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TEFLON
RADIO ARTIST INFORMATION: DESTINY'S
CHILD |
Destiny's
Child
The Writing's On The Wall
Everything grows bigger and better in Texas, so they
say, and if Destiny's Child is anything to go by, the
saying rings true. Rarely have beauty, brains and talent
been served up in such generous helpings as with the
Houston-based foursome. It's all on display on their
stunning new sophomore album The Writing's On The
Wall, which in addition to their own writing and
production input, features contributions from some of
the music industry's most-noted movers and shakers.
"We're not Boyz II Men, but this represents us
progressing from girls to young women," says the
striking caramel-complexioned Beyoncé, who along with
her fellow group members -- Kelly, LaTavia and LeToya --
share an average age of 18. "Although we're still
young," she adds, "we've seen quite a lot in
the last year or so. We've traveled and matured
personally so we wanted to reflect that in our music.
"We wanted the whole album to be a concept and into
that concept we wanted to work in great songs with a new
sound," says the statuesque Kelly.
The concept - that of relationships - takes on a
different slant lyrically to many other albums that
attempt to traverse the same terrain, veering away from
just romance (although there is plenty of that) but also
discussing the full gamut of personal relationships.
"It's about the realness of life, the gray
areas," emphasizes sassy LaTavia. "It's a
story that takes you on a journey."
"We called the album The Writing's On The
Wall because this album really spells out what
will happen in a relationship if people treat each other
a certain way," explains Beyoncé. "It really
shows what's really going on."
Indeed, the album's first single, "Bills, Bills,
Bills," is a riotously funky, tongue-in-cheek,
poke-in-the ribs at boyfriends who start off as a
knights-in-shining armor only to let the act drop
exposing them for the scrubs they are. Destiny's Child
is aware that the song's mature subject matter could
well result in raised eyebrows considering their tender
years.
"People might say, 'y'all are all gold-diggers'
when they hear 'Bills, Bills, Bills,'" says the
baby-faced LeToya in her honey-thick southern tones,
"but it's totally different. This song is about a
relationship where the guy starts out really nice,
caring and considerate but three or four months down the
line he starts slacking, borrowing your car and when he
gives it back to you, the tank is on empty. He'll use
your cell-phone and run it up, he'll buy you gifts with
your own money."
"But we want to make one thing clear"
interjects LaTavia. "It's not a man-hating song. In
fact, we know probably more women do it than men. We
wrote about it because I myself have been through
something similar and I have a lot of older friends who
are going through the exact same thing."
The single, along with other killer uptempo joints such
as "So Good" and "Bug A Boo," was
co-written and produced by hot newcomer Kevin "She'kspere"
Briggs, best-known so far for masterminding TLC's
"No Scrubs." He was the first name called to
the table and musically and thematically set the wheels
in motion for The Writing's On The Wall.
"Before we went in the studio we told the record
company that we wanted to have a new producer with a
brand new sound," explains Kelly, who shares lead
vocal chores with Beyoncé. "That was a blessing
because it really sets us apart from everyone
else."
Working closely with She'kspere in their native Houston
allowed the album to develop its often playful, informal
feel. It was a foundation that other high flying
producers -- such as Rodney Jerkins (the innovative
"Say My Name"), Missy (the cheeky,
"Confessing"), Daryl Simmons (lush, melancholy
"Stay"), Chad Elliot (the smooth "If You
Leave Her, featuring the hot male R&B trio Next),
and Tony Toni Toné's Dwayne Wiggins (sultry
"Temptation") -- were able to build upon
admirably, helping craft together a collection of songs
overflowing with both upbeat, youthful exuberance and
endearing feminine sensitivity and vulnerability.
Destiny's Child's incredibly tight vocal blend, which
belies their young age, begins to make sense when you
discover that the four best friends have been together
as a group for more than half their lives. Under the
guidance of Music World Management's Mathew Knowles,
also the album's executive producer, they began to
attract a loyal local following performing throughout
the Houston area to audiences spanning the generation
gap, opening for a who's who of R&B and hip-hop acts
such as Immature, Dru Hill, Das EFX and SWV prior to
landing their own deal with Columbia Records.
The phenomenal success of their debut single, the
irrepressible "No, No, No" (remixed by Wyclef
Jean), kick-started a storybook, whirlwind year of
international travel, plush hotels and sold-out
concerts. That's not to say it all was glamour and
glitz, however. In the U.S., the four teens toured
extensively as the opening act for Boyz II Men. In
Europe, they are considered superstars of the highest
order thanks to the Timbaland-produced hit "Get On
The Bus" from the "Why Do Fools Fall In
Love?" soundtrack. They also headlined to sold-out
arenas, managing to cram in an amazing 18 shows in 17
grueling days on their last European visit.
In addition to recording their new album, the group also
recently worked with superstar R. Kelly on the song
"Stimulate Me" from the "Life"
soundtrack and made their acting debut on Warner Bros.'
"Smart Guy" TV show. The episode featuring the
group garnered one of the sitcom's highest ratings.
Although close friend Wyclef Jean didn't contribute
musically to The Writing's On The Wall, he
did play an integral part in the album's concept.
"When we told Wyclef the album title he mentioned
the Bible when the Ten Commandments were written on a
wall for Moses. He suggested we try to tie that idea in
with the album so that's how we came up with Destiny's
Child's commandments of relationships which precede each
song."
It's commonplace to compare young female R&B groups
to past superstars like The Supremes, The Emotions and
even En Vogue. However, as bona fide mega stardom awaits
them, Destiny's Child, with their cutting edge fusion of
hip-hop, soul, sass and sweetness, look to blaze a trail
all of their own to the top. As Beyoncé says,
"Most people don't realize that we really have
dedicated our lives to this. Some people in Houston used
to say we were crazy trying to get a record deal because
no one's ever really done it from there before. But we
are proof that whatever you put your mind to you can
achieve. This is just the start for us, believe
me." We do. We do.
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