It’s been three years since British R&B singer Estelle made a name for herself in the U.S. with the release of the smash hit “American Boy” featuring Kanye West. Now, the Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter and MC is back with a new single. “Break My Heart” features rapper Rick Ross and is the first single from Estelle’s forthcoming album “All of Me.” Qcitymetro.com recently caught up with Estelle. In this exclusive Q&A, she shares her thoughts about love, the industry, and her plans for the future.
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Qcitymetro: How did the concept for the song “Break My Heart” come about?

Estelle: I wrote the song back when I broke up with an ex-boyfriend of mine. It was just about having the braveness and the gall to say to him, ‘I don’t trust you, I don’t know you and what are we talking about here?’ and he basically should prove why we should be together and what he had for me.

I think we always get into relationships just kind of drifting. I didn’t want to do that. I’ve had my heart broken so many times before. I go all in. I’m one of those all in cook you dinner kind of women. So, I’ve been all the way in before and was like I don’t have time for this. So, I was just being brave and knowing myself enough and being proud enough to say that I don’t trust you, don’t mess with me and don’t break my heart. I’m putting it out and being open. I don’t think a lot of people know how to do that.

Q: Do you think putting it all out in the open like that is a hard thing for women to do sometimes?

I think it’s hard for everybody. We want to all live within our facades because it seems easier. I think it’s way easier and more courageous to be vulnerable and be honest. I think so anyway. I think it’s harder [not to] because you get into false relationships that way just being in this façade, you know. People are always like ‘Oh, you got to wait to figure me out’ or ‘You got to wait to find me out.” I’m kind of like, it’s cool. I will just tell you now so you’ll know. Neither of us have got time to waste. Life is too short.

Q: The song speaks a lot about trust. Would you say that you have trust issues when it comes to relationships?

I definitely do. Everybody has [them]…. With Twitter and social networking it’s easier to just present a façade. It’s easier to live with the image of someone versus who the hell they are. It’s way easier and it’s simpler. So, I think people just want a simple life but it’s not really what love is about. It’s not really what life is about. Just be honest

Watch the video for “Break My Heart” (Story continues below)

Q: What would you say a man must give you or prove to you before you trust him with your heart?

He just has to prove to me that he is about me and about us, you know, in the same way that I’ll be. I’m one of these women that’s like, even though I’m tired, I will come cook for you. I’m one of these women that really takes care of her dude, and I want it the same way back.

Q: How can he show you that he’s down for you?

Cook for me too. If I come in and I’m tired, cook for me or order takeout. Do something before I get there. How about that?

Q: Do you have a heartbreak remedy that helps you get over a broken heart?

Yes! I go out, and I party with all my gay friends and my girlfriends. They are the best. I go out and party with them. We have so much fun. They’ve been holding me down.

Q: What artist haven’t you worked with that you hope to work with in the future?

I love Mary J. Blige. I think she’s one of the ones that I’d like to work with. I don’t know how, but I’d love to work with her on a big sister, little sister kind of record. I think it would be incredible. She really, honestly, raised me as a singer and an artist trying to be a woman that stands with some kind of integrity and doesn’t really back down but is trying to be better every time. In this industry, that’s hard.

Q: As an artist what is your mission? What is it that you…

Empowering people period - not just women, but men and women. I feel like we have these songs that kind of put us in places that we are supposed to just stay in. There was a lot of songs that I listened to growing up that was like (begins singing) “you hurt me” or “you cheated on me,” so you grow up thinking everyone hurts you and cheats on you, and in reality they don’t. Sometimes it’s your fault. Sometimes you walk into situations that you probably shouldn’t be in… My thing is own up to your part in the problem and move forward. Don’t really care about what everybody else has to say about your problems and your issues, just move forward.

Q: You speak a lot about love. What is your advice for young women out there looking for love?

I will say take your time. When it comes, it will be beautiful and it will be perfect, but take you time with it. These guys ain’t going no where. These men ain’t going anywhere. I promise you. He’ll be back.

Q: Professionally, what’s next for you?

The album comes out at the end of the year. I am so excited. It took me three years. The single is out right now. I’m getting into acting. You’re going to be seeing a lot of Estelle.

Q: Acting? What do you have in the works?

You have to wait for it.

Q: Are we going to be seeing you on the big screen or the small screen?

On both.

Q: What advice do you have for young people who are chasing their dreams?

I’d say if you are going to get into this industry, or whatever industry you get into, first figure out who you are, your morals, your values, what you stand for and go with it from there, you know, because you are going to get compromised a lot, and you are going to have to compromise a lot. So, figure out your basics, stick with them. As you grow, don’t be afraid to change with them, but stick with them.

Q: Was there a time when you felt you were being asked to compromise who you are?

It’s consistent. Everybody has a version of who Estelle is in their head, and they sell that. I make sure I go out and represent myself every time. I try to catch when they are doing that and pull them back, you know.

Q: What are some of the ways you feel you’ve been misrepresented?

As soon as I got my braces, somebody went and said something to the press about the label telling me to get braces, when in fact it was my grandmother. After the album came out and everything was blowing up, my grandmother was like, ‘you have to get your teeth straightened. Come on now. You can’t be up there smiling hiding your mouth.’ It wasn’t about my teeth. She was just worried that I looked insecure when I’m a very confident person. She was like, ‘you look like you are scared or something. Go get your teeth straightened, what are you hiding them for?’ And those are the only people that I take any cues from in my life - my grandmother, my family, my mom, you know.

Q: What’s it like to be in the public eye and have everything you do scrutinized under microscope? Does it make you question yourself? How do you deal with that?

No. I stopped questioning myself a while back. You know, when my first album came out, I was not the girl that was supposed to have done anything that I did. So, I stopped worrying and questioning whether or not I was supposed to be here and stopped giving a crap about people’s opinions of me. I say what I say. I say how feel, and I keep it moving.

Q: What is something about you that most people don’t know that may surprise them?

I cook a lot. I am a chef in my house. I get really upset when I’m on the road and I have to eat out. You have no idea. I get so upset, but I have to eat…

Q: Do you have a “hook ’em” meal that you prepare for your man?

Oh yeah. For sure. Hell yeah. I have this onion gravy that I do with lemon chicken… sometimes I do it with tomato and sometimes I do it with just lemons and herbs and stuff. It’s like an African family recipe… you put garlic and stuff in it. You grill it and put onions over it. It’s all special.

Q: You said an African family dish. Where are your parents from?

My mother is from Senegal and my dad’s from Grenada. I’m half and half, and I grew up in London. I’m the second oldest of nine kids, six girls. So I had to cook. My mom was not having it.

Q: What else do you want your fans to know?

Follow me at @EstelleDarlings on Twitter. Check my website out Estellemusic.com/blog. I do my looks of the day. I do my inspirational works. I talk to the fans and give them as much content as I can. Everyday, I take a picture of my shoes and post my look of the day.
 

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