With a whirlwind national tour currently in high gear, in addition to the daily rigors of being both an emerging artist as well as an in-demand songwriter, Keri Hilson would be hard-pressed to tell you what city she’s currently in, let alone reflect back on the year that was. So when rolling out convinced the artist to slow down for a moment to chat, the talented beauty was ready to exhale and reminisce. –dewayne rogers
Ro: How has the tour been so far?
Hilson: It’s been great. It’s very tiring, but it’s been great. The only thing about tour is that you really don’t get a chance to see and experience the city that you are in. You just wake up early in the morning to do promotions, and then you’re either at the venue or at your hotel. And you try to sleep in between.
Ro: What have you learned about the music industry in 2008 that you can use to further your career in 2009?
Hilson: I have come to realize that this industry really [requires a] survival of the fittest [attitude]. I mean there are so many things that are going on, and it is really an obstacle course that you have to maneuver just to get your project to see the light of day. So in 2009, I am going to do whatever it takes to get my project out there … without compromising my integrity of course.
Ro: In order to not compromise your integrity, how important is it to have patience throughout the process?
Hilson: When you’re not compromising your beliefs, it can take a lot longer to get out there because people may not understand your stance. And I definitely want my fans to love me for who I am, and not some character that the label has made up for me. So I would rather be patient, because in the end, it will be that much more worth it.
