Melody Thornton's Vibe Interview

I Love how she tells it like it is on this interview its about time!:D

Melody Thornton can sing her petite ass off, but you may not have noticed while she shimmied two steps behind her old Pussycat Dolls honcho, Nicole Scherzinger for six years. However, these days the African-Mexican spunkpot is happily autonomous and singing it loud... for everyone to hear. A few days before Mel's 26th birthday, VIBE gabbed it up to get the word on flying solo, why she'll never be in another girl group, and those rappers we always catch her with... —Tracy Garraud

 

VIBE: You were in a group with six other girls and now depend completely on yourself as a solo artist. How does that feel?

Melody Thornton: A lot of people are going through transitional periods right now and I don’t know if it’s something in the universe, [laughs]but it’s good. It’s important for every person on this earth to be self-sufficient. Moving into [the Pussycat Dolls] situation there was no Melody being herself. It was Melody fitting into a mold and a character and that’s what I did. I did it to the best of my ability.

 

Did you initially want to be in a girl group?

When you come from nothing, you don’t turn down great opportunities. If you’re in the middle of the ocean drowning, praying to God to send you some way to get out and he sends you a tugboat, you can’t necessarily be bummed. You just gotta get on the boat and make it happen. It’s all about getting to the next step.

 

Word.

For me, it’s important for people to know that I do write. I will be writing the majority of what I am singing because it’s important to me for an artist to actually be talking about something that came from them as opposed to being manufactured in that way.

 

True and it’s even more important for people to know you can really sing. Were you told before joining PCD that there would only be one lead singer?

I got into the group to sing. That was made very clear to me. But it became more and more apparent what was going on. Roles were being minimized and minimized, and then by the time it got on the show, it was very much like ‘Yall play your part and this is what it is.’ It was tough because you don’t want to **** on your own opportunity.

 

Yeah and you don’t want to be kicked out either.

Right. You don’t want to watch somebody else prevail in a position that could have been yours when it’s important for you to just watch and learn. And I took that from the experience. [My talent] has only been polished. If I had started out at 19, I would have been trying to learn it along the way, as opposed to being able to sit back and watch somebody go through all the struggles because [Nicole Scherzinger] was the lead singer and she took a lot.

 

Did you ask your label why you couldn’t sing lead as well?

After awhile you have to stop asking those questions and accept it for what it is. Life is more about acceptance than it is about trying to pick something apart when you’re wearing yourself out.

 

True. So you never received an answer?

No and we weren’t going to get an answer. That’s most important for people to understand. If Melody had an opportunity to sing, then she would’ve sang. Bottom line. But that wasn’t available to me and that’s fine. It’s okay! It’s important for people to see the advocate for the underdog actually prevail because that’s inspiring.

 

Indeed. And you’re not with Interscope, right?

Yeah, I’m not at Interscope. I haven’t taken what’s been offered because I feel I deserve better. I believe in putting your best foot forward and swinging for the fence, and I’m going to have the kind of enthusiastic CEO behind me who’s like, ‘Yeah! That’s what it is!’ And I’m not afraid to wait for that. I am funding and recording on my own. And I love Interscope, by the way. They’re one of the best. [Jimmy Iovine] knows what he’s doing. If he loves you, you got it. It’s like why would I marry someone just because they have money? I also need to be loved. I need to be cherished.

 

Did you not feel loved?

No, actually I did. I just don’t know that they felt… there’s a lot of politics involved. The most important thing is to not take it personally. I respect Jimmy on another level and I’m very grateful to him for the opportunity that I had.

 

Were you surprised at all that Nicole didn’t pop as a solo artist?

You just never know. There’s no way to know whether people are going to be receptive.

 

Perhaps her timing was off.

Yeah, I think the timing may have been a bit off. The only thing that you can do is know what your message is because if you love it, everybody else is gonna love it. All you can do is know that your music needs to be out there. And that’s actually something that Kanye was saying. I had the opportunity to see the first 15 minutes of his film that he’s putting together, and he was like, ‘Music needs me. I know that. I know that music needs me.’ That right there—that’s empowerment. Speaking that into existence is what makes people believe you.

 

A lot of people believe you and Nicole have a rift.

Right. Well, remember when Whitney and Mariah did that song together? It’s like, clearly they did a song together, so it’s not all that damn bad. As long as we respect each other, it’s okay. She does what she does, and I do what I do, and that’s that. You’re either a forgiving person and you can move on or you can hold on to those things. I’m not one of those people. I’m not gonna be a victim to what happened. It’s over. Bye. Keep it pushing.

 

Do you consider her a friend?

I would be very hurt if something happened to her. Of course, hello! We spent five years of our lives together.

 

But that doesn’t necessarily make that person a friend.

That’s just who I am…that’s how I was raised. If somebody needs an arm, here’s an arm. We’re only here on this Earth to help each other. That’s what you’re supposed to do. If you can help somebody, that’s what you do. If that person’s not harming you then what are you afraid of? Moving past everything that happened, she’s still a good person.

 

So what really broke up the group?

Maybe a divorce is what you can attribute that split to. We were definitely tired and worked a lot. I’m seeing these people more than I see my family. I would be hurt if anything happened to any one of the girls. Doesn’t matter what they said or did ever. You can love someone and let ‘em go. It was just time to move on. As much as I care for all of the girls, I’m going to do what’s best for Melody from this point forward. I need to do what I want to do.

 

Would you ever be in a girl group again if you got to play lead singer?

If I could avoid groups altogether, that would be fantastic. Because a lot of times, somebody’s in a bad mood and I can’t help but take that personally because it’s like, “What the **** was that?” Just the whole group setting is a nightmare.

 

It seems like girl groups are always destined for drama.

It’s hard to work in groups. It’s no secret that people who are creative are also very emotional. It’s tough. You take a whole bunch of Andy Warhol-ish people, put them in the mix, and you’re like, ‘Get along and do something together forever.’ That **** is not going to last.

 

[Laughs] Yeah, I don’t think so either.

It’s not. It won’t. At some point, I have to hide all of my great ideas because I want them for myself. I know that I can execute them. I want it done my mother****ing way.

 

Well there you go. How similar is your new work to PCD?

Well, it’s not similar because I’m singing it. [Laughs] Kidding. It’s gonna be fun, but at the same time, there’s an underlying message for people. Like I said, it’s important for the underdog to prevail at some point and reinforce faith in people. Music should move you. It shouldn’t just be fun. It’s not all about fun. Life is about ups and downs, so that’s what my music will have.

 

Have you recently collaborated with anyone?

Yes, Dre and Vidal. I’m actually working on a song today with Dre that I wrote. It’s called "Bad Bitch"! [Laughs]

 

Ha! What’s going on in your personal life? Dating anyone?

I’m not… I don’t think. [Laughs]

 

Hmm…

I play it fast and loose, boo. [Laughs]

 

Would you ever date a celebrity?

Of course, because they’re gonna understand what I’ve been through, but then you gotta know what that means.

 

Makes sense. Would you ever date a celebrity that had a bald-headed ex-girlfriend?

[Laughs] I adore him. I do. I think he’s in the industry for the right reasons. I think he’s adorable, and I admire him for being in the industry for the right reasons. He’s always made music that you can relate to.

 

That’s sounds dateable, right?

[Laughs] Oh, God.

 

How about about a short rapper? Would you date someone like that? [Laughs]

[Laughs] No. I’m working out the genetics for the next half, so if I have boys, they’ll be set.

 

Ha! Is that your way of dispelling rumors that you and Bow Wow used to date?

He was just a homie. He still is. I love him. He’s great.

 

Not the homie with benefits?

No. No benefits. People don’t know that he’s smart and adorable when he wants to be. Very talented actor, very talented musician—more than one reason to love him. I was like, ‘Cool. I have a buddy, one that’s not in the same group as me!’

 

Are you daunted by going the independent route while you wait for a big label to pick you up?

Nope. It’s whoever is the most enthusiastic about me.

 

In the meantime should we expect to see you on Dancing With The Stars anytime soon?

No. I don’t need to be dancing with no stars. It’s not necessary for me.