"You can be a star, oh you can be a star, oh you can be a star....."....beautiful words sung by Ms. Janelle Monae, well 25-year-old, New Orleans native, Arianne "The Creole Cutie" Deruise is living them. Singing since she was a little girl, in the choir of course, Arianne and her family knew before that, that she was vocally talented & had a gift. Let's float on down the line to now, and she's a force to be reckoned with in the music world, her & her band U4ia. After being approached by keyboard player, Kurt Howard, she gladly accepted (I would have too!) as lead singer, and she hasn't looked back since! I had the pleasure to "interview" Ms. Deruise, get into her head a little bit, find out what a FUTURE superstar thinks, POINT BLANK. ENJOY!
Soooo, are you involved? Dating? Looking? (hehehehe) LoL!
Hmmm… doesn’t Facebook have the option called “It’s Complicated?” LOL! Nah, I am single. I think most will agree that there are certain people that never really leave your heart, but for whatever circumstances, you are not together. It’s all a part of life. I’m single by choice; I’m totally focused on my craft.
How long have you been singing?
That’s a good question. I would say really since I was about 5. My sister and I recorded a video of Mariah Carey’s “Vision of Love.” It was pretty funny, but I would say that was the first impression that I would pursue a career in music.
Where does the inspiration from your music come from?
Hmmm… well, I’d be lying if I said it was total creativity. I pull from experience: both personal and the experiences of those around me.
What gets you in the mood to write a song & really feel what you're writing?
Believe it or not, I listen to some music. If I have a concept that I am writing about, I tend to listen to songs that have like concepts to channel into that mood. Sometimes I could be doing something completely opposite and a melody just comes to me.
Who are your music idols? Whose musical style do you admire?
Let’s see. Without a doubt my main music idol is Mariah Carey. I idolize more so the early years of her career rather than the latter, but she is still an amazing woman. Secondly, would be Alicia Keys. This woman is just so talented it’s ridiculous. I admire her charm, her raw talent; she just has a soulful voice that is so easy to listen to.
Music & fashion coincide in SO many ways...does your fashion sense reflect your music style?
I would say so, I’m multi-faceted, and a lot of my music reflects the many layers I have.
What IS your style?
I would say that I am pretty normal. I do not like the truly made up, over the top, glamorous life. A good example would be the storyboard of "Invincible." I could have easily gone the club route to execute the video, but that’s not really me. I am more of chill person, which is why I opted to have a house party scene instead. Most would say I’m a good mix of Alicia Keys and Mariah Carey with a hint of Rihanna; I would say I’m just Arianne!
The video is premiering January 14th...what's the concept all about? What should we expect from it? Cause I'm excited...LoL!
YOU EXCITED???? Words cannot describe my joy!!!!
Well, Invincible is basically a song about self empowerment; Feeling good on the interior as well as the exterior. I love this song because although it is up-tempo and has a catchy hook, it actually makes you feel good. There’s a message behind this song that goes past the beat and hip shaking. It’s about being comfortable in your own skin! Every person has felt this way before; that they are in such a great mood and cannot be brought down. They’re untouchable… INVINCIBLE!
The video was so much fun to produce. I was able to include lots of family, friends, and associates in the video, as well as fans. I got the chance to work with some well known people in the entertainment industry. Some of those names include Joshua the Model, and comedian Howard Hall. I also got to feature U4ria, my cover band family. Cameras were rolling constantly so there were a lot of outtakes and funny moments caught on film (especially with Howard being around). The story line of the video is simple: I’m rehearsing for an upcoming performance when I get information about a party and decide to go. Of course there is a love interest, but there’s also good music and comedy in there as well! I think a lot of people are going to relate to a video like this. It’s a party, and I mean that literally; we shot a real party!
When & Where will your video be premiering?
The video premiere is Thursday, January 14, 2010 at Avoyelles on the River in Downtown Baton Rouge. Doors open at 8pm, with the video showing at 9pm. Complimentary admission until 10pm. For more information, visit the event on facebook:
When does your album come out & where will it be sold?
The album will be released in 2010 and it will be online and in some stores.
Did you make any New Years resolutions?
You know, I work really hard. I work 9-10 hours a day, then I go home, the gym, band rehearsal, meetings. It gets really hard and rough, but God has blessed me with an awesome home base of family, friends, and supporters. In 2010, I’d like to devote more time to them, as well as more time to myself for relaxing. I’m notoriously known for not taking breaks to breathe and let the dust settle, I’m always kicking it up!
What does 2010 have in store for you?
A LOT! First and foremost, I’ve got the video premiere for "Invincible", as well as the album release that will be coming in 2010! I plan on saturating Southeastern Louisiana, followed by branching out to our neighboring states. U4ria truly hit the ground running in 2009 and easily became one of the most sought after bands in Southeastern Louisiana and Mississippi; 2010 is going to be bigger and better. It all starts with us opening for Chrisette Michelle January 28th. Following that is a series of exciting performances; to stay up to date with all of U4ria’s events, please become a fan at www.facebook.com/u4riatheband
Well, you KNOW the people are gonna wanna get at you...YouTube? Twitter? Facebook? Let the people know how they can contact you, hit you up to learn about ya...
-ChArIs S. a.K.a. "miZz ScOop"
