Tionne: So how are you doing?

Vivian Green: I’m great!!!

Tionne: Good, good… well, you’ve been gone for about 2 ½ years, so I just wanted to...

Vivian: Okay, I just, wait… why you pushing it with that half?

Tionne: OH, okay, we’ll drop that half and just say 2?

[laughing all around]

Tionne: So you’ve been gone for 2 years... what have we missed out on, what’s goin’ on with you?

Vivian: What have you missed out on... I’m a mom now, I have a baby; he’s one! That’s the main reason for the hiatus.

Tionne: So everything has been going well professionally, emotionally, etc...

Vivian: Yes, wonderful! I’m great and just happy with everything!

Tionne: Cool... as far as the first album and the second albums are concerned, how would you describe the difference between the two… how would you compare them?

Vivian: ...The first album was sad and... I wrote it from a very sad point of view as well. So, you know, not only were the lyrics sad, the way I was telling it was sad as well. So I think that’s like the album, just me having my own little pity party. And this album, Vivian, is the complete opposite. It’s from a completely positive stand point; and even though some of the song’s subjects might not seem so positive, I’m just telling a story from a positive perspective. You know what I mean? The last album seemed like I was still crying while I was writing the song, but this one, is like… I’m gonna tell y’all what happened but I’m straight! So it’s very different, it’s like a very womanly empowering feeling going on, on this record that wasn’t on the first one. I like the beats on this album, they’re a lot more youthful - my age is displayed on this album, so yea!

Tionne: Definitely, it seems so much more alive and personally I love it.

Vivian: OH, thank you!!! I don’t love the first one, but I do love this one!

Tionne: I’ve had the new one on repeat for a couple of days, so...

Vivian: Awww - OH, what’s your favorite song!?

Tionne: Um, my favorite song has gotta be “Perfect Decision…” that has got to be my favorite one.

Vivian: [Scream & Laugh] I LOVE THAT RECORD, me too!!! I love that you like the song that I like!

Tionne: ME TOO!!!

[laughing all around]

Tionne: So with this album and the last album, did you have the same directorial control as far as the writing and production and everything?

Vivian: Oh yes! I’m still in the same contract, so everything stays the same. For every album I do, until the 5th one, it will be the same, I’ll have control.

Tionne: So we can definitely expect more albums from you, right?

Vivian: Oh, yea DEFINITELY!

Tionne: As far as your musical inspirations go, I couldn’t find very much information... after the first album, you became pretty aloof, so I wanted to know who your musical aspirations are?

Vivian: Oh, you know, I have a lot. It depends on what month it is… right now, I’m listening to Tina Marie; I was just sick with “Nobody knows Who he Is.” [laugh] I love Ella Fitzgerald, it’s just too many people to name basically. Anybody who is really talented, who can really sing or write a song, I’ll probably be a fan and buy their album! So, I mean from way back when, ‘til now; there’s not one main person that influences me.

Tionne: Working on the new album, actually both albums, there wasn’t any sort of caliber of anyone that you featured or worked with; was there anyone you wanted to work with on the album, like another artist?

Vivian: Probably not...

Tionne: So you wanted to stick to the whole solo thing?

Vivian: Yea, definitely.

Tionne: Well know that there was no need for it!

Vivian: Thank you! You know, I’m just… a very creative, autobiographical kind of writer. And it’s like, I don’t know… when I feel like I have a lot to say, I don’t really need anybody to help me say it. You know what I mean? And I mean, I admire a lot of people and I think a rack of people are more talented than me, so it’s not that I think I’m so hot, it’s not that, but when I’m trying to say something, I don’t think anyone can convey that like I can. I think that’s why my fans really love me, because I really tell my business and tell the truth and put it out there and nobody can really do that. Now, there was a point when I wanted some MC’s around, but then SONY was like this album… well, we have a clause where, they can’t tell me what to do, and I can’t tell them what to do. So we have to make sure we’re all on the same wavelength. Donnie Iner, was like Viv’ I know what you’re trying to do… and they really don’t butt in? So, he was like, I know what you’re trying to do, I know it’s different; I like it; I’m feelin’ it, BUT we don’t want to scare people – so we should gradually come into it, with things being so new. We didn’t want to scare people since I haven’t done that and it’s been so far from the first record – so I’ll do that maybe on the third one, not now… so I just chilled with the rappers. I’ll probably use them on some remixes though.

Tionne: You’ve been in the industry for a long time and I just wanted to know if there was ever a time when you were just UGH, I can’t do this anymore… a time when you just wanted to give up - if so, where did your drive and motivation come from?

Vivian: I always wanted to be a full artist that was my main focus when I was 15. That’s always what I wanted to. So when I was about, 19… I was like maybe I should jet; because I had been into so many different situations and so many different camps… like “signed” and then “not signed,” there was so much that I had been through in those what, 4 almost 5 years, at that point I was frustrated. I was like, maybe you should just be a song writer. ‘Get a publishing deal (you know which at the time I probably could have easily done) and just be a song writer and that way you don’t have to do the artist thing and still kind of live in the life. So there was one point when I was thinking like that, but then my dear friend Eric Roberson was like, “Girl, you are trippin’, that is not what you want to do!” [laughing all around] So for a second there, I was a little discouraged, but that was really short lived [laughing].

Tionne: I know that with the first album, you basically said you wanted the album to speak to people’s hearts and for them to be able to feel it... I wanted to know after hearing the feedback, I wanted to know how you feel about the success of your first album?

Vivian: I feel like… it never reached its maximum potential. My first album suffered from a huge merger that went on at Sony Music, with Tommy Matola leaving; after Columbia merging; a lot of people getting fired; a lot of people being hired; a lot of things moving around and a lot of peoples projects suffered because of it, mine being one of them… but we sold 600,000 records off of one single. You know, and as a new artist, no rapper attached to me, no nothing, no one “bringing me out” so-to-speak, without any of that hype, we managed to do those numbers and that is incredible! Off of one single and one video; I feel like if that merger had not happened and we had our chance to go to single #2, video #2, perhaps 3, that we would have went platinum or over. I wasn’t disappointed… I always had a gut feeling that something was going to happen with that album that wasn’t going to be good… and it turned out to be the merger that happened in the middle of the project. I feel a lot better this time around because it’s much more stable and I still have, with all the changes, have the key people that were there from the beginning. The people that were there with the signing (Donnie Ienner & Lisa Ellis); they’re all still there and they really want us to win this time as well ,and they were upset about the first album… but with all that was happening, sometimes there’s nothing you can do. So I’m really excited everyone is really, really giving this album a chance and in support, so I have a much better feeling about this album. Nothing’s stopping us this time! [laughing] But for what A Love Story did, I think it’s amazing and I think it did really well.

Tionne: With the new album and everything, it’s going to be so busy and crazy, but is there any possibility you have something else on the horizon?

Vivian: You know what, no... no writing for another artist; I did try to get on Toni Braxton’s record, but she didn’t accept... you know what? “Perfect Decision,” I submitted the song to her...

Tionne: And she didn’t take it!??!?!

Vivian: They didn’t want it; so I was like well give it back, it’s about me anyway!

[laughing all around]

Vivian: That was the only album I really tried to get on... basically the main focus was; (especially being away for so long) I didn’t want to be all over the place, I just wanted to get this album completed and out there. But, I absolutely LOVE Toni; when I was 13, that’s all I listened to… but I think it all worked out. Nothing else, but I do want to do some acting, definitely… but you have to kind of stop and do that and right now I want to do all the promoting and support of the album in the summer time and then after that, I may go to LA and see what’s going on. I’ve gotten like 3 scripts, I just got one for Dream Girls, so I’m going to go read for that in September (I love Dream Girls). I want to do a lot of things! I want to take my song writing into different avenues, I want to write for movies and do films… children’s television; there’s so much I want to do with my song writing outside of being an artist.

Tionne: So if you weren’t singing and the song writing, what would Vivian Green be doing?

Vivian: I would be a shrink! I would probably have like, one year of school left and be Dr. Green! It’s most likely the career that I would have ran after.

Tionne: I wanted to point out, between A Love Story being so melancholy... the new line up seems so much more confident, alive, and just colorful; what would you say made you realized within that growth and change that offered that?

Vivian: Well, that’s why I named it "Vivian", because my name means “full of life.” So I thought naming it “Vivian” was very appropriate for the whole tone of the record. I think the first thing was just getting older... you know, living a little longer; seeing things how they really are and having a baby... all of those things.

Tionne: Now, there are a lot of artist and record companies that claim they want to improve the music and improve the music industry; would you say there was anything that was missing from the music or in the industry today?

Vivian: Mmm… I don’t know if I would say something is missing, but… the people that should be making noise, like lots of noise - loud noise; it’s not loud enough. But, it’s not the artists fault, it’s just how the industry is; very Hip Hop driven and that’s what’s hot. And I love Hip Hop, Rap, I love it all! But there’s no room for everything; that’s just the way the industry is, so whatever genre is hot or poppin’, that’s going to be the biggest thing. So unless you fit into that in some way, shape, or form, then you’re not going to be huge… so I think it’s “missing” - letting other genres of music being just as big as Hip Hop, that are just as talented as MC’s, or song writers, or anything. Like just a guitar album will never be huge or anything like that… unless you’re someone like Norah Jones and that’s a once in a lifetime thing. It’s just missing voices that aren’t being heard… but you know, I take things for what they’re worth… I wish voices could be louder, but all I can do is try to support those people who might not get that major promo or airplay, so I just play my part in showing my support. The industry at the end of the day, is about money… it’s not about the music dying, that’s not fair; they don’t really give a damn about that... it’s about how much money they make at the end of the day. I believe that people who work at these record companies that put their blood, sweat, and tears into it, I do believe they are music lovers and want to see music change, but the people at the head of the companies they don’t give a damn; they want to make money and that’s it. So you got to just take it for what it’s worth and just keep moving.

Tionne: WELL! [laughing all around] Okay, so let’s get something out of you… you seem so phenomenal in person… on screen, on the album, but I wanted to know if there’s something funny or embarrassing about yourself that you would reveal?

Vivian: Awww, thank you! [silence] Embarrassing!?! Um, there’s not anything, I can’t think of anything...

Tionne: Oh, so you’re just perfect all the time?

Vivian: NO!! [laughing all around] No, not at all! Well, okay when I do the radio station promos, I always slip up and drop the mic or something… and I’m always telling them, play that one! Play the one where I forgot the words, or got the word wrong! I laugh at myself, I’m always laughing! I like for people to know I’m a real person… I’m not a diva, I’m not a star; I don’t like being fussed over or someone asking me if I’m okay every 5 minutes! I don’t like limos [laughing], I don’t like the whole “star” thing… I mean, it’s okay to do it every once in a while when you go to an award show, but as far as the everyday, I’m normal. I like to laugh and have fun and I want the people that work with me to have a good time and feel like we’re all doing it together, because it’s not all about VIVIAN, VIVIAN! I just try to be myself… I am SO over myself! [laughing]

Tionne: So aside from the singing career, what do you do in your down time?

Vivian: Yea, let me tell you; you know people saying they sing ALL the time, please! When I’m not in the studio or working, I’m home being a regular person. I don’t sing around the house… I don’t always have a cd on, sometimes I like it to just be silent. I mean, if you met me on a regular day, regular occasion, you’d have no idea I was a singer. I like to be at home, watch HBO, and play with Jordan (my baby). I like to stay at my mom’s house… do laundry and I’ll just stay there all day. I sleep on my mom’s couch!? [laughing all around] You know, using her phone, like I live there. All the neighbors probably think I’m a stripper, because I leave late at night, I come back from weeks at a time… who knows! [laughing] You should see them when they look at me!

Tionne: [laughing] OK. Is there anything that I or any other interviewer has not touched that you might want to put out there?

Vivian: Since I’ve been gone… I’M SINGLE! That is a great piece of information! I’m single and loving it! I think a lot of people think I got married, but I was never married, I was engaged. I want everyone to know and understand, that on my first record, I said “To my husband,” in my Thank You’s, but when you do an album, you turn that in months before and it was too late to change the credits. So that’s how it came out. I know he told a lot of people we did, but we never got married, we don’t exist anymore – I’M SINGLE & LOVING IT!

Tionne: And before we wrap, I want to know why “Perfect Decision” is your favorite song?

Vivian: I think it’s a very clever way that I wrote the hook… and I just really like the question/answer to yourself, you know [singing] when you give it to me just like; no ‘cause we’re perfect... [/singing] but it’s me! I think it’s hot the way the hook is written, like an angel and devil... you know, it’s a true story of me sleeping with one of my really dear friends. I like to put things out there, because these are the things we go through as women, as adults; this kind of thing happens. I mean, its okay and I went through it, so I wrote a song about it! It’s very honest, that song is so damn honest… I can’t tell you guys anymore of my business than that! I just strive to keep it real – tell the truth!

Tionne: Definitely a hot song; I hope it’s one of the singles, I love it...

Vivian: I love it too!! [laughing]

Tionne: I can’t tell you how many times I repeat the bridge... [laughing]

Vivian: [laughing] That’s your favorite part!??!?

Tionne: Hell yea! You just broke it down, and I was like, wait, wait; wait a minute! wait a minute!

Vivian: THANK YOU SO MUCH TIONNE! [laughing]

Tionne: On behalf of The Flow Magazine and all of your fans, I’d like to thank you for taking the time to sit down with us and wish you much success now and in the future.

Vivian: No, Thank you!!! And I thank my fans for their love and support!

In stores June 28th, the sophomore effort is a telling from a woman who has found a comfortable seat... she’s not only an artist, but a mother, and most importantly, a happier woman. With such a promising career and future, her accomplishments are set... the goals have been stretched across the table... and now we can just sit back and let Vivian Green create & sing... anybody up for thirds, or fourths?

© Tionne 2005, All Rights Reserved