When Velvet Empire split up earlier this year, there was almost no mention of it anywhere. The logical reason behind that could be that there were no rifts between members, like in the Spice Girls, and there were no record label problems, like with Backstreet Boys; it was just a matter of opportunities.
“It wasn?t even really a break-up,” former Velvet Empire member Janelle Belgrave explains to andPOP. “Our contracts ended and then we decided we’d just explore. We got our feet wet. We decided, ‘maybe it’s time for us to go our separate ways and do our own projects’.”
One of those projects is already in motion. Belgrave, speaking to andPOP from a recording studio, is currently in the beginning stages of putting together a solo album.
She started recording about three months ago. “It’s been really good. Just starting to get a go. It’s been really fun so far. A lot of work, but we’re going.”
Belgrave is working with several local producers, and a few different writers.
“I’ve been trying to work with a lot of other songwriters to try to get them to teach me because I’m not a songwriter myself. I like to think I am because I have songs written, but I’m still learning and I’m learning more and more from songwriters everyday.”
The sound she is experimenting with has more of an urban feel to it than when she was in the pop quintet.
“I like more of those old school type songs so we’re going to try to incorporate that into the album and see where that takes us. I think that because I’ve been so influenced by artists like Janet [Jackson], it will be more urban.”
When she was named one of the five winners of Popstars in 2002, the show’s second season, the group was given the luxury of having a record deal in place. This time around, it will be a lot different.
“It’s kind of like I’m doing my demo right now and trying to shop around songs to try to get a deal,” she said. “I did go along through the whole process with Popstars. You meet a lot of people. And I was so grateful to meet people in the urban department and even in the rock department and pop [at Universal Music]. I was able to meet a lot of people and get to talk to them but nothing is etched in stone. We’re just in the middle of talks.”
She hopes to have an album ready for next year.
In the meantime, Belgrave is preparing for her first feature performance as a solo artist. She most recently performed solo this summer at Toronto’s Mabuhay Festival, a celebration of Philippine heritage.
“It kind of got me back up and running because after you get off tour and you’re idle for a bit, you want to get on stage and start performing again. Doing it alone was something that I had to prepare myself for vocally.”
Belgrave works out, dances, and sings everyday in preparation of the concert, which will take place October 18 at Ontario Place’s Atlantis Pavillions. Ryan Hamilton, another former Velvet Empire member, and Jeigh Madjus, who almost made the top 5, will both be special guests. Tickets are on sale and cost $25.
So might Velvet Empire ever regroup?
“You never know,” she says with a laugh. “If times change and also the way that music is directed as well, the boy-girl group may come back in, but until that time? you never know.”
Earlier this week, we brought you all the information from our 
In between preparing for his upcoming solo release and touring all summer, Dave Matthews found time to accept a role in a movie.
