Have you ever been to a gay club when “No Scrubs” comes on? Because you’ve never seen anything gayer or more inspiring.
T-Boz and Chilli: (Laughs)
Chilli: You know what’s funny? One of my friends works for VH1 and, oh my gosh, it’s hilarious. He’s gay and I’m the only girl who could be his play girlfriend he tells me, and he always sends me – and, I mean, he just sent one the other day – video of when “No Scrubs” comes on, and he’s like, “Chilli, I love you!” And he’s singing and showing me everybody singing. It is crunk!

So, I take it you’re aware of your LGBT following? 
T-Boz: Oh, very aware. Very, very,very! The thing I love about our fans is, we’ve grown with them and they’ve grown with us. Some of them have kids now, so we have generations there. But, yes, we are very, very, very aware of the community, honey, ’cause all of our friends let us know. I love it!

When did you first know you had a gay following? 
T-Boz: I did a party around (1994’s) “CrazySexyCool” and that was one of the best parties I hosted. I learned so much! Like, I didn’t know there were certain terms and stuff! They hooked me up with a lot more knowledge of stuff that went on than I really realized. I was like, “Ohh?!” It was just such a free, fun party. No judging. No anything. It was just one of the best environments I had ever been in, so I thought that was cool. So, probably around ’95-ish when I was really aware.

What did you learn about the gay community that night? 
T-Boz: I learned what a top was, a bottom was. And versatile! (Laughs) I learned all of those terms! I was like, oh my god – this is so cool.
Chilli: Oh, Lord. Oh, Jesus. I wasn’t at that party!

Sounds like you really missed out, Chilli. When was your gay awakening then? Ha! 
Chilli: (Laughs) I don’t know why I feel weird saying it now, ’cause you already said it! The bottom part. And you know… the top. I keep laughing!

Ha! Moving on to the new album: Which songs on the new album do you hope become gay club anthems? 
Chilli: It’s funny that you kind of break it down like that. But really and truly, for me personally, I just kind of feel like when we make our songs, we make them for everybody. I mean, everybody. So, you never know who’s gonna like what the most. I guess we’ll find out in time by what song really speaks to whomever and what’s the most popular one that’s being played at certain clubs. It’s kind of harder to gauge that one for me.
T-Boz: I think “Perfect Girls.” The three I’ve heard mostly from my gay friends have been “Perfect Girls,” “Scandalous” and “Start a Fire.” Those are the top three. But I think “Perfect Girls” has a message that’s been universal no matter what sex you are – anyone who’s ever felt like they don’t love themselves from the inside out or have a goal they’re trying to reach but can’t ’cause they’re looking at people who they think are perfect. But there’s no such thing!

What do you remember of the LGBT community’s response to “Waterfalls” when it first came out?
T-Boz: We did a campaign for Pfizer, and there was a new cocktail out. We did seminars and it was really cool because we let it be known that there was a new drug from this company and it could help HIV/AIDS patients. They would come up to us; they felt like we were their voice. It was such an epidemic at the time, so they just felt like we were speaking for them.
Chilli: It was basically about bringing more awareness (to it) because nobody really talked about it. It was kind of just hush-hush, even though these things were happening. It was like, “People are getting sick, they’re dying and nobody is really talking about it much.”
T-Boz: People even said they thought about committing suicide and it helped save their lives. We started really seeing the seriousness of it, especially when we did charity events. We got a lot of calls for charity events for AIDS benefits, so it started making a really big difference. We basically got one of our wishes through that song, because we always wanted to help change and save lives.

Gay icon Bette Midler covered “Waterfalls” a few years ago – what was it like hearing her rendition? 
Chilli: That was an honor. It was an honor because she is legend, oh my god. That’s legendary right there! And not only that, but she contributed to our Kickstarter campaign. We were shocked. We couldn’t believe, like, “Bette Midler?!”

During “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” Tatianna showed some TLC love when she did T-Boz drag. Did you tune in for that? 
T-Boz: (Laughs) I absolutely saw it and I loved it! I put it on my page; I reposted it.
Chili: I don’t think anybody ever has (dressed up as me). Maybe I’m boring! I’m no fun, I guess. (Laughs) I just got the long, wavy hair. And I don’t hardly wear any wake up, so I don’t think I’d be a fun person to dress up as, is what I’m thinking.
T-Boz: Yeah, I’ve seen T-Boz drag more than once, actually. It’s cool to see different renditions of myself. It makes you go, “Oh, that’show you see me!” (Laughs)

What do you remember from RuPaul’s visit to the set of the “No Scrubs” video in 1999? 
Chilli: I remember the first time I saw him – and at first I didn’t know even it was him because he wasn’t in drag! He was just walking around with no makeup and it was so funny. But then, when he smiled, it was like, “Oh, that is RuPaul.” You know that smile anywhere. And he was so sweet too. And really tall! (Laughs)
T-Boz: He just came to show love. He was just there to support us, which I thought was awesome. That was it. He was just showing love.

At the start of your career, you rocked a tomboy look. How intentional was your subversion of gender? And what did that do for your lesbian following?
Chilli: This is how we looked at it: We call ourselves “prissy tomboys” ’cause we’re super girly, but we’re tomboys at the same time, so we felt like we represented all the girls who did not feel comfortable wearing a tight dress. We represented that crew. Then lettin’ everybody know you don’t have to wear a tight dress to be sexy – it’s the attitude. So, even though we had baggy clothes and all that kind of stuff, we were still feminine, So, again, whoever gravitated toward that and felt comfortable, we helped them feel more comfortable. That’s how it was, because we didn’t wanna wear tight dresses! We still don’t really like dressing like that.

Did your style give the ladies the wrong idea – that you were lesbian? What do you remember of those rumors? 
T-Boz: I got most of it! They was always after me, child! (Laughs) All the lipstick lesbians – everybody! Child, I got everything. But that doesn’t bother us. Ultimately, no matter what your sexual orientation, we were standing up for anybody that felt like they didn’t fit in. We were letting them know you can still be sexy in boy clothes, you can rock this, you don’t have to be naked or half-dressed. You can be yourself and be just as fly.

Pride Source

TLC got on the phone to speak to Clare Crane in the UK to promote their upcoming appearance at the Mighty Hoopla in London’s Brockwell Park on June 3, their first UK festival!

What made you record a new album?

T-Boz: Mostly the fans asking for it. Of course, when Lisa passed away things changed, and some people wondered what would happen to TLC. And then some people understood it’s not the same but you have to find your new normal, and we still have the talent.

Chilli: It’s a blessing for us that we can still continue and make sure her legacy goes on through us. We’re very different from most groups, I don’t think there will ever be a group like TLC. So, when she passed away, people were like ‘people replace group members all the time’, it was like foreign talk to us. No one can be replaced in TLC. Each original member is an original member, and that’s it! It just has to be that way.

The importance of lyrical content in their music 

T-Boz: Lyrical content is something that’s missing in today’s music. I think that there’s a difference when there’s a song that when you hear it you remember where you were and how you feel, it healed you or helped you get through something.

Is this the final album?

Chilli: Yeah.

T-Boz: Yes, it is. I mean, you never know if there’s a Christmas special or a single or something like that. We’re open to that but as far as this being the final TLC studio album, yeah it’s the last album.

How the Left Eye Interlude was brought to life

T-Boz: The interlude on this album we had such a problem, we used a lot of vocals that we had of Left Eye. Before she passed, she was on more of a poetic type of thing, some of it was gangster rap and NINA (New Identity Non Applicable) that she had created, that was a solo thing she was doing and it didn’t fit with TLC. So, we tried to creatively come up with something that was the essence of Lisa that you will remember her for. That high energy and cute little voice. That’s what that interview stood for, so you could remember the essence of why you loved Lisa.

TLC’s fashion style

Chilli: When I look back at the clothes that we wore, pretty much everything I consider to be a thumbs up, because it was authentically us. It was our own style, even if we had taken whatever was popular at the time, we took it and made it TLC style, and that was before we even had stylists. Our stylists sit down and talk to us about what we want, we’re not the type of artists to rely solely on the stylist about what to wear, we have our own sense of style and know how we want to be presented in photoshoots and on stage. Whatever it is will definitely have a TLC flare to it.

First UK festival appearance at Mighty Hoopla 

T-Boz: It’s exciting, man! I’m so excited, we’ve been waiting to do that. I’m so happy this day is here! It’s a high powered show, even on the slow songs you find a pick up or something going on. There’s always something to watch, no matter what song it is on stage. I think people leave with a good feeling.

One of the greatest legacies in music history can be summed up by just three letters—TLC.

Those characters merely hint at the talent of Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, and the late Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, but they immediately evoke an unparalleled journey nonetheless. That journey encompasses immortal anthems such as “Waterfalls,” “Creep,” “No Scrubs,” and “Unpretty,” to name a few, as well as sales of 70 million records worldwide, four GRAMMY® Awards, two RIAA diamond-certified albums among a total of four multiplatinum albums, ten Top 10 singles, and four Number 1 singles. Meanwhile, the VH1 original film CrazySexyCool: The TLC Storychronicled their rise and broke records as the highest-rated television film premiere of 2013 and the highest-rated original premiere on the network between consistent touring.

Given the legacy behind this timeless moniker, it’s fitting the undisputed “best-selling American girl-group of all-time” chose the name TLC for their fifth and first album in 15 years.

“We’re still TLC,” affirms Tionne. “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it. We kept the same recipe, which is strong lyrical content and talking about things that affect all of us. When you have time between albums, you have more to speak on. We talked about what was on our minds and hearts.”

“There’s no glitter or sprinkles about it,” smiles Chilli. “It’s just our name. It’s who we are. We’re back. We’re here to stay. This is a continuation of our evolution. So much has changed since we first came out, but the issues that men and women go through haven’t changed. We love talking about that stuff, and there’s a place for it.”

There’s definitely a place for it, as countless fans quite literally “demanded” a new TLC album in 2015. Unassumingly, the girls launched a Kickstarter campaign to simply gauge interest. What they got was an overwhelming and seismic groundswell of support. Fans worldwide—including Katy Perry, New Kids On The Block, Donnie Wahlberg, Bette Midler, —enthusiastically contributed to this next chapter. Raising over $400,000, it became the “fastest and most funded pop project in Kickstarter history.”

“We’ve always been involved with our audience, especially during FanMail,” Tionne continues. “To have the fans do this album with us was perfect. There was this freedom that came with it. The packages made it even more enjoyable for everyone. If Michael Jackson told me I could go to the movies with him, I would’ve given my rent money and all of my clothes to do that,” she laughs. “It was a fun way to bond with the people who support us even more.”

“The fans kept asking for new music,” recalls Chilli. “It had to be the right situation though. The opportunity never presented itself until the whole Kickstarter thing came into play. We were hesitant at first. Then, we realized we could incorporate everybody who loves our music in a way we hadn’t yet. They literally helped us create the album. The love kept pouring in, and we were really touched. It was such great motivation for us when we got back in the studio.”

TLC went as hard as ever in the booth. As a result, the music picks up exactly where they left off just sharper, smarter, sassier, and even a little sexier than before. The same inimitable chemistry simultaneously drives all twelve tracks.

“I’ve always felt that vibe between us,” says Chilli. “The chemistry has empowered us to touch so many in a positive way. Even if they don’t know us, fans think of us as their homegirls. It’s because we believe everything we say and it’s relatable.”

The girls introduced the record with the appropriately titled “Way Back” [feat. Snoop Dogg]. With its sun-kissed Southern California bounce and smooth Snoop cameo, the single lives up to Chilli’s description as “the perfect summer record.” It quickly cracked 2 million Spotify streams and earned acclaim from Time,Rolling Stone, Spin, and Pitchfork who claimed“‘Way Back’ is a fine way to kick off their hard-earned victory lap.”

From the get-go, “No Introduction” sets the stage with fast and furious verses reintroducing the girls. Meanwhile, TLC combats bullies head-on with hip-hop swagger and pop poise on the clever and catchy “Haters.” Then, there’s “Joyride,” which offers up a heartfelt “thank you”to the fans worldwide who made this record a reality. Steeped in soul, the poignant and powerful plea of the single “American Gold” continues a tradition of social consciousness the girls began on “Waterfalls.”

“With ‘Waterfalls,’ we were the voice for HIV and Aids,” Tionne says. “We thought it would be awesome to now take up for the troops who have lost lives on this American soil and fought for it. They bled American gold, so on “American Gold” we’re saying, ‘Thank you, we appreciate you, and your work hasn’t gone unnoticed.’ We notice.”

At the end of the day, it’s TLC through and through, and there’s nothing more CrazySexyCoolthan that…

“I hope people hear this and think, ‘Damn, they did it again’,” concludes Chilli. “I want them to feel just like they did when they first heard us. I know I’ll be up there shaking it at 100!”

“There’s something on here for every age and walk of life,” Tionne leaves off. “That’s what we’ve always aimed to do, and I think we accomplished that again.”

Source

Chilli took time out to join Hit 92.9 in Australia for a whole morning co-hosting the show to promote their final Australian show this month at Metro City! Chilli discusses everything from TLC to finding love on the beaches of Australia!

Where is T-Boz?

She is not a morning person! She doesn’t talk, she looks mean! So, I’m like, “you know what, I got this!”

Stand out career moment

Honestly, we have many. We always go through something crazy. Every album, inbetween, after, it doesn’t matter, it’s always something. But yet we stay together, we stick it out, our bond is tight.

TLC without Left Eye

You never expect something like that, especially when you’re young. We all think we’re going to live to be older, which is a blessing but when it doesn’t happen it’s very devastating because you don’t see that coming. It’s not even in the back of your mind. We never said we were breaking up, we were just hurting very badly. The record company were like ‘how are they gonna do it without the other member’, so when we were kinda able to heal, we knew that Lisa would want us to go on, and that’s exactly what we’re doing. We always represent her and the fans love it. This is the new TLC, no one will ever take her place in the group.

Bruno Mars

I’m a huge Bruno Mars fan because his music is not new, it’s really old school music but this person doing it today and it has a lot of substance and it feels good music.

Connecting with fans and ‘Haters’

It’s definitely easier today to communicate with your fans because right there, there’s your phone. But then there’s the ugly side, when people say the craziest and meanest things. It’s funny, because when we confront them they are like ‘oh my God, I didn’t know you read your own stuff and I love you guys’. It changes quickly.

Favorite song to perform

We don’t perform any covers. It’s hard for me to pick but I like to perform the uptempos better because I love singing and dancing and stuff. I like ballads but that’s my least favorite.

Atlanta compared to TV shows

It’s not quite like that. Maybe some parts, every city has their [grimy] parts but, no (laughs).

Valentine’s Day and Finding Love

My son [is my special Valentine]. I’ve been looking on the beach!  I would absolutely take an Australian guy home if I found the right one! I’m not too fussy, but I know exactly what I want!

Younger fans

I love kids, you have no idea! It’s such a blessing when you have fans that young. When our movie came out we got this whole new generation and with this new album we have out. They knew all the words and the dance routines, it’s crazy.

How TLC got their nicknames

So, there was another girl in the group before I was in the group. They were called 2nd Nature. Pebbles renamed them TLC because their names were Tionne, Lisa and Crystal.  She was eventually kicked out of her own group! Then, when I got in the group, my name’s Rozonda. TLR? No, so, we were all throwing out names and one of them said Chilli and I said yes, that’s it! So they kinda got their nicknames because I had one. But, mine’s the coolest!