Deborah Cox is back and making a play for your heart. The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter recently released her first official single, “More Than I Knew,” from her forthcoming album titled, Work of Art (Deco/Primary Wave BMG). Work of Art, scheduled for release in late summer 2015 is a mixture of uptempos, dance tunes, and her signature soulful ballads. It’s safe to say, there’s a little something for everyone on this album.
On Feb. 3, Cox surprised fans with the release of “Kinda Miss You,” a soulful, upbeat track produced by The Rascals. “This song is classic me, lots of emotion about a scenario I believe a lot of women find themselves in,” Cox says.
If her new tracks are any indication of what treats listeners can expect from Work of Art, it’ll be just as the title proclaims; a big, bold and robust work of vocal perfection. In the meantime, rolling out recently had the opportunity to catch up with the Canadian songbird, who reflected on her marriage, family and children and how all those elements have affected her music over the years.
Your career has spanned 20 years, how do you feel about that?
It’s crazy! In some ways it feels like a long time and in other ways it doesn’t feel like a long time.
What do you consider to be the top three highlights of your career to date?
Being in the studio recording with one of my heroes, Whitney Houston, was definitely a highlight of my career. I think having the actual Guinness Book of World Records certificate to show that “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here” was the longest-running R&B single in the modern rock era, having been at No. 1 for 14 weeks. And then I think really just having this album done and ready to go, still being here, being able to tour and perform, travel all around the world; I think those are all things that stick out in my mind.
What was your experience like working on Whitney Houston’s biopic?
It was a little bittersweet. This is a person who was a friend, a mentor and an iconic woman who influenced us all in music, so it was sad. But I wanted to perform these songs to honor her. And to be chosen to be the voice to do that really gave me the opportunity to do that.
Because of her advice, I’m in a loving relationship. My husband and I just celebrated our anniversary yesterday [April 22]. [There wasn’t] one [particular] thing she said but the overall conversation — she saw how I communicated with my husband and the longing I had to have a family. I think because she had so much experience in the business that she was in a sense warning me to make time for essentially what was important, family.
You’ve been married for 18 years to Lascelles Stephens. What was the key to finding success in both your marriage and career?
It is an anomaly. People look at us like yeah … It’s a very unique situation because my husband manages me as well, and when you have that kind of dynamic and chemistry you can add just a lot of other layers emotionally. I think the key to longevity in a relationship is making sure that you can be friends first. If you can’t be with someone that you like, then chances are that you won’t really be able to be with that person and love them, for who they are.
How did you know he was the one?
For us, we had both been in other relationships to try to figure it out. I think because we were in those relationships quite young, we were able to figure out early that we didn’t want to have to deal with drama. I figured out in my early 20s that what I needed was what I essentially wanted. If you put your energy into the things that you really need in life, those are the things that you’re going to attract. I knew I needed someone that was going to be confident and had his own vision as well as a collective vision for our relationship. I needed someone who was secure in business and brought something to the table. We respect each other. I don’t take him for granted and he doesn’t take me for granted and we communicate whether it’s painful or not. We keep each other in the know as to how we are feeling.
Your relationship isn’t the only thing you seem to have in order. Can you tell us a little bit about what we can expect from your latest project?
I’m really starting to hone in on the message of this album and it’s really about the journey and realizing that even with our flaws and mistakes, we’re all created by the master. Each song takes us on that journey.
“Kinda Miss You,” is that moment when you realize that you’re alone and we all kind of go through those seasons of ups and downs where we want to be alone, we’re defiant because we have our own perspective and we’re trying to find our way through the sadness. But sometimes you’re going to get to that place where you know you’ve made mistakes and that’s where the song “More Than I Knew” comes in. All of these songs take you on a journey to experience and face the truth and reality of what happens when you’re trying to figure it out. You go through the self-doubt and sadness but then you get to the point where you have to rebuild yourself from any pain in the past. That is where my album, Work of Art comes in.
Cox is preparing to play the lead role of the iconic dancer, singer and actress Josephine Baker in the Broadway-bound musical Josephine, which will chronicle the legendary singer’s life during a special and significant time in her life (1939 – 1945). It’s produced by two-time Tony Award-winner Kenneth Waissman, who produced the original Broadway production of Grease.
For more info on the legendary songstress, check her out social media: Instagram @DeborahCox, Twitter @Deborah_Cox, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DeborahCoxDRG
