How would you describe your music? It gives me a rock/soul feel, but how would you describe your musical direction and some of your influences.

My music is rock soul. I think it’s a lot more edgier than what’s out there now. It has a London-based feel, but it also has soul, which is American. We’ve just clammed it together and called it rock soul. My musical direction is influenced by people like Marvin Gaye, Barbra Streisand. As a kid, I was giving everything to eat. Rice and peas, jerk chicken, steak and kidney pies. Everything was in the trunk. Marvin Gaye, Annie Lennox, Barbra Streisand, Lisa Minnelli, Judy Garland, Billie Holiday. They’ve all been big influences on my life. Not just their musical direction, but their personal stories too.

Do you write your own songs, and if so what inspires your work?

Yes, I write my own songs. Everything inspires my work. It could be a bad day, and I want to write about something really great. It can be a really great day and I want to write about something really sad. Most of my writing is about life and how hard it can be, and love and how hard it can be. But there’s always a way out. My songs empower people. My songs are empowering. They’re about going through the darkness and coming into the light.

How do you feel about the Black Rock movement in music? Rock and Roll is hardly new to black audiences but the new urban market may not be ready. What are your thoughts?

I don’t actually know how to describe the Black rock movement. As far as I’m concerned, I am that movement. I want my name to be at the forefront. The market is ready. Jay-Z’s proved that. Ludacris’ now working on a rock project. Anyone who’s anyone is trying to drop the rock thing. There’s definitely a market and look out, don’t be surprised if Tiyee teams up with somebody like Jay-Z or Luda. It’s going to happen.

Independent (Do it yourself) VS Major Label?

Independent would be fantastic. I couldn’t think of a better way to do it if I wanted to be that real Oprah character. Go for it. Make your dream come true. But money is the issue with independents. Independent just means you have your own money to do what you want to do. If we had the money, because we have spoke about it as a management group, we would do it. But it’s long and it’s painful and it could fail. At least with a major label you have the security of knowing that launching you is something they’ve done a million times before. They know what radio stations to take you to, how to promote you on tour. They see what market you’re going to and they flood that market with you. It’s always good to have someone who understands it, has done it before and can make it happen for you. If I had a choice, if someone said here’s the money, I’d love to do it myself, if I thought my team really could do it ourselves. We’re not as lucky as Puff. When Puff went independent, he had a lot of big names around him telling him what to do and what not to do. At this point, we’re probably going to go for a major label, but maybe in the near future we might open up an independent label.

How do you feel about Misogyny in current music? Do you think women can use sexuality in a positive way to sell music?

Yes, I do, but they don’t. I think women can, but they don’t. I think when a chick takes off too much clothes it means that she ain’t got much talent. I’ll be head to toe in my outfit and I know I’m sexier than any of those chicks in those videos – fully clothed. Cause I’m selling my talent. I’m selling my heart, because I’m giving them what I’ve got in it. And everything that’s on the stage is naturally me, but not me in a physical way, in a talented way. I think women can use sexuality to sell music. I don’t want to think I’m on the stage and I’m only selling my music. I want people to think I’m sexy too. So I think women can. I just don’t think you need to get naked to do it. I don’t think you have to put your big ass in the camera neither. It’s just not cool.

A career in music can bring with it a very hectic schedule, how do you find personal time for relationships, friends and family?

I’m waiting for the hectic schedule. I’ll get back to you!

What is your guilty Pleasure?

I can’t say. I don’t want to put that out there. I don’t want kids to be influenced by that kind of stuff. It’s definitely not ice cream, and it’s not chocolate. I don’t want to say. It’s that guilty. We’ll just say that.

Hillary Rodham Clinton is planning to run for president. Do you think the world is ready for a Female President? How will things be different?

The world has always been ready for a female President. In Egypt, it was a woman who ran it. Nefertiti was real. Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria. They did great jobs of running the country. They give Margaret Thatcher a really hard time. She wasn’t completely right, but I’ve never seen any male President who has ever been completely all right. Maggie was in power for 10 years. She did it and she had a family to take care of. I think Hillary is more than ready and if I have the right to vote, I’ll be voting for Hillary Clinton. If she’s anything like her husband, I think it can only be better. I think she will allow women to have their right to be free in their choices. I think it’s terrible we have to go to abortion clinics and have people saying “No! No!” I think she’ll give women more rights to their bodies, to empower themselves. I think America will become a lot greener. She’ll do more for the environment. I think really good natural things will come of that. Because that’s what women do. We’re… Mother Nature.

What are you passionate about besides music?

My dog, Max. I adore him. I have a pit. He’s not the stereotypical pit that everyone talks about. I think it’s in the breeding. Dogs only know what we teach them. I hope to take him all around America when I’m touring. I’m passionate about staying in and being chill. I love that. I’m passionate about cooking. Anything where something becomes something more after I finished it, I’m passionate about.