My Story, which was slated for a summer release was shelved in favor of a yet-untitled album with a different vibe due in the spring.
"It was basically a list of songs that I put together about the past three years of my life, with love and relationships," Rowland said of the album. "And I remember listening to the record, and I was just like, 'I don't want this to be too deep to where, you know, [I] lose people.' I still wanna have my party records, and I still wanna make people get up and bob their heads and vibe a little bit. And the record was too full of midtempos and ballads, so I wanted to bring it up a little bit. I mean, I'm 25. I'm young!"
Since then, Rowland has collaborated with Snoop Dogg on the Tank-produced track "Ghetto" and spent last week with producer/songwriter Sean Garrett, currently on the charts with Fergie's "London Bridge" and the Pussycat Dolls' "Buttons"
"In general, I'm going in the urban, more R&B route," Rowland said during a break from the Garrett sessions. "Of course, that's what I started with with Destiny's Child, [but on] my first solo album I did more of a pop-sounding record. So I wanted to go back to my roots and dibble and dabble with some beats."
Although Rowland is still recording — she has sessions booked with Rich Harrison, Rockwilder and Solange — she's trusting her gut that one of the Garrett tracks, tentatively titled "Wooo!" or "Bump Like This," will be the first single.
Rowland has been inspired by Beyoncé and other singers while recording her new album.
"I listened to a lot of Whitney Houston for her vocals," Rowland said. "I love her. I love Beyoncé's voice, and I love Brandy. Those are three vocalists who inspire me. I love how different they are. I love how they take themselves to the next level."
Aside from Snoop ("I've been wanting to work with him forever," Rowland exclaimed) and Tank, who also sings on a song called "The Show," Rowland plans to load up with a few more guest appearances. She's also planning to revive a few of the My Story songs.
"There's one record called 'I'm Still in Love With My Ex,' and that's one of the deepest songs on the record to me," Rowland said.
So can we assume it's about former fiance Roy Williams, who called off their wedding? "People are gonna ask all those kinda questions, but it's just a song," Rowland said. "Sometimes you enhance!"
