After experimenting with a different sound and a superhero alter ego on her last albumFantasy Ride, Ciara is back with a new album Basic Instinct. Following the disappointing album sales of Fantasy Ride, the project never reached the heights expected. This new set of tracks sees Ciara returning to her roots musically and also ‘Giving the fans what they want’. The promotion for the new album has not been without incident; BET and a number of television networks have banned the video for RIDE ft Ludacris for being too explicit, while The-Dream, executive producer of Basic Instict, said to the media:  “You only get so many times to, and I won’t say fail, but not achieve”. Ciara speaks candidly with Amaru on these topics, plus more.

Basic Instinct is an intriguing album title. What can your fans expect from Ciara on this project?

I’m really doing this album for the fans and what I believe they want. I executive produced this album with The-Dream and Tricky Stewart. We went in the studio and gave everything.

Tell me about the creative process for this album?

I would give a direction in where I would want to go in and The-Dream would sometimes go somewhere else and work in another studio. The process was very different in how I have been used to working and making my music. It was unique, and it helped us to create the best piece of work we could make.

Ride has been banned from B.E.T and other networks, does this adversely affect your promotion for the album?

Of course. In a perfect world you would want the video to play on all networks. However, the good thing about media these days is that there are so many other ways for the fans to see my video. The beauty of technology is it still allows my voice and message to be heard, whether it’s on my own website or wherever, so I do feel there is some type of balance after all.

With that being said, do you feel there are double standards with other artists who have raunchier images in their video but still it gets played on these networks?

It’s hard to know what is right or what is wrong and what the rules are when it comes to visuals that give off mature messages. It gets quite confusing at some points.

The-Dream has said publicly in the media that this album is your last chance as an artist, how do you feel when you hear him make those statements?

I absolutely totally disagree with what he said. I don’t think it make sense because every artist has had ups and downs in their careers. At the least the ones I have seen that have been successful they haven’t had the most perfect days.  From my perspective this is only the beginning, I’m still young and there’s still so much more for me to achieve within the music world, so I definitely disagree with his comments.

What are your feelings on how the last album Fantasy Ride was received?

The last album was a different journey for me, even down to my single choice. However, it’s one of those things that I’m glad that it happened because a lot of positives came out of it.

What song should we look out for on the new album?

Flaws, I love it because it comes from a very real place. I believe that women will really love this record. The song is about embracing a person’s flaws loving the wrong about them and I can totally understand that feeling.

Are there any ballads on this album?

The Flaws song is actually a ballad and there’s a record I have called Speechless that I love. Actually it came out a little early but my fans seem to really love that record.

When can we expect the second single?

That will be coming out in the next two weeks. Actually wait, that might be too early, let’s say within the next month.

What did you make of Chris Brown performance at the recent B.E.T awards?

I loved the beginning of the performance and how he came out, he really took it there. I felt like it was a very heartfelt performance. I feel like his emotions came from a very real place.

With the extreme pressures that come with being an artist in your position, have you at any point considered quitting the music business?

Yes and no. Have I ever said “you know what sometimes there’s so much going on its even worth it?” I have thought things like that, but I love what I do too much, to just give it up like that.

Do you worry about what is written about you on the internet?

If you worry about everything you will just drive yourself insane when it comes to people saying things about you. I’ve become numb to it.

Twitter is a new feature that many artists have embraced. How are you able to keep up with half a million twitter followers?

I try my best to read through all of them at least. I try my best to respond as fast as I can, as much as I can. Sometimes I see a lot of the messages from the same person and it’s funny because I start to become familiar with the person.

Before it’s all said and done, what is your ultimate goal in music?

My ultimate goal is when I walk away from this, is to walk away as an icon or a legend. I would love to have made a significant mark in music.

Interview by Amaru Wilcox

Basic Instinct out October 4th in the UK

Audio of interview with Amaru & Ciara Below

Sidebar- Please turn up your speakers when Ciara is talking as the phone line connection was faint

Audio found on AMARU

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