-
10 Questions with ... Kat DeLuna
March 1, 2016
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
1. How is 2016 treating you so far?
I do have to say it's been pretty. I have not yet been able to feel the 2016, because I feel like every day of it, I've been busy with the whole project, but I do have to say, it's been amazing. That I am much a very positive person, a positive thinker, but it's been amazing personally, work wise, and everything.
2. What do you think were some of the highlights of last year for you in your career?
I would say, to me again, because I am such a positive thinker, everything is a highlight for me. I'm like the happiest person ever. If you ever meet me, if you gave me an ice cream as a gift, I would be like, "This is the best gift ever."
I would have to say one of the biggest was when I released 'Bum Bum,' which is a part of this actual album that's coming out soon. We don't have a date yet, because we are putting the final process, but you'll definitely be one of the first persons to know, like "Hey this is the date, boom, boom.
That was amazing because of all the work that was put towards it, and being able ... To me, like an artist, this is what people don't get, your album or your single, it's your baby. I put a lot of work towards it, and then being able to record the actual song that's going to be released right now, which is "What a Night," with Jeremih, and then being able to see it come out. For me those are big highlights.
People usually don't like to say hard word is good, but I love to be able to work hard for something, because ... especially once I see the final product, or whatever happens, I know that it came from my heart, and it came from my hard work.
It means more when you finally get it, when you finally achieve what you were working hard for.
3. How did "What A Night" come about?
The idea came from a trip I did in Tahiti. We were just dancing. I had a dance party. I did a little concert out there, and the production crew that was helping me, and being really nice out there said, "Why don't you guys come over to the house." They gave me this beautiful mansion to stay in and I was alone. I was like, well, I'm in this beautiful mansion, and I don't have anyone to hang out with. I'm going to throw a party, Dominican style, like famous people.
I invited everyone, and we threw a party. One of the songs that was playing was 'Oh, What a Night.' by The Four Seasons. It's funny, because I finished growing up in Newark, and they're from Newark. I didn't know that until a little while back.
Someone said, "Kat, I bet you don't know this song." So then they played it. They played it in English, but I was like, Wait a minute. I've heard this song before in Paris. It's was in French, because they remade it.
I came back, and we started working on it, and I worked with this amazing group of producers. They're just amazing. In the UK, and they're called Beat Freaks. We were able to create it, and then we called up my boy, who I love, Sam Hook, who is a writer, and then together, we created it.
I originally said I wanted to make it a big pop song, and but the producers thought we should flip this and do it like hip hop, R&B like where I've been going. In a way, it's a new sound for me, to put it sonically, musically, but if you know me, and you go to karaoke with me, I'm like jumping everywhere.
4. Happy with the finished product?
It ended up being amazing. We ended up contacting Jeremih and he's so amazing and nice. I can't wait for everyone to hear it. It's one of those songs that you cannot turn your head to. It doesn't matter who records that song. People are going to love it.
5. Looking back on your career, you worked with so many incredible artists. Do you have a collaboration that stands out to you as a really ... a favorite one, or just really memorable?
Oh my god, I learned so much from every single person that I worked with, that it's so hard to really answer that question, but I would have to say working with Jeremih. 'What a Night' is so special, because for me, it was something that I had not done before, even the way that I am flowing with my voice, and the way that Jeremih and I worked together. In reality, I would say it's a duet, so the way that we flow in this, for me, it was an experience.
6. What about a feature with a woman?
I'm waiting to one day do a feature with a female, because I've done nothing but features with males.
7. You were recently on Kocktails With Khloe, Miss Kardashian. What was that like, and how did all that happen?
Oh my god, that was awesome. It was amazing. They reached out to me to come and be on the show, and of course I said, "Hello? Yes. Why not?"
The minute I get there, we just clicked. Khloe is an amazing person. She's so sweet. The minute you get there, she makes you comfortable. She's like, "What do you want to drink? What do you want to eat?" I do have to say the conversations in the room, they're very interesting, and to let you know, we had Taye Diggs in the house.
8. Do you remember the first time you heard one of your songs on the radio?
It was at Tucson and Tim Richards was the PD there. I said to him, thank you for having me. I'll come back, and maybe one day, I will hear my song on your radio station.
When I left the station, I was just starting to perform. I didn't know. I didn't expect anything. Tim says to turn on the radio. As we're driving on the highway, and Nappi (Tommy Nappi) turns on the radio. I am thinking that that's a CD that Nappi had inside the car, because we had CDs. I was like, oh, okay...cool. Nappi like, "Oh, Kat, listen. You don't understand." Then I saw that it was the radio. Oh my god, he had to stop the car. I came out, and I told everyone, "Turn on the radio. That's my song. I'm the artist." It was just nothing would ever top that, because that was my first single ever. It's amazing, but every time I hear it, I get teary. I'm like a mother, and those are my kids.
9. Do you have any tour scheduled for this year or next year?
I don't have anything locked down as a tour yet, but there will be so many chances with the new single out. We do have plans, but as of dates we don't have any dates set in stone.
10. Where do you think that you are happiest, on stage performing, recording in the studio, doing promo events, interviews, or somewhere else?
I would have to say, it's not easy. I'm going to give you two, because I can't just choose one. The happiest of course, has to be when I'm on stage. I did a concert and it was so crazy. My aunt was telling me about it. I didn't realize that my shirt came off during the show. Thank god, I had a sports bra under it. I forget I am on stage, and I am someone else. I came off and I walked I was right next door to one of the girls in production. I literally took her shirt off, and put it on on-stage, and said, "Oops."
I tell you that, because just seeing how comfortable I am on stage with my people. I am there to be the singer for them, so that's why I love to be able to touch them, musically. I forget about who I am on stage. When I record, I know that God brings us here for something, and I know that with me, it's only a matter of time. It's just to touch people through music, and let them know that life is ... Yeah, sometimes it's hard, but life is once, and you've got to live it to the fullest.
Secondly, one of my favorite places is in the studio, because that's where I get to create for them.
-
-