For years Faith Evans' life came close to eclipsing her music. In 1995, the former session singer, who was the first female artist signed to P Diddy's Bad Boy label, released the powerful debut
Faith . The album, which featured the hits "You Used To Love Me" and "Soon As I Get Home," established the Jersey-raised beauty as a torch singer with a buffalo stance. Yet attention soon shifted to Evans' headline-grabbing personal life: notably her marriage to label-mate The Notorious B.I.G., the couple's estrangement, rumors about her private relationships, and tragically, Biggie's 1997 murder. Her grief over her husband's death was expressed through "I'll Be Missing You," a moving if somewhat mawkish tribute that went to the top of the charts.
Evans kept recording, delivering two fine albums as well as string of "A List" collaborations, such as Eve's 2000 hit "Love Is Blind." She and her family, which included new spouse Todd Russaw and their three kids, moved to Atlanta, but life wasn't exactly peaceful. In 2004 she and Russaw were busted on drug charges; to avoid a trial, they entered a spiritually-based diversion program. The arrest and its accompanying media fallout serves as the basis for Evans' new single "Again." Evans now lives in Los Angeles, where she cut her new disc, The First Lady (a nickname bestowed on her back in the day by P. Diddy). It finds the 31-year-old soul stunner sounding great and looking even better (she's lost 50 pounds thanks to a new dedication to physical fitness). Focused and fearless Faith spoke to VH1 about her music, the perils of the comeback, and the joy that happiness can bring.
VH1: You've had three critically well-received platinum albums. What makes the new disc special or different?
Faith Evans: Liberation. I'm a lot more liberated and in a different place mentally and physically. Just to be on a new label is exciting; it's a new start that a lot of people don't get. A lot of artists don't get to three or four albums, let alone be able to get a whole new situation. No matter who you are it's hard unless you've sold tens of millions of records, which I haven't. It's refreshing to start again and have some creative freedom. When we were still living in Atlanta, I built a studio and began writing and recording songs even before I had [my new] deal. I was getting tired of being complacent. And then we moved to California mainly because it was time for a change
VH1: The marketplace is certainly more erratic than ever. Do you have any fears going in this time?
FE: No, other than that natural apprehension of "are people going to still feel my music? And "Are my fans still waiting for what I have to say?" Because what's "hot" changes all the time. My husband gives me great advice about that stuff. He helps me stay current. Plus I'm in a whole 'nother place physically. I've never really focused on being in the best shape I can be. I wasn't in that place mentally. There was three years where I wasn't recording; I was at home and got into fitness. It was something I did for me. Between having a career and raising three kids exercise wasn't a part of my lifestyle. But it became something I like to do.
VH1: What do you think your old fans will hear on The First Lady? And what do you think folks who are new to you will get?
FE: Old fans will be proud of the growth. I've always focused on satisfying my core [audience]. I have fans that are like "I made babies to your first album," so I have always throw in a couple of those classic Faith ballads. But now I'm able to have a lot more fun musically; everybody wants to feel good. You can never deny a feel-good song, and I know my older fans will be proud of that. I've been through so much. I lost a husband, I lost a label. I've gained weight, I've lost weight. I've been arrested. There's so much; I've got so many stories, and they all make me human. They are all a part of my life, and I'm trying to take 'em all in and grow. As for my new fans, I'd hope they'd say "Wow, she makes great music, she has a great voice." I'm trying to have some nice melodies and simple hooks, and I'm covering a wider array of emotions.
VH1: There's never a shortage of talented R&B singers. No disrespect to the other ladies, but what are you bringing that makes you different?
FE: Nobody 'cept Faith Evans can do what Faith Evans does. That's something I've grown to respect about every other female in the music business. I've appreciated individualism from early on.
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