On Thursday, September 12, Fantasia hosted a pre-release listening party for her new album, Sketchbook. We heard from Fantasia about compiling this album, and we got a chance to hear a few songs including: “Believer,” “Bad Girl,” “Free,” “Holy Ghost,” “Take Off,” and “Looking For You.”
Fantasia: “Nothing sounds the same. I don’t want to be placed in a box. “Holy Ghost” kind of reminds you of a gospel song with a trap beat. “Free” is very political. “Believer” is very sexy! Wait ‘til you see the video. “Bad Girl” is very Aretha Franklin, that old school, just standing flat-foot and singing. And “Take Off” is [us] tapping into the pop world. You cannot put me in a box! We’ve done Broadway, we’ve done jazz, we do it all.”
Fantasia’s sixth studio album features collaborations with Meghan Trainor, T-Pain, and her mother, Diane.
Fantasia: “This album is Rock Soul. It is a bop! “PTSD” is totally different from “Enough,” so you just wait! Nothing’s the same. I got my mama on the album because I have to end it in gospel. I have T-Pain, I have Meghan Trainor. I almost had Brandy and Jazmine, but it will happen. It’s the politics. You know, I’m independent. Some people had to stop that whole movement because they didn’t want it to happen, but it will happen. Weapons will form but they will not prosper.”
As it stands, there are twelve tracks on Sketchbook. The cover art is a literal sketch of Fantasia in a red hat with her name across the front. “This is the one thing I want,” she says. “I want you to listen to the music. I want you to vibe with the music. I don’t want you to speak during the music because you can’t hear the music! Please? For me! We’ll mingle after but I want you to listen, for me!”
In addition to Fantasia’s images illuminating the room, there was a live sketch demonstration by Drawn Together NYC where attendees could get a personal sketch of their own. With light bites and drinks being served, Fantasia shared her independence with this album and Rock Soul, Inc.
Fantasia: “I’m independent now and that means that nobody can come in and tell me what I can and cannot do. A lot of times I feel like people try to put me in a box! I’m a big, big gift! Nobody knew what to do with me. I worked with some great people, but I don’t just only do R&B! I do it all. So with this album we bring you Rock Soul! We bring you a bop. I’m no longer sad, I’m not bitter, but I am sweet. Now, I bring you a woman who has grown in the industry and has been through a lot of things and I did not let it take me down but only put me in this position where now I am the boss lady! Still humble. I believe in being humble as well and showing people love and understanding that I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for all of you guys. At the end of the day, my skin is very tough now. I’ve been through a lot of stuff. Thank God for Celie [from The Color Purple on Broadway] because she taught me some things too, honey. Thank God for everything that I went through. Most of the stuff I can’t blame on God or the devil, it was me. It was, real talk! I put myself in those situations, so I had to learn from them. And now the woman that stands before you tonight is stronger than ever! People can say what they want, it does not break me, nor does it make me.”
In early May, the first single, “Enough,”was released, peaking on the Billboard charts. “I feel like everybody knows that I can sang—hands down—but I felt like with this album I don’t have to prove that anymore,” says the Grammy winner. With a scheduled release date of October 11, fans will be able to share in Fantasia’s independence on this new album, Sketchbook.
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