Carnival of Soul

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Fantasia continues to break preconceived notions about who she is and what she should and should not be doing. 

In her latest tour and album, she’s showing lesser-known sides of her and testing the range of her talent and career. The Grammy-winning singer, author, and actress will give audiences a full dose of her creativity in her upcoming concert in Shreveport.

Fantasia will headline The Sketchbook Tour, scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17 at Shreveport Municipal Auditorium. Robin Thicke and Bonfyre will join her as the opening acts.

Fantasia curated the concert from top to bottom, she said, from the rock and soul sounds to the stunning fashion designs worn by the singer and her band. The show serves more purpose than as simply entertainment, she said, but as a platform for her to deliver positive messages and healing. 

After 16 years in the music industry, Fantasia has a fair share of life and professional wisdom to pass along.

In 2004, Fantasia broke out on the reality television series and was the season three winner of the singing competition, “American Idol.”

The soulful singer with a powerhouse voice has produced chart-topping singles and albums since then.

Fantasia debut album, “Free Yourself,” went platinum after its release in 2004. It featured the R&B single, “I Believe” – which debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Barrino was the first artist to debut in the top spot on the chart.

To follow: A self-titled album, “Fantasia” (2006), “Back to Me” (2010), “Side Effects of You” (2013), “The Definition Of…” (2016), and the holiday album, “Christmas After Midnight” (2017).

“Bittersweet,” a single from “Back to Me,” earned her first Grammy award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Song.

In addition to singing, Fantasia has showcased her talents as an actor and author.

In 2006, she released her memoir, “Life Is Not a Fairytale” The New York Times best-selling autobiography. She starred in the movie adaptation of the memoir on Lifetime.

In 2007, she starred as Celie and won a Theater World Award for her role in the Broadway hit, “The Color Purple.” And in 2013 and 2014, she appeared in Broadway’s “After Midnight.”

This fall, Fantasia kicked off her Sketchbook Tour, coinciding with the October release of her album, “Sketchbook.” It features the hit single, “PTSD,” featuring T-Pain.

The Sketchbook Tour will be the final tour for Fantasia and the singer is doing all she can to go out with a bang, she said.

Fantasia talked to The Shreveport Times to share how her experiences have led to delivering unforgettable concert experiences and how it’s leading to a new chapter in the performer’s life and career. 

How do you describe the overall sound for your new album?

Fantasia: I like to call it rock-soul. I was able to bring out the rock sound.

When we were recording this album, before we dug deep, we went to see “Bohemian Rhapsody” (the Queen biopic) five times. I made the band stop five times to go watch it. I think they thought I was crazy but now they realize what I was doing.

A lot of people did not know that side of me outside of “Idol.” On “American Idol,” we were able to sing all genres and most of the songs that I picked out, nobody would even think I would even be listening to. Going forward from “Idol,” I think everybody had their own vision of making me this big R&B star. Don’t get me wrong — R&B and soul, that’s the true core of me so that will could never go anywhere, but there was also a bigger side of me musically that a lot of people didn’t get to see or hear about because I wasn’t able to walk through that door like I’m able to now. It’s rock-soul.

I have a song on my album called “Free.” That has a dope hip-hop beat to it.

I have a song called “Warning” that is straight soulful-rock. I have almost 200 choir members on it and they sound like angels. That was a late call—I was like, you’ve got put a choir on there.

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I have a song called “The Way!” and it’s very jazzy and that came from me tapping into the jazz world and doing the Broadway play (“After Midnight”) which was strictly jazz and going from there to doing the show at the Kennedy Center (Washington, D.C.) with the National Symphony Orchestra. There’s a lot of things that the world didn’t know about Fantasia and through this album — musically, lyrically — they’re starting to find out.

The Sketchbook Tour makes a stop in Shreveport on Nov. 17. What can the audience expect from this concert and will it differ from your previous tour experiences?

Fantasia: I think that in everything that we do, we grow. Not even just musically, but in life, period. We all should grow and accept growth.

I’ve been doing this for 16 years and that stage is my favorite place. This will be my last tour so that means I’m putting my all into it. But because I’ve grown, because of the things that I’ve been through, because of the things I’ve seen and the people I’ve been able to perform with or just be around — musically, everything is elevated.

I’ve got all women on stage with me — the drum’s a woman, the guitar player, the bass player, the keys player, the girls who sing with me. They all have strong, beautiful gifts, so when I was able to do that the visions and ideas were able to flow.

A lot of people don’t know that I design clothes for the band, the singers, and myself. A lot of people don’t know that the moves that we do… all that stuff is me. The entire show top to bottom is me, I put it together.

This is a Fantasia and a group of women no one’s ever seen before. The way it’s being sung and the way it’s being told is on a totally different level because now I’m married, I’m in a different place, I see things differently.

Explain your goal to connect with male audiences through your music.

Fantasia: I don’t want to disconnect with women (but) the goal that I set out was to connect with men. I feel that that mission was accomplished.

I’m married now and started getting in the car and started watching and listening to what (my husband) liked to listen to. Or we go to the gym together — what kind of music does he like to play? That was a challenge for me. How can I give beautiful lyrics, and great singing and pull in the men? And I think we did that for this album.

I’ve got the women and they’re always going to rock with me.

I’ve had the women who were coming out because they were going through the same things I was going through. But now I’m also starting to see a lot of women who are looking for the place that I’m in now.

This show is more than just a show. It is my ministry, number one. There’s so much healing in regard to everything — in relation to being a conqueror — to winning after you thought that you were going to lose everything. My story, my life, my stage — I put it all out there.

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This is my last tour, but I know that God is allowing me to take it out with a bang and people are being touched in all sorts of ways that you won’t understand until you’re in the building.

Why is this your last tour?

Fantasia: I’ve been doing this for 16 years and I’m not saying this is my last time singing, but I will say this without letting too much out: I’m going in a different direction and I have to be obedient.

There’s something more for me. I will continue to do shows but as far as the wear and tear of tours and all the things you have to do out there, I choose to tap out. I know that God is sending me in a different direction.

Will we see more of you on stage, in film/television, or in books?

Fantasia: Film is something I’m definitely aiming for. Let’s just say you will see me. I’m not going away. But as far as touring, this is going to be the last tour for me.

Many artists are attempting to break into the music industry. Is there a piece of advice you’ve received that has helped carry you through your career that you can pass along?

Fantasia: People ask me what I’d be doing If I weren’t singing? I sit back and think and I honestly don’t know what else I would do.

My first piece of advice: If it’s not that for you, don’t force it because everybody’s doing it.

Don’t force it because of the limelight, the television, and the clothes and the cars and all that looks good because looks can be deceiving. It’s a hard world out here and it’s changing every day.

I meet so many young people who just want to be rappers and singers just because that looks like the “it” thing to do now. Nine times out of 10, most of them should’ve gone on to school, should’ve become doctors, teachers, lawyers, reporters, or whatever the case may be. But everybody’s trying to follow the “it” thing.

My second piece of advice is to keep God first.

Don’t change who you are. Stand your ground and take control over your destiny. Do not allow them to come in and prostitute the gift. What I mean by that is, because you have the gift a lot of people will jump on board and you’ll find yourself working, killing yourself, going as hard as you can only to look around and have nothing to show for it. Nothing at all.

Always remember: Why do you truly want to do it? Because you love music. If you get caught up in the whole movement of the industry right now you’re going to lose yourself in trying to please people and you just can’t do that. People will love you today and they will hate you tomorrow. You’ve got to keep in mind: “I’m doing this because I’ve been called to do this” — and that’s it.

One of your fans wants to know what happens to your shoes when you kick them off into the audience during one of your concerts?

Fantasia: (laughs) That’s cute. When I take them off, I don’t throw them. I don’t want to hurt anybody. I mainly throw them on the stage and my assistant or hairstylist will run out and get them out my way so I don’t trip on them. I leave them on the stage. 

Are there any final words you’d like to say to your fans coming to your show in Shreveport?

Fantasia: How I end my shows and how I end most of my interviews (is) putting out positive vibes because you and I both know, real talk, there’s a lot going on in the world. A lot. There’s a lot we don’t see and things are changing, times are changing.

I would tell people to just make sure to keep some kind of connection to the Divine. The man upstairs. Treat people how you want to be treated. And most of all learn how to not talk about things that you hear, in regards to the things that you hear (about) the people in your circle, the people you work with, or family members. Don’t talk about it, pray about it. Pray for them, that they may see the light.

If you go

Where: Shreveport Municipal Auditorium, 705 Grand Ave. 

When: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17; doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Cost: $39.50-$98.50 plus applicable fees 

Info: Tickets available at Shreveport Convention Center box office 10 a.m. to 2 p.m Monday through Friday, all Ticketmaster locations, online at Ticketmaster.com, or charge by phone at (800) 745-3000. For more information, visit shreveportmunicipalauditorium.com or fantasiaofficial.com. 

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