TLC took time out for an intimate Q&A session today with British producer Alica Powell today on Facebook Live!
Will this be the final album?
Chilli: Yes, it is.
Tell us about “Way Back”
T-Boz: Love that song. It’s a perfect backyard boogie. Any family get together, you just remember those feelings. If you see family and friends you haven’t seen in a while. That feeling you get like it was just yesterday, like no time has passed. It’s just a good feeling song, and Snoop was the perfect person because it has a West Coast vibe.
Chilli: You’ll see the video soon! It comes out this week. Fans are in the video, Kickstarter supporters.
T-Boz: And the TLC Army!
How many tracks on the album?
T-Boz: 11
Chilli: Including the interlude
T-Boz: It’s TLC. One thing we don’t do is try to fit in with the masses. We keep it original to what we do, and when that’s broke then hey, I guess we’re done. But it’s not broke, so we’re not gonna fix it.
Chilli: It’s been 15 years since our last album. We love the studio. It’s like brushing your teeth. But we haven’t worked in the studio together for a LONG time. The last time we were in the studio together all the time was the first album. We had no other lives outside the studio besides that. By the second album, we didn’t have kids yet, but we understood ‘I don’t be waiting in the studio 5 hours til she finishes’, you know, so we decided to go when we needed to go.
How long did it take to finish the album?
Chilli: It took longer than normal, for us.
T-Boz: It wasn’t us!
Chilli: When we first announced the Kickstarter, the NKOTB tour was starting. Then, after that, getting everyone’s schedules together, writers and producers, it was hard! But it came together eventually.
Do you have a favorite song on the album?
T-Boz: “Way Back” is one of my favorites.
Chilli: Mine too. I don’t think I have a favorite favorite, I don’t know.
T-Boz: We gotta get you to hear “Aye Muthafucka”!
Chilli: Y’all gonna like that. Ladies! We always look out, that’s our job, that’s what we do.
You’re going on tour! Who else is on the tour?
Chilli: We’re headlining the I Love The 90s tour. Naughty By Nature, it’s a bunch of people. But everyone isn’t going to be at every city with us. So it’s gonna be different artists in different places.
What was your favorite fan moment?
Chilli: For me, it was this little girl. She was 5 at the time. I had to meet her! When I walked in the room it was like I was Santa Claus! When the movie came out we got a new generation of kids, and she was one of them. That was a highlight because it had been so long and she was so small and loved us like that.
Will there be a music video for “Haters”?
T-Boz: Yes! We shot it and it’s coming out soon.
Chilli: You’re gonna love it. We have a wonderful anti-bullying campaign that we’re doing around this song.
T-Boz: It stands for something, that’s what is most important.
Describe the new album in 3 words.
Chilli: It’s still CrazySexyCool.
T-Boz: To the 10th power!
What was the most difficult thing about doing an album after 15 years?
T-Boz: Just the way the business is ran now, unprofessionally! It’s hard to book grown people in the studio these days. Writers be all over the place and we have kids now. Just to pinpoint them down is like being a parent to 75 grown people. So, when you get schedules to work things start moving.
Will you be going back to the UK and Asia?
Chilli: We are going back to the UK, so probably yes to both of those.
When is the “Way Back” video coming out?
Chilli: This week! I believe it’s this week. It’s done though.
T-Boz: I’mma pick a safe word. SOON!
What was your favorite song to write or perform?
T-Boz: My favorite song to write was “Unpretty”.
Chilli: Mine favorite song was on 3D, I was really going through it. “Over Me”. It was very therapeutic.
T-Boz: I liked writing “Way Back” too because it made me feel good about my friends that I don’t get to see all the time. So, that was a good, fun song to write.
When does the tour start?
T-Boz and Chilli: July 7! Go get your tickets!
