Alju – R U The Girl

Q) Who are some of your favorite musical artists?

A) I would have to say that I like Anthony Hamilton; I love him. I like Calvin Richardson, Donny Hathaway and Aretha Franklin.

Q) Why did you decide to apply for the show?

A) I have always loved TLC and I’ve always thought they have been a groundbreaking group as an inspiration to female artists. It was just the opportunity for me, because as an artist, I didn’t just start recording or wanting to be a singer yesterday. I’ve always been working and I just thought it would be a great opportunity to get my music on and to be a part of history. I knew that whatever UPN did, it would come off right.

Q) What was your audition like for the show?

A) The audition was cool. It was early, like 9:30AM in the morning! I managed to take the train downtown and said my prayers to hope that everything went great. The casting directors were really cool. I’ve never been nervous in my life, but that was the one time when I was actually nervous. It came off well, though!

Q) What was it like meeting T-Boz and Chilli?

A) To me, meeting them was really cool. I’m not the type of person who is usually star struck. I feel like an entertainer is a person, just like you and I. It was really cool and when I first met them, I think that they respected that because I didn’t go crazy. I just treated them like a human being and their really cool people.

Q) What did you learn most about the music industry from being on the show?

A) I learned that the music industry is all fun, but there are a lot of politics that go on behind the scenes. I also learned that either something doesn’t work out for you, something that you are trying out for, that God always opens doors to bless you with other opportunities. So, you just stick to what you’re doing and someone will see something great in you and you’ll have your opportunity.

Q) How did you come up with the CD title “Phoenix Rose?”

A) I always loved the name phoenix because I know when TLC were going through their problems, dealing with men, dealing with financial issues (and I’m not the richest girl in the world either and I’ve also had my heart broken by some fellows) so I thought the word means to me a beautiful bird that has gone through the storm and gone through the fire and emerged more powerful and more beautiful than ever. I think that symbolized all of us. I chose rose because even though we can be tough on the outside we also can be soft on the inside and sweet like a rose. I didn’t mean for us to look like we’re burning in hell.

Q) Do you have any regrets from your experience?

A) The one thing I can say about myself is that I am always real with myself and other people aren’t real with themselves. When I watched the show, I have no regrets. I think I did a wonderful job. I think I never hid anything about myself and always kept it real.  Other people on the show didn’t think so, but that’s their business. I know I did the best that I could and I was me the whole show.

Q) Who do you plan on keeping in touch with from the show?

A) Well, O’so Krispie and I were talking. We talked so much after the show, but we kind of fell off and stopped having conversations because of little things here and there. I do wish her the best of luck. To me, she was the most down to Earth person on the show. Everyone has their flaws about their personality, but that’s whom I did keep in touch with.

Q) What are you going to do now that you are no longer on the show?

A) Even before the show came on, like I said, I was an artist before this. That doesn’t stop me. I’m a genuine artist and I’ve been working on my music. Right now, I’ve been touring with Shaggy and I will be with him on a cross-country trip. I went to Africa and then to London. Then we went to a Garbon in Africa where we performed for like 50,000 people. So, I’m currently working on an album. I’m keeping it moving and hopefully the fans that I have gotten from the show will support me throughout my career.

Q) What was your favorite part of the whole experience?

A) My favorite part of the whole experience I would have to say was creating the outfits that we made when we had to perform. To me, I consider myself a trendsetter. I never like to follow anyone; I’ve always been like that. I liked just getting the opportunity to make something that represents myself and all of us coming together as a group and creating something that represents us to feel comfortable dancing in. That was the most fun for me, putting on all of the beads and all of the safety pins and coming up with something real fly.

Q) What would you like to say to your fans and supporters?

A) To all of my fans and supporters, I’d really like to thank you for tuning in to UPN and whatever connection or bond you felt with me; I appreciate it. There are people out there that understand me and like what I stand for and believe in. That’s all good! I love it when people really understand and recognize true talent. Don’t be mad at me or at any of the other girls because I kept it real the whole time. You don’t have to talk to somebody that didn’t make it to the top. Be nice and be cool. You’ll have your time one day. Keep supporting me and looking out for me. I think you so much for everything and I hope to make you proud of me.