As Kelly Rowland’s revealing single “Dirty Laundry” premieres to the pleasure (and surprise) of fans far and wide, Kelly spoke with Billboard to dish on how difficult the process was to create the personal song that hits on heavy personal topics such as envy of Beyonce’s success and surviving an abusive relationship.
It usually takes a professional recording artist no more than half a day to a day to finish recording a song, but Kelly says it took a few days and about twelve takes to lay down a vocal without sobbing. “I had to get past being so upset and actually sing the song, not sob through it. I always hope that my music can inspire someone, the same way other artists inspire me. Dream said, ‘I want to write you a record so that people will know exactly who you are, underneath it all,'” she told Billboard. The song is so personal and the purging of emotions so fresh, that Kelly even had to leave the label listening session before the song came on.
The-Dream penned and produced the track, explaining he compiled stories told to him by Rowland to compile the lyrics, but had to push her to come clean for the record. “When you have a stage like Kelly has, you should talk about that part of your life. I think Kelly’s way deeper than that,” he said.
Both Dream and Rowland are hitting the road for their “Lights Out” tour this may, and Kelly plans on performing “Dirty Laundry” in her set. “It’s me, a light, and a mic. Stripped and honest,” she says