Tweet – Interview

Tweet unveils “IT’S ME AGAIN,” an exciting new chapter in my life. I refer to it as “Southern Hummingbird, times two.” It’s still me, but it’s a different revelation of me. I’ve grown as an artist as well as a woman. I’ve been there, done that, and it’s a great feeling. “IT’S ME AGAIN” once again features executive production from Missy, but it doesn’t sound as dark as its predecessor. This album is sunnier; it’s all about being cool with yourself and comfortable in your own skin.” We interview Tweet.

I never knew you were from Rochester (New York).

Yes, are you too?

No, I’m originally from somewhere between Buffalo and Rochester.

That’s great. I’m born and raised in Rochester.

When did you know that you wanted to get into music?

When I was younger but when I went to the Monroe School of the Arts I got the bug. I was doing the plays and things like that gave me a buzz that I wanted to do something in the music business.

If you didn’t make it as a solo artist would you have been interested in Broadway?

Maybe, I still to this day want to do Broadway.

What did your family think of you taking this risk?

I got a lot of support from my friends and family. They have always supported me.

Between two albums fans don’t realize you’ve lived a life between—how much has changed?

I have come into my own and changed and matured and I know now exactly what I want to sound like. I know what I want as a woman. I’m a few years older and I really know what I want now.

Is it important that fans read between the lines and get a message from the music?

I hope they can because I’m an open book and I write according to my experiences. I hope I can help somebody with music. It’s about the love of it for me. I love what I do and if I can touch person with it than it’s double the pleasure.

Could you write any other way than being an open book?

No, not at all. That’s the type of music that takes you places and five years from now I hope someone can put my music in and remember a time. I want timeless music.

Do you write naturally?

It has to be natural. I don’t sit down and try to write a song. If you think to hard you come up with bad songs. Usually I write in my journal about what I’m feeling and if I have a problem I write it down and then I put it down into a song. You can tell if I do something that is forced. I can’t act. I can’t hide my feelings. I wear it on my sleeve and if I’m upset or irritated you’ll know it.

When you wear your heart on your sleeve fans will tend to feel as if they know you probably better than they actually do. Is that strange in a way?

No (pauses) well to an extent. I’m an open book yes but I don’t tell everything. You can’t tell everybody everything. I don’t even tell my mama everything. My fans should know me as much as possible. I would never lie to them about what comes from the heart.

What is always fun and interesting is how people put their own spin on songs and make them there own and relate it to their situation.

I know. That is what I said about the last album; make the song yours. Like “Ooops,” people have their own definition of what it meant.

It’s a great thing.

I helped them so that is good.

When you were listening to a song growing up, what song or artist made you believe it was written about your situation?

It was a record Bilal did, I think it was called “Why.” It’s about what if I did this in this way or if I did this and that. I’m not sure if that is the name of the record but I’ll try to remember it.

Are you the same person everyday. I mean are you Tweet and Charlene Keys at the same time?

I’m not an alias. I’m the same person. I’ve been Tweet since I was a little girl. I’m always myself so it’s comfortable for me to meet people and perform.

What was it like to do the track “Two Of Us” with your daughter?

It was great. She is just fourteen and it was great to see her grow up and then to watch her do that song—it was great. She is the real star in the family. She has grown up with me being gone all of the time and has that real unconditional love for me.

Had you thought about doing a song with her for a while?

We sing around the house, but one day we were at church and she sang a solo and I was blown away. I knew she had to do a song with me on the new album. So when I heard the song I could almost hear her voice on it.

Would you want her to be an artist?

Not right now because she is way too young. I want her to live her life and go to school and have her friends. I don’t want her to worry if her makeup is right or trying to get up at 6 a.m. I don’t want her to turn out like these other child stars. Someday I could put her on my own label.

Has she talked about being a singer?

She thinks she is a star. She is looking at herself in the mirror all the time. She’s been singing since she was two.

Are you always thinking about music?

Music is my life. If I’m not singing then I’m writing or thinking about it.

Do you go back months and months to find lyrics?

I don’t usually go back. Sometimes when I’m bored I’ll go back and see how life has changed but usually a track or a lick on a guitar it’ll tell me what I want to sing about. I’ll compare and combine the notes and see what happens.

Now I know you want to focus more on being a soul artist with this record. What is that about?

Well the last album we focused more on the hip-hop sound like “Ooops.” This time I want to reintroduce me as a soul artist who wants to put out timeless music. I want to do more shows and more promotional things where fans can come out and meet me.

Who is the soul singer that inspired you? It seems that people shy away from that title now.

Right now there is a void—there aren’t many soul artists. I really looked up to Aretha Franklin and Donny Hathaway, but right now I’m feeling Van Hunt. He’s the one who’s doing it now.

+ Charlie Craine