Faith Renee Evans: I had the opportunity to work with great producers on the album. Most of the tracks were already done, and I just wrote to them. Of course, we would go through beats, and I’d let them know which joints I was feeling. That’s usually how my creative process begins with a song. I find the music that moves me, and I allow it to take me in.
Urban Grandstand Digital: On the flip side, artists love this album as much as everyone else. You have artists like Lecrae, who sample You Are My Joy (Interlude) for his 2012 track Inspiration, You Used to Love Me was sampled by a number of artists, and Reasons was sampled by Camp Lo maybe 5 or 6 years ago. I think it speaks to the timeless quality in your music but what do you attribute that to, and how does that make you feel?
Faith Renee Evans: I feel blessed, and honored that artists still gravitate and listen to music, let alone sample it. I don’t think that any us, in 90’s R&B, knew what kind of impact our music would have on the genre or future generations. At that time, we were writing our lives. We were creating the soundtrack to urban love. In retrospect, I’d have to attribute that to being open, genuine, and vulnerable in composing the music. People connect with things that they can relate to. But once again, I had no idea that God would allow them to connect generations later. I’m blessed.
Urban Grandstand Digital: Was it your idea or desire to cover Rose Royce's Love Don't Live Here Anymore?
Faith Renee Evans: It wasn’t my idea, but I’m glad we did the record. Initially, there was a solo version of me doing the joint, but Puff thought it’d be great for Mary to collab as well. I remember him saying that we HAD to sing this song with the fire and passion that the lyrics displayed … lol ….and we had to do a little homework to get that done!! LOL
Urban Grandstand Digital: Many times, when women craft album such as this, which centers around love and emotions, it connects more with women, yet, this album touched the lives of so many men. Your album stands out for me personally for two reasons. First, in a moment where I felt I was reconnecting with my sister on a drive from Cleveland to Richmond Virginia, we played this album on repeat the entire way. Secondly, the following summer I worked at an amusement park for the summer, and in the midst of loneliness, your album was THEE ALBUM for me that summer. Even listening now, which i do daily, it brings back memories of those times. How often do you get that from male fans?
Faith Renee Evans: You know, honestly, a lot of my male fans have reached out and shared that they connected with my first album as well. Thank you so much. I’m not sure that music has a gender, or that stories about love, only connect with a specific type of person. Women aren’t the only ones experiencing these feelings, and men have hearts too. So, I’m glad that both men and women can see the music for what it is.