t leave you guys out. You guys have supported me a lot.

You've gotten love from the gay community in the past?

They’re the only people that ever recognized me. Seriously! I mean, I wouldn’t even be dressed, and they’d be like, Keri! Hi! Good to meet you. I’m like, What’s goin’ on? Now it’s a little different, but there was a period... must be the fashion, ‘cause I love fashion.

How would you describe your style?

It’s sexy, but approachable. It has a tinge of masculinity. I love things that fit kind of boyish; I love to dress those things up. I don’t know, it varies, but it’s always sexy, approachable, tomboy...

 

 

But when did you start to notice the gay love?

I think it was “The Way I Are,” my presence there. I knew we had an LGBT group really promoting that record and really getting my face out there, and I thought that was a wonderful thing. I know Patti, I know Mariah, I know Beyonce, all these great artists have always had that backing ... Janet! Janet had that backing. And they’re such loyal fans, so I’m ecstatic.

I read this album was, for you, all about women's emotions. Are there songs on there a man could never have written?

I think there are songs on there a man could not have written. It’s like ... the salon talk, what we really think about certain situations. I wanted to show that we’re vulnerable, and we’re hopeless romantics. There’s a song called "Intuition," and it’s talking about, you know, I’m with you and everything seems glitzy and glamor-y, but I have this intuition. I feel that it won’t always be this way.

And that’s at the forefront of every woman’s head. When love is good, it’s like, Aww, here it goes. Here it comes! That’s how we really feel. Even though a guy may think everything’s kosher, we’re talking to our girls like, OK, he did this, and I don’t know what that means. We’re always so analytical, and we have to be. Love is so ... it’s rough out there! It’s rough.

And as a woman in the industry, would you say it's still a man's world? Or that you always had to work that much harder?

I would say every industry, even the songwriting-producing industry, is definitely still male-dominated. I fought for years to get my respect ... and that’s all you can do.

 

"Scream" Video

 

And what do you think of gay pop icons adopting more hip-hop sounds? Like with Britney's Blackout or Madonna enlisting Timbaland and Pharrell for Hard Candy?

Pop is becoming more hip-hop and hip-hop is becoming more pop, and you can hear that on the radio. The lines are definitely blurring, and I love it ‘cause I’m at the crux of that. I’m the one who grew up listening to George Michael and Phil Collins and Madonna and all these different artists, and it wasn’t strange for someone like me to be exposed to all of that. And even, like, Alanis Morissette ... I’m a musical flower child, so I’m glad the world is coming to my world.

Were you scared of Timbaland when you first met him? I imagine him being very intimidating...

Not at all. He gives you older brother very quickly: Within the first hour that I met him he was giving me advice on relationships, and I’m like, OK, cool. You know, I was never scared.

I was, however, on cloud nine for, like, months; every time I was on the plane to go to Miami, I just had these butterflies. Let’s do it! He’s incredible. He inspired me for so long and continues to inspire me.

 

Keri with mega-producers and her main backers Polow Da Don and Timbaland.

 

What was the ultimate compliment Timbaland ever gave you, that just really encouraged you?

Actually, prior to meeting him, I sang for him on the phone, and that’s all it took. He told me over the phone, Let’s do it. I’m down. I was like, You don’t even want to meet me? He was like, Eh, no. Polow Da Don told me you're cute enough, and you can hold your notes, so let’s do it.

So, those three words - the Let’s do it - really just confirmed everything I felt growing up: music is the only thing I ever loved. And that someone of his ... status could agree and say, I’ll cosign. I want to be in business with you. ... I loved it!

 

Comments

[Drew]

LOVE KERI. but I want a club number!!