Cox rocks - interview with singer Deborah Cox - Interview

Interview, May, 1999 by Rebecca Wallwork

DC: Yeah. I listen to Des'ree, Roachford, Soul II Soul, Carleen Anderson. There are so many great soul singers from the U.K., but they don't get the exposure they deserve. It's gotten to the point where the music doesn't matter as much as having the right producer's name on the album. I don't want to get caught up in that trend. I want to make quality music that you'll still hear five or ten years from now. Sometimes that means going against the grain and really putting yourself out there, not knowing if you're going to sink or swim. But I'm adamant that real music will stand the test of time.

RW: You're about to go on tour with R. Kelly.

DC: It's my first stadium tour, so I'm really excited about seeing twenty thousand people sing "Nobody's Supposed to be Here." [laughs] When I was a kid I was extremely shy, but performing helped me get over it. It's the weirdest thing. It's easier for me to sing in front of thousands of people than to be in a room with five people.

RW: You've been playing a lot of club gigs because your dance remixes have done so well.

DC: Yeah, there are a lot of people who don't even know that "Nobody . . ." is a ballad. [laughs] It all began when David Morales remixed "Who Do U Love?" [from Deborah Cox], which gave the song a new life. That set the precedent for doing a remix every time I did a single. Then when we did "Things Just Ain't the Same" [from the Money Talks soundtrack], it really exploded. So, I've decided that dance music is going to become a part of who I am.

RW: I hear a drag queen named Kevin Aviance uses your songs in all of his shows.

DC: [laughs] It's extremely flattering that people would actually take the time to impersonate somebody else. That always amazes me. I'm dying to see the show. I hear it's quite incredible.

RW: With all the attention you're getting, how have you managed to stay out of the gossip columns?

DC: I give a lot of myself, musically and artistically; the one thing I like to hold onto is my personal life. Also, a lot of the time I'm touting and I don't have time to hang out with industry people and do the parties. Then when I'm home I want to stay home - I've always been very low-key. But when it comes to delivering onstage or on a record, that's what it's all about.

RW: What do you like to do in your downtime?

DC: Well, there hasn't been a lot of downtime. If I get a day off, it's one day. But I go to the movies and hang out with friends. I like to go to the beach, walk along the water, and just chill out. Real simple things.

RW: Does the craziness of the Industry ever make it hard to keep going?

DC: Funny, no. I've never felt like, "OK, I think I need a break." I have such a great time onstage; I really don't ever get tired of it. I see myself moving in the direction of Tina Turner, who's sixty years old and still touring. I saw her show and was totally inspired. I want to be like Tina.