Heather Headley will be reaching new career heights as a singer and actress. Headley recently released a new album called Only One In The World and is currently starring in the Bodyguard: A New Musical in London.
While in London, Headley took the time to speak with rolling out about her new album, her stage play at London’s West End and setting new goals as a Grammy and Tony Award-winning artist and performer.
Only One in the World is your fourth album. How did you approach this project differently?
This album was an album I did with the fans (supporters, I call them) in mind. I wanted to do original songs as well as a few songs I have fallen in love with. So, I worked on it thinking of them sitting in the audience…what would make them smile, laugh, cry. I wanted it to sound like a live performance for them.
What have you learned most about the business of music since your debut in 2002?
The sad part is that the established “business” as we knew it just a few years ago has drastically changed. Some would even say it’s dying. However, I think the changes have forced artists to think differently about the way they make, market and sell their music, and in many cases, it works out for everyone involved: the artist and the consumer.
What should every new artist know about the music industry before they sign a contract?
As much as they can! You have to school yourself on the business, especially as it has changed and will continue to do so.
You won a Grammy Award for your gospel album Audience One. Will you consider doing another gospel album in the future?
Definitely! I hope I can do another one at some point. God has been so incredibly good to me — I think he deserves an album or two! The gospel album was something I always wanted to do and was so excited to be able to do it with EMI. The icing was the Grammy!
You are currently performing in The Bodyguard: A New Musical at London West End. How did that come about?
About a year and a half ago my agent called and asked me to sit. He said that after looking for quite a few years, he believed he found the perfect musical for me to come back to Broadway. He told me what it was. I laughed and said there was no way, and even more so, no way they had the music. He then mentioned that during the past six years, the producers got the rights to the show and Whitney’s catalog, and all the music was represented in the show. I asked him to send me the script and that was that.
How did the story capture you?
I am a huge fan of Whitney Houston’s and I thought I knew The Bodyguard, so I was intrigued to know how they were going to do this. But with every page, I fell more and more in love with the story. The writer Alex Dinelarius, with the blessing of Lawrence Kasdan [the screen writer] has blown open the story, added depth to relationships, conflict and so much drama to the story. If you think you’re coming to the theater to see the movie, you’re going to be in for a shock. This show has its own identity, its own life and it’s beautiful.
Being a Tony Award-winning actress, what do you look for when you decide to become a part of a project on stage or film?
The conflict … the character … my character … the story. I read the script with my character in mind, but I read it picturing myself in the audience. Would I want to see this show? Would I enjoy it? Would I leave the theater and buy another ticket on the way out? Answer: Yep! Yes! Oh Yes!
What do you hope your legacy will be?
Legacy… I don’t know! I hope that people would say, first and foremost that I was a great wife, a good mother, a daughter, and friend, and if they mention my singing, I hope they say that I gave everything I could every time I opened my mouth to sing — whether on stage or on my recordings.
