Interview: Ciara Evolving at Age 21

(andPOP) - The earth's evolution has taken billions of years. Ciara's evolution, apparently, has taken two albums.

At just 21 years old, Ciara decided to call her second album The Evolution. Isn't it a little soon to be calling your album The Evolution?

"No," says Ciara, without a second of hesitation. "There's an evolution that's definitely taking place in my career."

Well, maybe it's a bit early in anyone's career to boldly state that The Evolution is now (perhaps I Am Evolving would have been more appropriate, but it doesn't sound as good as a title). But with the technicalities aside, it is tough to argue with Ciara when she says that a change has occurred.

It was about three years ago that her debut single, Goodies, began playing on the radio. Ciara was entering a music scene filled with 20-something female R&B artists, but she sounded different. With the help of producers Jazze Pha and Lil' Jon, she because the "First Lady of Crunk & B." Other hits with 1, 2 Step and Oh followed and her album, also called Goodies, sold over five million copies worldwide.

She was shy, she was still a teen, and she was evolving.

In December, Ciara released The Evolution, which debuted atop the Billboard chart, selling close to 350,000 copies.

With the sophomore release, Ciara took a hands-on approach with all aspects. She not only co-wrote most songs, but she co-produced them as well.

"It's funny because I learn more about myself every day," she says. "For example, I'm now co-producing, which is something new for me. I can really see myself going somewhere else with that and just taking that to another level for myself. And even as a writer, I'm just pushing myself harder and harder every day and really want to tap into different things."

Ciara's also tapping into projects away from music. Like Gwen Stefani, an artist she has opened for, Ciara wants to start her own clothing line. But when she thinks of an artist who has succeeded at branching out beyond music, it's Sean "P. Diddy" Combs who comes to mind.

"I think that he does an amazing job, especially at being an entertainer," Ciara says. "He's just well-rounded, he's just an amazing entrepreneur to me and I also respect that."